Our Revels Now Are Ended by Thomas Ha (audio)
Summary
This episode features the story "Our Revels Now Are Ended" by Thomas Ha, hosted by Kate Baker. The narrative follows a subject in a simulated library being interrogated by Saul, an academic consultant testing candor as an interrogation technique. As multiple simulacra run simultaneously, the subject challenges Saul’s reality, suggesting the state may be using these simulations to test loyalty rather than extract information. The story explores themes of memory, identity, and the psychological toll of state surveillance.
Topics discussed
Introduction and author biography for Thomas Ha
The protagonist wakes in a library simulacra
Meeting Sol and discussing the nature of simulacra
Interrogation techniques and memory tampering
Encountering other Sauls and the concept of loyalty
Philosophical debate on consciousness and reality
The threat of the weapon and state control
Personal history, West Circle, and shared trauma
The collapse of the simulacra and final reflections
Outro and closing remarks
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