Speaking of the Comyn

[james_davis_nicoll]

If you could overthrow one fictional set of aristocrats and nobles whose creator clearly thinks are the bee's knees, which lot would you pick?

I'm more inclined to be harshest towards the SFnal aristocracies, since they have actual history to have learned from.

Comments

[mindstalk.livejournal.com]

Stirling gave them lots of story breaks but I don't think he views them as "the bee's knees", except in the stylish evil sense.

Korval/Liaden are also ambiguous, since there's all that loving detail, but really the Houses are pricks, and Korval's reaction to exile is "Finally! see ya!" Of course *Korval* has noblesse oblige out of their pores and the authors do love them, but they actually work.

The Highborn of the Kencyrath would be tempting, though difficult. The poor Kendar.

Vor or haut? But Vor are changing and may not be bee's knees, and the haut almost certainly aren't.

Something Pournellian?

[almeda.livejournal.com]

You've reminded me that we've never once gotten a good look at what life looks like from a non-noble Cetagandan perspective.

[mindstalk.livejournal.com]

That's too weak. I don't think we've ever *met* -- I'm not sure Miles has ever seen -- a Cetagandan not of the haut or ghem classes. We're not 100% certain that ghem is a noble caste/class, vs. just "everyone else".

[wakboth.livejournal.com]

Well, there are the ba...