What's that all about at the end of 'Use Of Weapons'? (SPOILER)
Coyote
WARNING - if you haven't read Use of Weapons yet (and you should) better not
read on. . .
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Phew! That should do it.
Anyway, at the end of the book Zakalwe's secret is revealed, and he is last
seen dying. You then see whatsername the culture agent getting herself a new
stooge, whether because Z is dead (hmm, sounds familiar...) or because her
own squeamish morals won't let her work with him any more.
However, you then have the Prologue and Epilogue featuring a young man
called Zakalwe who is at peace with himself (?) but apparently doing the
same work. We know this is set adter the events proper of the book because
he remembers the mission at the Winter Palace - his last mission before
quitting the Culture. . .
How can this be? He may not have died, but how did he get to where he is
with Cullis?
Andrew Matthews
In article <880855823.12344.0...@news.demon.co.uk>,
"Coyote" <coy...@leenet.demon.co.uk> writes:
> WARNING - if you haven't read Use of Weapons yet (and you should) better not
> read on. . .
>
> However, you then have the Prologue and Epilogue featuring a young man
> called Zakalwe who is at peace with himself (?) but apparently doing the
> same work. We know this is set adter the events proper of the book because
> he remembers the mission at the Winter Palace - his last mission before
> quitting the Culture. . .
>
> How can this be? He may not have died, but how did he get to where he is
> with Cullis?
>
The culture is nice? (No surprise there)
You see Zakalwe have a brain hemorage (I think), which Skaffen Amtiskaw (sp?)
presumed to "fix". I think our cynical drone also may well have "read"
Zakalwe's mind... In either case the culture had just found out about Zakalwe's
past...
Maybe (as indeed happened before), Zakalwe went freelance, and is simply
working for money/the fun of it. As for his state of mind (other than hung
over) well, he's just buried a nuke under a parade ground... Hardly what I'd
call sane (and no doubt the Culture would probably have a fit... Well, maybe
;> ) Though I suppose he does seem a little less screwball than before...
The culture would probably be perfectly happy to drop him off somewhere,
presumably a "Stage 4 - Contacted" ;>
Zakalwe may well have a "reputation" with other people... Which enabled him to
get a "job"... I've no idea how this sort of thing works... Find yourself a
professional assassin or similar and ask (politely of course ;>) *grin*
I am remembering this from a while ago since I last read Use of Weapons...
I'll check up tonight (read it again basically ;> )
Smaff.
PS No reason why Balveda can't have more than one "agent provocature" working
for her... Maybe...
--
"... so long as the people do not care to exercise their freedom, those
who wish to tyrranize will do so; for tyrants are active and ardent,
and will devote themselves in the name of any number of gods, religious
and otherwise, to put shackles upon sleeping men." -- Voltarine de Cleyre
Coyote
Yeah - that is probably it, but for some reason I just thought "What the
f***?" and assumed there was some deep inner message there. Any other
opinions gratefully received, thanks.
Parker
Coyote <coy...@leenet.demon.co.uk> wrote in article
<880855823.12344.0...@news.demon.co.uk>...
> WARNING - if you haven't read Use of Weapons yet (and you should) better
not
> read on. . .
>
last
> seen dying. You then see whatsername the culture agent getting herself a
new
> stooge, whether because Z is dead (hmm, sounds familiar...) or because
her
> own squeamish morals won't let her work with him any more.
>
> called Zakalwe who is at peace with himself (?) but apparently doing the
> same work. We know this is set adter the events proper of the book
because
> he remembers the mission at the Winter Palace - his last mission before
> quitting the Culture. . .
back, and one running from back to front. The 2nd last chapter is the last
chapter of the 1st story, and the last chapter is the 1st chapter of the
2nd story. the 2nd story is chrononlogically before the 1st though (if that
all makes sense)
Be happy Iain didn't do his original idea (6 storylines all culminating in
the middle)
Tom Parker
Alex Glennie
Parker <pal...@dircon.co.uk> wrote:
> Use of Weapons contains two different stories. One running from front to
> back, and one running from back to front. The 2nd last chapter is the last
> chapter of the 1st story, and the last chapter is the 1st chapter of the
> 2nd story. the 2nd story is chrononlogically before the 1st though (if that
> all makes sense)
It's not two seperate stories though. Considered from the time of the
the first chapter, it's alternately the future and the past of Zakalwe.
So I still don't know/understand when the epilogue, prologue and 'States
of War' take place.
> Be happy Iain didn't do his original idea (6 storylines all culminating in
> the middle)
That would have been neat. Impossible, but neat. :)
Cheers
Alex
--
"What's a Nubian?" "Shut the **** up!"
- 'Chasing Amy', a film that you must see simply to be
considered a decent human being. As long as you don't mind swearing.