Sam Girat, meanwhile, has himself begun to obsess about fatherhood, a concept that is not much honored in Hobb's Land. In seeking his own father, he has raised a stone that hides a poisonous insect. Sam becomes ensnared by the life-negating Voorstoders, a slave-owning group on another world, Ahabar, who assert their control over the pagan Gharm. Soon it is the Gharm, one or two at a time, who lie buried "shallow beneath the soil," ready to provide a source on Ahabar for these very helpful gods. We encounter the slimy Porsa of Ninfadel (who scarcely qualify as sapient), bubbling and offensive, like physical manifestations of the Voorstoders' hatred.
Tepper weaves these disparate cultures together to create an astounding tapestry of choice. The Baidee speak of preserving choice, but only for themselves; they act to quarantine the infected worlds, with disastrous unintended consequences. The Voorstoders preach choice, but only once; they believe their ancient contract with the Gharm has sway on a new world, and the Gharm may not chose again. The settlers on Hobb's Land did not chose their gods, but would not chose to let them go now. Sam Girat chose his own myths and heroes in his father's people, and now must make a better choice.
"What will you do without your books?" she asked again, worried about him... "Write new ones, China Wilm," he told her... "Listen to the God and write new ones."Whenever I read this novel, I am reminded of a quote (I believe it is Spider Robinson's, but I apologize if I am mistaken) to the effect that "cultural imperialism means you have a tasty culture in which others would like to partake." When politics become contentious, when people get nasty, and progress is obstructed by the Baidee and Voorstoders of our own world, I wonder if, given the choice, we would accept the Hobb's Land gods.
I must admit, the prospect entices. When my time comes, I would volunteer to lie shallow under the soil. It would be a way, a convenience, a kindness.
This Prophetess is Marjorie Westriding, the "small being" who made a momentous decision in Tepper's Grass.
Article comments