Summary: *This essay contains moderate spoilers for the first sixteen October Daye books, major spoilers for SLEEP NO MORE and THE INNOCENT SLEEP, and minor spoilers for Babylon 5 (S3 E4 "Passing Through Gethsemane"). Link to the original essay. INTRO (00:36) When reading SLEEP NO MORE and THE INNOCENT SLEEP by Seanan McGuire (the newest October Daye books), I was struck by similarities in the ethical framework of these two books and certain aspects of the 1990's sci-fi show Babylon 5, particularly the way that changes in personality or memories are treated with relation to assumptions of personhood. I am certain that Seanan McGuire is also very familiar with Babylon 5 because one of her telepathic characters in the Incryptid series uses specific aspects of Babylon 5 as a framework for ethical telepathy. THE DEATH OF PERSONALITY IN BABYLON 5 (01:12) UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS (04:46) MAJOR CHARACTERS (06:45) Toby - Nickname for Sir October Daye, titular character of the series, changeling (fae mother, human father) October - Toby’s current personality in SLEEP NO MORE and THE INNOCENT SLEEP, remembers a different history from Toby of the first sixteen books Tybalt - Cait Sidhe (cat fae), Toby’s husband (October doesn’t remember him) Amandine - October’s mother Simon Torquill - Daoine Sidhe, Amandine’s husband, October’s father (not by blood) Titania - One of the queens of Faerie, cast the illusion which created October from Toby and distorted many people’s memories Quentin - Daoine Sidhe, Toby’s squire in the previous books, currently squire to someone else August - October’s sister, daughter of Amandine and Simon Stacy - Toby’s friend from childhood, recently removed by Titania PLOT HIGHLIGHTS (07:47) TOBY VS. OCTOBER (09:57) WHY TITANIA DOESN'T THINK THIS IS HARM (11:17) WHY OCTOBER WANTS TO REMAIN (13:06) THE RIDE AND TITANIA’S ALTERATIONS (14:04) TITANIA'S TRAP ON THE RIDE (16:19) ETHICAL PARADOXES - PERHAPS UNSOLVABLE (17:42) THE RESOLUTION (22:00) A MASSACRE OF MINDS (25:00)
