On 3/7/22, Undiscussed Horrific Abuse, One Victim of Many <gmkarl@gmail.com> wrote:
the section after that is interesting too, although i'm skimming past a lot of paragraphs
it sounds like they spend a lot of time probing for ways that Shevek might speak about their sense of a body of authority. reminiscent of assumptions of powerholders that everybody has a leader, but that many deny it, and of having powerful connections to various areas.
“But we haven’t been sure whether or not you came with the approval of—” He hesitated.
What's also/more poignant here is how people cut off when they might not be even certain what they themselves are talking about, but still have a lot of response to the topic (e.g. fear).
Shevek grinned. “Of my government?” “We know that nominally there’s no government on Anarres. However, obviously there’s administration. And we gather that the group that sent you, your Syndicate, is a kind of faction; perhaps a revolutionary faction.” “Everybody on Anarres is a revolutionary, Oiie. . . .