The Stone Sky

by Jemisin, N. K.

“The Stone Sky” by N.K. Jemisin is the concluding volume of the Broken Earth trilogy, a groundbreaking fantasy series. The story follows Essun, a mother and orogene with earth-manipulating powers, as she races against time to save her daughter Nassun and prevent the apocalyptic destruction of their world. Themes of oppression, resilience, and the cyclical nature of violence are explored through Jemisin’s intricate world-building and layered characters. The novel delves into the origins of the moon’s disappearance and the catastrophic consequences for the planet. Jemisin’s innovative narrative structure and profound exploration of societal trauma earned the trilogy unprecedented back-to-back Hugo Awards. The Stone Sky masterfully ties together the series’ complex threads while delivering a poignant commentary on power, sacrifice, and redemption.

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The Stone Sky

Chapter 16: SYL ANAGIST: ONE

by Jemisin, N. K.

The chapter opens with the unexpected removal of Kelenli, a key figure, by Conductor Gallat and other high-ranking officials. The narrator, part of a group called the tuners, observes the interaction with a mix of fear and protectiveness. Gallat, the cruelest of the conductors, confronts Kelenli about her refusal to conform, revealing his emotional vulnerability when she remains calm and detached. The tension between them underscores a power dynamic where Kelenli’s defiance challenges Gallat’s authority, even as he relies on her expertise for the Plutonic Engine project.

Kelenli’s dismissal of the tuners before leaving is a calculated act to protect them from further scrutiny. The narrator understands her strategy—feigning indifference to shorten collective punishment—but struggles with the emotional weight of her departure. Gallat, now irritable, hurriedly escorts the tuners to a vehimal, ignoring their basic needs. The other conductors gossip about Kelenli’s defiance, questioning her value, but Gallat defends her contributions, highlighting her indispensable role in the project’s progress.

During the journey, the narrator observes the subtle discrimination Gallat faces due to his Niess-like traits, which the other conductors disdain. This revelation adds depth to Gallat’s harsh behavior, suggesting he perpetuates his own marginalization onto the tuners. The narrator, though afraid of Gallat, chooses bravery for Kelenli’s sake and confronts him about his anger toward her. The question unsettles Gallat, and the narrator holds his gaze, channeling collective resentment through the network.

The chapter closes with unresolved tension as the narrator’s defiance mirrors Kelenli’s earlier resistance. The interaction exposes Gallat’s fragility and the tuners’ growing awareness of their own power. The dynamics between the conductors and the tuners reflect broader themes of control, exploitation, and the silent resistance of the oppressed. The narrator’s courage marks a pivotal moment, hinting at a shift in the group’s passive acceptance of their subjugation.

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FAQs

1. What is the significance of Kelenli’s behavior when she is taken away by Conductor Gallat, and how does it reflect the dynamics between the tuners and the conductors?

Answer:
Kelenli’s calm, detached demeanor when confronted by Gallat mirrors the survival strategies employed by the tuners. The text reveals that tuners often pretend not to care when one of their own is punished to shorten the punishment and avoid drawing further attention. Kelenli adopts this tactic by speaking dismissively and leaving without farewells, demonstrating her understanding of the power dynamics. This interaction also highlights the conductors’ perception of tuners as tools rather than people—Gallat’s hurt reaction to Kelenli’s indifference underscores his emotional complexity, contrasting with the tuners’ conditioned stoicism.

2. Analyze the racial and social tensions surrounding Conductor Gallat. How do these tensions influence his behavior toward the tuners?

Answer:
Gallat faces discrimination due to his possible Niess ancestry, evidenced by his pale skin and ice-white eyes—traits associated with the extinct Niess people. Despite his high rank, other conductors dismiss him as inferior, questioning his judgment and attributing Kelenli’s competence to a “genegineering defect.” This systemic disdain fuels Gallat’s anger, which he redirects toward the tuners, perpetuating a cycle of cruelty. The chapter suggests his harsh treatment of the tuners stems from his own marginalization, as he asserts dominance over the only group deemed socially beneath him. This reveals how oppression begets oppression within Syl Anagist’s hierarchical society.

3. What critical insight does the narrator gain about the Plutonic Engine project during the conversation between Gallat and the other conductors?

Answer:
The narrator learns that the tuners are essential to accelerating the Plutonic Engine’s development. Gallat defends Kelenli’s input by stating that her suggestions have been consistently correct, emphasizing that without the tuners’ sensory capabilities, the engine would require “seventy years of priming” before testing. This reveals the project’s reliance on the tuners’ unique biology to optimize the machine—a fact the other conductors resent, as they view both Kelenli and the tuners as “obsolete prototypes.” This moment underscores the ethical conflict of exploiting sentient beings for technological advancement while dehumanizing them.

4. How does the narrator’s decision to confront Gallat demonstrate personal growth, and what risks does it entail?

Answer:
The narrator, who admits to fearing Gallat, consciously chooses bravery to honor Kelenli. By asking Gallat why he is angry—and maintaining eye contact, a taboo behavior—the narrator asserts agency despite the risk of punishment. This defiance contrasts with the tuners’ usual passive compliance. The act is strategic: the narrator times the question when other conductors are distracted and weaponizes Gallat’s emotional vulnerability, noting how his “weak, primitive sessapinae” cannot detect their simmering resentment. This marks a shift from survival tactics to active resistance, hinting at the narrator’s emerging individuality within the collective network.

5. Interpret the symbolic meaning of the “local engine fragment” (the amethyst) that Kelenli insists the tuners must see. Why is witnessing its “socket” crucial?

Answer:
The amethyst fragment represents both the Plutonic Engine’s physical manifestation and the tuners’ constrained existence. Kelenli insists the tuners see its socket—the structure enabling its growth—to foster a visceral understanding of their role in the engine’s expansion. While they “live in its shadow,” theoretical knowledge is insufficient; they must confront the reality of their labor’s purpose. This aligns with Kelenli’s broader subversion, as she uses Gallat’s dismissal to plant seeds of awareness. The socket may symbolize the tuners’ own embeddedness in the system, suggesting that true comprehension could inspire resistance or transformation.

Quotes

1. “We are the machine’s tuners; we ourselves must be attuned for the good of the project. That this process sometimes causes pain or fear or decommissioning to the briar patch is … incidental.”

This quote encapsulates the chilling utilitarian logic of Syl Anagist’s system, where the protagonists are seen as expendable components in a larger machine. It reveals the dehumanizing (or de-personhood-izing) perspective of the conductors toward the tuners.

2. “And as we so often do, she and he are having a conversation that has nothing to do with the words coming from their mouths.”

This observation highlights the complex power dynamics and unspoken tensions between Kelenli and Gallat, showing how much communication happens beneath surface words in their society. It also demonstrates the narrator’s growing awareness of social subtleties.

3. “Because she’s been right in every suggestion she’s made thus far… When a machine’s sensors are capable of telling you exactly what’s wrong and exactly how to make the whole thing work more efficiently, it’s stupid not to pay heed.”

Gallat’s defense of Kelenli reveals both her importance to the project and the paradox of their society - they rely on those they consider inferior. This quote shows the tension between prejudice and pragmatism in Syl Anagist’s hierarchy.

4. “I want him to feel this conversation, even if his weak, primitive sessapinae cannot tell him that my jealousy and resentment have raised the temperature of the city’s water table by two degrees.”

This powerful statement demonstrates the narrator’s growing defiance and the immense, often suppressed capabilities of the tuners. It contrasts their sophisticated perception with the conductors’ limitations while showing emotional development.

5. “If he did not pass on the favor in his dealings with us, I would pity him. As it is, I am afraid of him. I always have been afraid of him. But for Kelenli, I decide to be brave.”

This shows the narrator’s complex understanding of oppression cycles and marks a turning point in their personal development - choosing courage despite fear, motivated by loyalty to Kelenli.

Quotes

1. “We are the machine’s tuners; we ourselves must be attuned for the good of the project. That this process sometimes causes pain or fear or decommissioning to the briar patch is … incidental.”

This quote encapsulates the chilling utilitarian logic of Syl Anagist’s system, where the protagonists are seen as expendable components in a larger machine. It reveals the dehumanizing (or de-personhood-izing) perspective of the conductors toward the tuners.

2. “And as we so often do, she and he are having a conversation that has nothing to do with the words coming from their mouths.”

This observation highlights the complex power dynamics and unspoken tensions between Kelenli and Gallat, showing how much communication happens beneath surface words in their society. It also demonstrates the narrator’s growing awareness of social subtleties.

3. “Because she’s been right in every suggestion she’s made thus far… When a machine’s sensors are capable of telling you exactly what’s wrong and exactly how to make the whole thing work more efficiently, it’s stupid not to pay heed.”

Gallat’s defense of Kelenli reveals both her importance to the project and the paradox of their society - they rely on those they consider inferior. This quote shows the tension between prejudice and pragmatism in Syl Anagist’s hierarchy.

4. “I want him to feel this conversation, even if his weak, primitive sessapinae cannot tell him that my jealousy and resentment have raised the temperature of the city’s water table by two degrees.”

This powerful statement demonstrates the narrator’s growing defiance and the immense, often suppressed capabilities of the tuners. It contrasts their sophisticated perception with the conductors’ limitations while showing emotional development.

5. “If he did not pass on the favor in his dealings with us, I would pity him. As it is, I am afraid of him. I always have been afraid of him. But for Kelenli, I decide to be brave.”

This shows the narrator’s complex understanding of oppression cycles and marks a turning point in their personal development - choosing courage despite fear, motivated by loyalty to Kelenli.

FAQs

1. What is the significance of Kelenli’s behavior when she is taken away by Conductor Gallat, and how does it reflect the dynamics between the tuners and the conductors?

Answer:
Kelenli’s calm, detached demeanor when confronted by Gallat mirrors the survival strategies employed by the tuners. The text reveals that tuners often pretend not to care when one of their own is punished to shorten the punishment and avoid drawing further attention. Kelenli adopts this tactic by speaking dismissively and leaving without farewells, demonstrating her understanding of the power dynamics. This interaction also highlights the conductors’ perception of tuners as tools rather than people—Gallat’s hurt reaction to Kelenli’s indifference underscores his emotional complexity, contrasting with the tuners’ conditioned stoicism.

Answer:
Gallat faces discrimination due to his possible Niess ancestry, evidenced by his pale skin and ice-white eyes—traits associated with the extinct Niess people. Despite his high rank, other conductors dismiss him as inferior, questioning his judgment and attributing Kelenli’s competence to a “genegineering defect.” This systemic disdain fuels Gallat’s anger, which he redirects toward the tuners, perpetuating a cycle of cruelty. The chapter suggests his harsh treatment of the tuners stems from his own marginalization, as he asserts dominance over the only group deemed socially beneath him. This reveals how oppression begets oppression within Syl Anagist’s hierarchical society.

3. What critical insight does the narrator gain about the Plutonic Engine project during the conversation between Gallat and the other conductors?

Answer:
The narrator learns that the tuners are essential to accelerating the Plutonic Engine’s development. Gallat defends Kelenli’s input by stating that her suggestions have been consistently correct, emphasizing that without the tuners’ sensory capabilities, the engine would require “seventy years of priming” before testing. This reveals the project’s reliance on the tuners’ unique biology to optimize the machine—a fact the other conductors resent, as they view both Kelenli and the tuners as “obsolete prototypes.” This moment underscores the ethical conflict of exploiting sentient beings for technological advancement while dehumanizing them.

4. How does the narrator’s decision to confront Gallat demonstrate personal growth, and what risks does it entail?

Answer:
The narrator, who admits to fearing Gallat, consciously chooses bravery to honor Kelenli. By asking Gallat why he is angry—and maintaining eye contact, a taboo behavior—the narrator asserts agency despite the risk of punishment. This defiance contrasts with the tuners’ usual passive compliance. The act is strategic: the narrator times the question when other conductors are distracted and weaponizes Gallat’s emotional vulnerability, noting how his “weak, primitive sessapinae” cannot detect their simmering resentment. This marks a shift from survival tactics to active resistance, hinting at the narrator’s emerging individuality within the collective network.

5. Interpret the symbolic meaning of the “local engine fragment” (the amethyst) that Kelenli insists the tuners must see. Why is witnessing its “socket” crucial?

Answer:
The amethyst fragment represents both the Plutonic Engine’s physical manifestation and the tuners’ constrained existence. Kelenli insists the tuners see its socket—the structure enabling its growth—to foster a visceral understanding of their role in the engine’s expansion. While they “live in its shadow,” theoretical knowledge is insufficient; they must confront the reality of their labor’s purpose. This aligns with Kelenli’s broader subversion, as she uses Gallat’s dismissal to plant seeds of awareness. The socket may symbolize the tuners’ own embeddedness in the system, suggesting that true comprehension could inspire resistance or transformation.

FAQs

1. What is the significance of Kelenli’s behavior when she is taken away by Conductor Gallat, and how does it reflect the dynamics between the tuners and the conductors?

2. Analyze the racial and social tensions surrounding Conductor Gallat. How do these tensions influence his behavior toward the tuners?

3. What critical insight does the narrator gain about the Plutonic Engine project during the conversation between Gallat and the other conductors?

4. How does the narrator’s decision to confront Gallat demonstrate personal growth, and what risks does it entail?

5. Interpret the symbolic meaning of the “local engine fragment” (the amethyst) that Kelenli insists the tuners must see. Why is witnessing its “socket” crucial?

Quotes

1. “We are the machine’s tuners; we ourselves must be attuned for the good of the project. That this process sometimes causes pain or fear or decommissioning to the briar patch is … incidental.”

2. “And as we so often do, she and he are having a conversation that has nothing to do with the words coming from their mouths.”

3. “Because she’s been right in every suggestion she’s made thus far… When a machine’s sensors are capable of telling you exactly what’s wrong and exactly how to make the whole thing work more efficiently, it’s stupid not to pay heed.”

4. “I want him to feel this conversation, even if his weak, primitive sessapinae cannot tell him that my jealousy and resentment have raised the temperature of the city’s water table by two degrees.”

5. “If he did not pass on the favor in his dealings with us, I would pity him. As it is, I am afraid of him. I always have been afraid of him. But for Kelenli, I decide to be brave.”

Quotes

1. “We are the machine’s tuners; we ourselves must be attuned for the good of the project. That this process sometimes causes pain or fear or decommissioning to the briar patch is … incidental.”

2. “And as we so often do, she and he are having a conversation that has nothing to do with the words coming from their mouths.”

3. “Because she’s been right in every suggestion she’s made thus far… When a machine’s sensors are capable of telling you exactly what’s wrong and exactly how to make the whole thing work more efficiently, it’s stupid not to pay heed.”

4. “I want him to feel this conversation, even if his weak, primitive sessapinae cannot tell him that my jealousy and resentment have raised the temperature of the city’s water table by two degrees.”

5. “If he did not pass on the favor in his dealings with us, I would pity him. As it is, I am afraid of him. I always have been afraid of him. But for Kelenli, I decide to be brave.”

FAQs

1. What is the significance of Kelenli’s behavior when she is taken away by Conductor Gallat, and how does it reflect the dynamics between the tuners and the conductors?

2. Analyze the racial and social tensions surrounding Conductor Gallat. How do these tensions influence his behavior toward the tuners?

3. What critical insight does the narrator gain about the Plutonic Engine project during the conversation between Gallat and the other conductors?

4. How does the narrator’s decision to confront Gallat demonstrate personal growth, and what risks does it entail?

5. Interpret the symbolic meaning of the “local engine fragment” (the amethyst) that Kelenli insists the tuners must see. Why is witnessing its “socket” crucial?