A Darkling Plain: The Myth of History
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- čas přidán 8. 04. 2021
- In which civilisation collapses multiple times and all that remains is robotic Jackanory.
My original Mortal Engines video: • Mortal Engines: A Majo...
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A follow-up to my analysis of the first book's film adaptation, this is a deeper dive into the themes explored in the fourth book of the Mortal Engines Quartet. Featuring heavy spoilers for the whole series.
Pretty rambling. I wish I had the time and patience to streamline it and support my own points better, but given this has been a bit of a blockage in my CZcams schedule, I decided to just get it out and accept it'll have to do.
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1177 BC: The Year Civilization Collapsed (Eric Cline, PhD)
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Community: Messianic Myths and Ancient Peoples
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Mortal Engines: A Major Locomotion Picture (Film Review)
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Terminator 2: Judgement Day
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The Bronze Age Collapse - Systems Collapse - Extra History - #4
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It's still absurd to me how you've made several completely separate videos on three completely separate super-niche obsessions of mine which occurred at three completely separate times in my life (Mortal Engines, 5D Chess, and Diplomacy).
Clearly the only possible conclusion is that I need to play ParaWorld.
If I make enough of these videos I’ll eventually find enough people like you to narrow down the entire world’s population and find my doppelgänger.
IKR, all I need him to talk about now is Godzilla and/or War of the Worlds and I could only come to the conclusion that he is a parasite in my brain.
@@OliverLuggI'm 2 years late but I have to point this out... Oliver and Olivia... Now before reality collapses into the singularity that is you 2 I will take my leave
I remember trying to figure out a minimum for how far in the future the story was taking place in, but- if I remember correctly- I couldn't, because the book switches calendars multiple times when referring to historical events. Really emphasizes how many civilizations rose and fell before the series started. We're just catching a tiny glimpse of a much, much larger world.
the horrifying heresy at the end of the video, a world where your diplomacy video is not remembered
I think it's worth pointing out Shrike's character arc as part of why this ending is so perfect. He was made to be a soldier; he was designed to kill and taught to be selfish. Of course, we only see snippets of this in the quartet but it's explicit in the Fever Crumb trilogy. It's only when he fully rejects his selfish desire to live with Hester forever that he starts remembering his life as a once born. This is my favourite interpretation and what makes me tear up: losing Hester is his penance; remembering being Kit is his reward.
Another way of thinking about it is from the perspective of a stalker's purpose. Like [systems they represent], municipal darwinism and the green storm exploit everything (in this case stalkers) in the worst and most violent way possible. They were designed to remember but then used to kill. Shrike rejecting that can therefore be seen as a rejection of the exploitation of the old world and an embracing of the new.
Wonderfully said.
Thanks for appreciating my long Wikipedia entry XD
You are the only Mortal Engines Content Creator I know and you're awesome. 😁👍
I finished 4th book few days ago, but the episode of Hester comforting Tom, and Shrike later discovering them, still heavily affects me :(
Their rift before the ending hurt my heart. To be loved by someone who would betray entire cities for you is a beautiful thing, because who would make you their entire world? Because he saved her life in more ways than one, he was the only good thing that ever happened to her, so she in her own morally gray way wanted to save him, and at the end he realizes it and cherishes her for her willingness to cross those lines for him, in a "this is how much I love you and the world can stuff it for all I care" way. I want to be loved like that.
It's been more than 10 years ans it still hurt the same
Having checked this through on CZcams I've noticed several typos in the on-screen credits. I can't be bothered to export and upload all over again so I'm leaving them. Credits should be accurate in the description.
You are my most favourite smaller yter in the moment well with that kind of content you can´t be small forever.
So I just finished watching your Mortal Engines Film review and this video essay. What can I say?
In the name of Quirke... thank you!
You've managed to put into words what I have been trying to say ever since I completed reading the main quartet. I'm happy that there are people out there who share the same sense of fascination for these books and it's world (I immediately joined the Discord server after watching your video).
I for sure won't forget Mortal Engines!
Also, I got a good laugh out of you struggling with the word Traktionstadtgesellschaft. Even for a German like me, it's a tough word :D
I am glad to see someone finally give the ending of a Darkling Plain the recognition it deserves. It is definitely one of the most creative, tragic and satisfying ending’s I have ever read. Thanks for making this.
Just hearing that summary, and the final words... still gave me chills and brought me near to tears
The fact that this video from you exists was enough to make me first read all four books. And it was wonderful. Thank you!
This video needs just as many views as the 5D chess one
Going back to the theme of the passage of time obliterating the certainties of the present and rendering history into myths one of the facets of the wider Mortal Engines world that I found fascinating is that it's not merely postapocalyptic but post multiple apocalypses. If I remember correctly there are references made to great nomad empires that created the Stalkers and the Electric Empire that rose and fell in the period between the 60 Minute War and the Traction Era, itself starting a thousand years before the story began.
It's also worth comparing Mortal Engines to another book by Reeve called Here Lies Arthur which deals with the Arthurian Mythos in many of the same ways, presenting events as they supposedly actually happened and how they planted the seeds for the myths and leg3nds to come.
*YOU ARE MAKING ME BUY BOOKS.*
*BOOKS.*
*TODAY, MORTAL ENGINES.*
*TOMORROW, THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS.*
I know that your comment is old but...."leans over" the prequels are even better
@@enea_6580 "recoils in shock" how can that be possible? how it possibly get better? lol love this series.
@@kingofsparkzy7363 idk
The first book feels a bit off at first gets better as you go on
the 2nd is my favourite of the series
The 3rd is a great conclusion
I never read the books, but when I heard about the movie's concept, I was one of the few who said "Hmn- interesting!" Instead of "Hmn- Impossible!" There are many times when I was walking through the subway tunnels of New York, when I could not help but contemplate the city itself as a superorganism, and the humans within simply being the equivalent of cells. The concept of mobile cities I was willing to dismiss, in deference to someone exploring this concept.
I love the bait and switch of the first 5 minutes: please do some videos on ancient history next!
Ok, thanks for the warning on the spoilers. I haven't read the whole quartet, its on the pile, so I'll come back after I have.
Good essay. I can honestly say the ending of a darkling plain is one of the only times a book has made me teary eyed, and you did a great job summarising why Shrike's involvement is so good
Here's another comment for the algorithm
Thank you for making this video. I was inspired to buy and read all four books. It was a joy to read.
ITS MY FAVORITE TOOOOO, bro its so good, I read all of them in fifth and sixth grade, and loved them, I just now went back into the broken world, I have listened to all of them on tape like 5 times in 2 months, I feel like I am in the world, my favorite book is definitely a darkling plain, and I favorite characters are oenone zero and shrike, I love the ending where he starts to tell the story of the world, when I first finished the series I almost cried because of how much happened in the last chapters. but its by far my favorite book series of all time. (that includes the fever crumb trilogy)
Ok, I'm back, and the last book made me cry.
YOU ACTUALLY DID!!!!
@@enea_6580 . . .if this is reference to my previous post, yes, I actually did. Wanting to watch this video actually spurred me on to read the quartet a little quicker!
@@davidshea6272 I definitely recommend the prequels aswell I probably liked em more than the quartet
Aaahhhhh, I love mortal engines
Found your channel from 5d chess, but stayed for the video essays. Watched them all, hoping you keep up the video essays!
Really love how they explore more with Shrike In the books
I'm secretly kind of relieved that I didn't watch the movie now that I've heard you talk about how it overwrote your memories of the book.
I read and fell in love with Mortal Engines as a teenager but only ever found out about the movie years later through a trailer in my recommended feed. At that point I've had become completely disillusioned with AAA game studios or I guess the film equivalent would be blockbuster that I didn't even bother watching it.
This isn't really a "I told you so" moment it's more of an extremely tired sigh, I didn't even know any news about the film until I watched your video about it.
Thank you so much for doing a video on A Darkling Plain. It's quite possibly my favourite ending to a book series that I have ever read. It's a shame that not many mainstream booktubers are doing reviews for these books.
I paused to go read the books, got threw one and forgot. Saw this come back into my algorithm sphere and went past the spoiler warning. I am now regrette spaghetti.
I think the first video i saw from your channel was the 5D chess vid. Then somehow the algorithm decided I'd like more from you and now you've gone and reminded me of books i loved when i was a kid. So thank you. I think I'm gonna buy new copies and read them all again.
As much as I am interested in watching this video I am 4 books behind TwT
I'll be back, but I must say I enjoyed a lot the other.
This was a fascinating analysis!
Underrated vid, well done!
Really good video,you deserve more subscribers.
Awesome video Oliver!
Wait. I’ll come back to this video someday after I read the books...
I haven't read the books 📚 nor have I actually Seen the latest movie. 🎥
Recently I'm "watching" movies and series through Recap and Theory and Deep Dives.
I haven't seen a Good telling of
Mortal Engines... until I found you. ✅ Thanx 😊👍🏻
>That bit about thrive in the far future
I fuggin LAFFED
HEY MATE FANTASTIC VIDEO. INCREDIBLY PROUD OF YOU
You're my new favorite youtuber
loved this
Okay, I've been convinced. "Spoiled" or not now, I will read these books. Sound interesting.
having not read or watched the movie, the clips the movie created of the moving cities looks gorgeous
I'll be back after reading the mortal engines Quartet.
17:25 If you want to see how the mangled history could get. I recommend YT series on the fall of the Aztecs from DJ Peach Cobbler. It starts as a an essay about the history behind the Aztec Empire's fall but quickly goes deep how politics distorts the record of history. How the Spanish exaggerated the fact against the Aztecs to justify their conquest (Hernan Cortez's Record), and in turn Spains European enemies had an exaggerated Spanish atrocities to justify their own claims (las Casas Record). How even in attempts to provide an honest record of history is muzzled by fear and self censorship (the Florentine Codex). And how even if the Historian is honest they may not know enough of the entire picture (Bernal Díaz).
I love the mortal engines quartet. It's a comfort hyperfixation for me, and I've reread it multiple times. My first introduction to the world of mortal engines was through the film, but that was back in 2018, and i forgot about it after. Then in october of 2022, I remembered it and realised it was a book series so i started to look up on it. I became obsessed but didnt have the books so my brother bought me the series without me knowing and gave it to me as an early Christmas present in November 2022. By the beginning of January of 2023 I'd finished all 4 books and began reading them again. Then i went and watched the film after all those years and found it hilariously bad and not as cool as i remember (a part of me does like the movie though because it is beautiful and i also think Hera Hilmar was an amazing hester even though her character was changed alot). Then realising phillip reeve had made a book of short stories about anna fang i bought it in November last year and got through it it a hour or 2. Then his Christmas i got the fever crumb prequal books (im only missing a web of air because waterstones didnt have that one) and so far ive gotten through fever crumb and i love it. Also i got my dad into mortal engines in December last year because he loves audiobooks and listened to the whole quartet in 2 months. So now we're both obsessed. Anyway mortal engines is a very special series to me and i love it. I only wish the fandom for it was bigger 😂. Anyway you probably wont read this but if you do thanks for reading the rant i started😅. Also i love your videos and music and your hour long review of the book and movie was what got me obsessed in the first place:)
I also think she was a good Hester, just a shame the writing and movie wasn't very good.
@@Hero_Of_Old yeah. I also think the fact that they tried to cram the whole book into a 2 hour film plus make changes to the story wasn't the best idea. A series would of been way better
I felt that thrive bit Oliver.
Interestingly, the only compelling part of the movie was Shrike. I assumed “Mortal Engines” referred to humans, while an “Immortal Engine”, at least potentially, was Shrike.
I read the book series... well, actually, I am still around 60% through the last novel... I just... havent read anything for a while...
edit: Im glad I watched this, I stopped watching last time because, well... the 60% through the last book bit...
I remember I made a report in Middle School - it had to be about our city, so I made it an archeological expedition by aliens visiting our city and trying to piece together what our society was like from what remained of our civilization. Alot of sci-fi and dystopia has used this idea - the Micky god joke was already made in Battlefield Earth. 1984, the Giver, Canticle for Libowtiz and Dune have also used it.
12:33 Oh look it´s shad!
Hammer on the Nail
I’m not media savvy and I’m currently looking for my books in the loft or wherever they ended up. I’ll try get in touch with you.
good video
Will you ever do any videos on the rest of the series?
I find it funny how Professor Pennyroyal’s first name means “fool”
On the topic of people misinterpreting/forgetting history and failing to reconstruct it using artifacts, the book "Riddley Walker" by Russell Hoban is one of my absolute favorite books about this
the GOAT imho.
This was the first book that made me cry when I was like 8/9
I want more goddamnit
Guess I’ll have to read the books after all.
I’ll be back in like... 6 months
0/10 not enough jurrasic rook
Maybe there never was any multiverse time travel, only a Nimrod cheating at chess.
welp, I'll get back to video in a year or 2 after I'm done reading em all lol
I love mortal engines but not a lot of people read the books. :(
Leave Shad alone! The man is a gem.
Have you ever read the Tales from the Ketty Jay series?
I remember reading these book and they also ended up being my favorite book series. I saw the film and thought it was ok but agree that the changes gutted it, and considering that the books were 10/10, going to a 4-5/10 feels just... disapointing. I feel like part of the problem is that traction cities, as a concept, don't work. When you explain them in a book, your imagination is just fuzzy enough that you can picture this hulking behemoth, and it somehow feels real. But the moment you draw one, or create one in a movie, they don't feel quite right. Even the best art I saw, which I still found quite good, was off. I think its because when a traction city is drawn you see the flaws that before your imagination glossed over like, "really, the wheels are that size?", "how does this eat another city?","how does a city of people fit on this?". Maybe in the future someone will have another go at making a movie of mortal engines, and I hope it is better than the previous one and if they can get the traction cities right then that would be a nice bonus.
All hail Kevin. Blessed be the regulations.
A comment for the CZcams gods!
Hester does discover she's Valentine's daughter at the end of the first book. She doesn't believe him, though, and it's only in the second book that she gets proof.
All hail Kevin.
It's true, I did come for the 5D chess...
But I stayed for the other stuff
Still haven't listened to any of the music though, funnily enough.
I love your videos, Oliver, but: The "Bronze Age Collapse" was anything BUT that. While it is certainly exciting to entertain these concepts, and hypothesize that we live in a "post-apocalyptic world," understand: that "collapse" affected an area smaller than the US state of Montana.
While it is doubtless that this series of events was traumatic for those few people who were inside of that very small part of the world, the remaining 99.99% of the world was completely unaffected.
Did you ever read Edge Chronicles?
It's about the Mortal Coil right?
Well, damn I just spoiled the end of the series 😂
hey should I read all the books?
The first book can be read standalone. The 3rd and 4th books should be read together. The 2nd book is like a connector/set up between the events of the 3rd and and 1st books. Overall the book is pretty good for a grim adult story compressed into a book made for 12 year olds. I think people who can appreciate people subverting story cliches and tropes might have a good time, as it is very subversive if read carefully.
Course this vid is going to do worse than 5d multiverse time travel chess, when the Terminator is pictured on the front, and this one... doesn't have that. Am curious about the average view duration though.
I AM THE SEA PEOPLES
A gods comment CZcams for the!
I hated Pennyroyal. I just wanted him to die. So well written.
0/10 not enough michelangelo's david
They should have mande one movie from the first 2 books. Or explain better some things in the 1st. Definetely a superb series.
27k views. Under 100 comments.
Now thats a level of apathy you just dont see these days...
Shad is right
The main characters die? See, this is exactly why I actually don't mind spoilers: It would have sucked if I had to read four entire books before finding that out.
green storm aren't fascist
is he a bigot?
Dude, you need to be careful talking shit about Pluto like that. Just because we named a planet and a cartoon dog after the same god of death doesn't mean he isn't an ancient god.