The Stone Sky
Chapter 2: YOU, IN WAKING AND DREAMING
by Jemisin, N. K.The chapter introduces Essun, the last surviving orogene capable of opening the Obelisk Gate, reflecting on her unexpected rise to power. Once a mediocre Fulcrum-trained orogene, Essun was deemed unremarkable and compliant, which allowed her the freedom to accompany Alabaster on a mission. This decision set her on a path of destruction, accidentally wiping out towns and losing loved ones, including her son Uche and daughter Nassun. Despite her regrets, Essun’s journey has transformed her into the world’s most powerful orogene, though her power comes at a cost—her body is slowly turning to stone, mirroring Alabaster’s fate.
Essun’s current state is one of semi-consciousness, caught between waking and dreaming as she recovers from the strain of wielding immense power. She is cared for by a group of ash-covered travelers, who carry her on a stretcher and tend to her basic needs. The world around her is bleak, engulfed in a prolonged Season without sunlight, where survival is a daily struggle. Essun’s detachment from physical sensations like hunger and fear underscores her altered state, as she drifts in and out of awareness.
The chapter delves into Essun’s dual missions: her responsibility to catch the Moon and end the Fifth Seasons, as tasked by Alabaster and the stone eaters, and her personal desire to reclaim her daughter Nassun from her abusive father. These goals are fraught with urgency, as her deteriorating body hints at limited time. The narrative hints at impending revelations about Nassun’s fate, adding tension to Essun’s already dire circumstances. Her power, while unparalleled, is a double-edged sword, accelerating her physical decline.
As Essun gradually regains full consciousness, she observes her surroundings with detached curiosity, recognizing familiar rituals of survival among the travelers. The arrival of Hjarka, a familiar face, signals a return to reality, though Essun’s thoughts remain fragmented. The chapter closes with a sense of unresolved tension, as Essun’s physical and emotional struggles intertwine with the broader apocalyptic backdrop, setting the stage for her next steps in a world on the brink of collapse.
FAQs
1. How does Essun’s past with the Fulcrum contrast with her current role as the most powerful orogene?
Answer:
Essun began as an unremarkable orogene in the Fulcrum, perceived as “safe” and limited by her conformity to their system. Unlike Alabaster, she was not considered exceptional or innovative. However, her freedom from the Fulcrum allowed her to unlock her true potential, culminating in her ability to open the Obelisk Gate and wield immense power. This shift highlights the Fulcrum’s role in suppressing orogenes rather than nurturing them. Essun’s current might—marked by her ability to save Castrima and her growing mastery of magic—stands in stark contrast to her earlier stagnation, underscoring the theme of liberation from oppressive systems.2. What are the two conflicting “jobs” Essun faces, and how do they reflect her internal struggle?
Answer:
Essun’s primary mission is to “catch the Moon” and end the Fifth Seasons, a task entrusted to her by Alabaster and the stone eaters. This duty aligns with her role as a savior of humanity. However, her personal desire is to find and rescue her daughter, Nassun, from her abusive father. These goals conflict because the former demands her focus on global survival, while the latter is driven by maternal love and guilt over her fractured family. This duality reflects her struggle between responsibility and personal longing, a tension that defines her character arc.3. Analyze the significance of Essun’s physical transformation (turning to stone) and its parallels to Alabaster’s fate.
Answer:
Essun’s gradual petrification, starting with her right arm, mirrors Alabaster’s deterioration and symbolizes the cost of wielding obelisk magic. Both characters sacrifice their humanity for power, with Alabaster’s death serving as a cautionary tale. The transformation also represents the burden of their roles: to end the Seasons, they must endure irreversible damage. This physical decay underscores the novel’s themes of sacrifice and the corrosive nature of power, suggesting that even world-saving actions come at a profound personal cost.4. How does the chapter depict Essun’s psychological state during her “reboot” period, and what does it reveal about her resilience?
Answer:
Essun’s semi-conscious state—aware but detached—illustrates her mental and physical exhaustion after channeling immense power. She observes her surroundings passively, relying on others for basic needs like food and hygiene, yet remains emotionally numb. This detachment reflects both trauma and a survival mechanism, allowing her to endure extreme circumstances without breaking. Her eventual reawakening, marked by recognition of Hjarka, signals her resilience. Despite her suffering, she persists, embodying the novel’s exploration of endurance in the face of apocalyptic adversity.5. Evaluate the chapter’s portrayal of survival in a Fifth Season, using details about the ash-covered environment and the travelers’ routines.
Answer:
The chapter vividly depicts the harsh realities of a prolonged Season: ash blankets everything, temperatures hover near freezing, and survival depends on meticulous routines (e.g., ash-proof clothing, timed breaks). The travelers’ uniformity—masked, swathed in layers—highlights the erasure of individuality in crisis. Essun’s stretcher-bearers move with practiced efficiency, emphasizing communal effort. These details underscore the novel’s focus on adaptation and the fragility of civilization, where even basic acts (like eating) require collective coordination. The environment itself becomes a character, relentless and indifferent to human struggle.
Quotes
1. “You were once of the Fulcrum, but not a rising star like Alabaster. You were a feral, found in the wild, unique only in that you had more innate ability than the average rogga born by random chance.”
This quote introduces Essun’s fraught relationship with power and systemic oppression, highlighting her underdog status despite her latent potential. It frames her journey from being underestimated to becoming the world’s most powerful orogene.
2. “Joke’s on them; how many towns have you wiped out now? One semi-intentionally. The other three were accidents, but really, does that matter? Not to the dead.”
A darkly ironic reflection on Essun’s unintended consequences of power, questioning the moral weight of intention versus outcome. This encapsulates the novel’s recurring theme of collateral damage in survival.
3. “You’ve got a job to do, courtesy of Alabaster and the nebulous faction of stone eaters who’ve been quietly trying to end the ancient war between life and Father Earth.”
This pivotal statement reveals Essun’s cosmic-scale mission, tying personal struggle to planetary salvation. It marks the shift from personal survival narrative to mythic responsibility.
4. “Life endures. It doesn’t need to do so enthusiastically.”
A stark, poetic summation of the novel’s existential core - survival as mechanical persistence rather than triumphant will. This resonates with Essun’s numb state of being between life and stone.
5. “Guess I lose that bet with Tonkee.”
Hjarka’s dry remark upon finding Essun alive serves as both dark humor and subtle worldbuilding, revealing how communities persist even in apocalypse. It provides a human counterpoint to the chapter’s cosmic stakes.