One Virtue, and a Thousand Crimes
Short Story | Neil Gaiman | 2020
If I have come across a free source for consuming this adventure, I will list/link it here
Content Warning/s
Confusing timey wimey concepts
First Thoughts
Thank you Neil Gaiman for your delightful writing style and your addition to the whoniverse canon. I am now in love with the Corsair. I hope there is more to come!
When?
Hundred of years after the Imperial Edifice is made to be off-limits.
Where?
The Infinite Steps in the Imperial Edifice in City Obsidian, wherever that is.
Notable Quotes
"Next time round...or perhaps the time after that, I want a body of muscles. Big. Strapping. Made for hauling things, with one of those faces people just trust."
"The snake... swallows its tail. And we all wind up where we began."
Gadgets & Habadashery
The Corsair is basically dressed as a pirate. I love it.
The Corsair uses a "small silver box" with "cosmic cheat codes" to help open doors.
The Hand of Omega - a steallar manipulator and wicked hoverboard XD.
Accurate or Anachronistic?
Does the Corsair also travel in her TARDIS with the breaks on? (The same wheezing noise occurs when she dematerialises...) (Her TARDIS is a Type 60).
Death Count
0
Energy Alignment
We only get a short glimpse of the Doctor, but he is very much a grumpy old man who is so very young still.
The Corsair is giving me mystical vibes. She/They seem to be the type of person who loves to toe the line and see how much they can get away with.
Adventuring Mentions
This story is a part of the Hand of Omega arc. (The Corsair also suggests that it's their actions in the future which lead to the Hand of Omega being in City Obsidian).
The Corsair wishes to have a big and burly body, which makes me think of The Doctor's Wife; come to think of it, that episode is also written by Neil Gaiman!.
The Corsair tells the parrot about a time in the Doctor's timeline when she uses She/Her pronouns, when the Doctor gets the Corsair out of some "rather sticky trouble".
Screams!
0
Litmus Tests
The Bechtel and Race Bechtel tests; the parrot is not provided with a gender and the Corsair talks only to them and the white, male Doctor, so I would not say that this story passes these tests.
However, it is fantastic to note that this regeneration of the Corsair is a woman of colour!
Social Issue Focus
This story is written during Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. I would say this story is a reflection of that time for creativity.
And the moral of the story is...
I'm struggling a little to figure this out. I think the crux of this story is the circular nature of things/journeys. The Corsair's most special skill appears to be remembering everything which has or will happen; their own future and past. They see the circular nature of it all. They shared this with the parrot
Thoughts & Collections
Fanart
Nothing yet... link me.