The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet discussion

Was it justified because of the how they were all cool with it in the end? Was the end a little convenient?

Or are you on Ashby's side of letting Ohan decide for himself?

I'm torn no one could've known for sure if it's really what Ohan wanted (although the end does reveal he wants to stay and the Whisperer was just an all around dick) and Corbin just took the decision in his own hands, even with the best intention.

which by the way, i loved about this book. not everyone makes the right or wrong decision because who can really say what the right or wrong choice is.

I don't think Corbin was justified-the entire crew knew that Ohan would not have wanted to separate. It was a very tidy ending, too tidy for me. However, when we learned that Ohan would still be able to navigate even if he rid himself of the virus-or whatever that was again-we should have known it was coming.

I still loved the book and I plan continuing with the series.

Absolutely justified. The virus is a leech of the mind.

Maybe it was an aggressive way to go about it, but I think he was justified.

I saw it as similar to a confrontation with someone who is part of a dangerous cult (like Heaven's Gate). It wasn't Ohan who was deciding to die. They couldn't be sure he was making his own decisions.

From an objective standpoint, though we understand Corbin's reasoning, his actions are unjustified. The primary issue with this is that he did not have Ohan's consent before administering the cure, as Ohan is a sentient being capable of making his own choices, Corbin's actions are an ethical crime. Also, it was a breech of Ohan's faith. Even though the virus was slowly killing him, it is sacred to much of his species.

But is it HIS species who thinks the virus is sacred or the virus itself planting those thoughts?

I haven't read it for a while, so correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the virus make you pretty much incapable of deciding to be cured (as the virus would die out very quickly otherwise)? And therefore you're not making an informed decision, and someone must intervene to save your life.

By the way this is SUCH a good discussion topic.

True, but given the nature of the virus and the abilities the Sianat Pairs, we can't say for sure that they wouldn't choose to view the universe in this unique way. There's an extraordinary question of cultural difference to be explored here.

Also, yes. This is an amazing discussion topic.

That's a really tough question. Consent is essential and Corbin made a dick move. It was not his decision to make. But honestly, the speech he gives before curing Ohan moved me so much... And I mean, yes, Ohan's choice to die was their own, but Mas made a very interesting point: if some Sianats become resilient to the virus, doesn't that mean it's just a disease like any other? And their whole religion is based on a lie? Plus, the part written from Ohan's point of view makes it clear they're afraid of dying. They try to rationalize death but they're not at peace with it. So that doesn't make it right that Corbin made the choice in their place but I'll personnally be okay with it.

Sorry, to butt in but I am looking for good books about non-human intelligent life forms. Any suggestions?

Once they had already met the virus free Sianat and Ohan close to death, it seems that the scales tend towards justified.

There's a ton but the one I most recently read and enjoyed was Beholder's Eye by Julie Czerneda.

Phil wrote: "There's a ton but the one I most recently read and enjoyed was Beholder's Eye by Julie Czerneda."

Thanks Phil, I will check it out.

I would strongly recommend Children of time, by Adrian Tchaikovsky. It was a great read for me.

Sorry, I know I'm years late on this thread, but I finished the book and this one part is weighing on my mind and making me so /angry/. Corbin disregarded Ohan's wishes, bodily autonomy, and entire belief system. I kept thinking about it in terms of disability justice, where some people say that they wouldn't want to be "cured" even if it were possible, and the idea of someone completely ignoring that and doing it anyway... ugh

Another latecomer to the book weighing in! I loved it until this and the other incident at the end. It seemed the author's whole theme was to respect other species' values and not to impose your own onto someone else. Then this happens, and Ohan seems to forgive Corbin for it. And after Rosemary causes their ship to be attacked she doesn't even realize it was her fault! That's such a glaring thing to have her not figure out that it ruined the end of the book for me. I don't understand the whole point of the book when it ends this way.

I disagree with Corbin's actions, as it shows a very clear violation of consent and bodily autonomy. However, I am very glad that Chambers included this in the book, as it allows us as readers to ask ourselves what his main motives were. Was he moved by a sadness that he was too scared to be vulnerable about? Was it his speciest mentality causing him to think that certain species can't take care of himself (similar to paternalism seen during colonialism)? Was it his pragmatic engineer mind looking at a pros/cons list over consideration of personal autonomy? While he did explain himself, I'm curious to see if anyone else thinks that there might be motivations for his actions that he wasn't conscious of.

What interested me was not Corbin's actions - it made sense for him as a character, especially given the selflessness he had experienced by Sissix and the crew after he was captured - but the way Ohan responded. It's brought up in the book, how despite Ohan's insistance that the crew ignore the "poison" the non-paired Sianats were spreading, that when he was unpaired he seemingly forgave Corbin instantly. Physically touching him and wanting to engage in with the crew for the first time. It's certainly interesting, and I wish the book had delved more into Ohan's perspective on his new life - literally.