Realis 13: Conference on Clouded Dokine 05

"Knowledge is power."

Is there any phrase more empty? It is the pablum of the rhetorician, it is axiom dressed in the tabard of apprehension. Of course knowledge is power, everything is power. Power is the great uniter, the great medium, the one true force. There is no violence-in-itself, there is only violence-power. There is no death, there is only death-power. There is no love, no lust, no fate, no politic, no function, no calculus, alone! Love-power. Lust-power. Fate-power. Politic-power. Function-power. Calculus-power. Dare I say, even the light of Realis-Itself—must travel through power, must be leveraged by it, if it is to affect the Thousand Moons.

Perhaps, though, there is a lesson of knowledge-power to consider: It is common to hear that pap and think that it is a bidding to learn, so that one may be empowered. Such arrogance. Do you not learn of the blade’s sharpness when you nick your thumb? Do you not learn of the heart’s frailty, when you learn of betrayal? Do you not wish, on the long orbit near the Corpse Sun or sliding across the ravenous Void below, that you could forget what it is you’ve seen?

So know, listener: If you yet tread forward, then step lightly. Lest you learn too much, and be pulled into the fate of another...

Hosted by Austin Walker (@austinwalker on bluesky)

Featuring Art Martinez-Tebbel, Keith J Carberry and Ali Acampora

Produced by Ali Acampora

Music by Jack de Quidt (available on bandcamp)

Cover Art by by Oddesque

With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint

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