Cursed Mage is dystopian fiction masked in paranormal fantasy
I call Cursed Mage a dystopian fiction tale that emerges from the woodwork of paranormal fantasy when Kaija discovers a shocking truth.
On the surface, Cursed Mage looks like a Spirit Legacy-inspired paranormal fantasy that some readers have even called an urban fantasy. And maybe it is, but when you read the book closely, you’ll see why I call it dystopian fiction.
I set Cursed Mage in a world parallel to ours, but one that’s more tech-advanced. Think later 21st or even into the 22nd century. One where technocrats can watch every move that every one in the masses makes.
Most people in this tech-advanced society, fused with magical elements, know about the mass surveillance taking place here. But the Moors, people who don’t possess Mage ability and can’t control elemental magic, don’t know that such magical elements are used to continually fuel the technocratic state.
It’s not much different from what you see in today’s world, where so many still believe politicians, the mainstream media, and unelected bureaucrats and experts have society’s best interests at heart. Even if all of the above don’t know them personally, and refuse to look at them as individuals.
Dystopian fiction elements mimic what we’re seeing in the 21st century
In the real world, we have phones that the surveillance state can track 24/7. In the world of Catenary where Cursed Mage takes place, they got watch phones that, when pressed, a hologram will emerge. From there, it works like a touchscreen phone that we’ve grown so used to.
And yes, the government tracks everyone who has one of these bad boys. You can bet that, given how many people have smartphones in our world, virtually the entire population in Kaija’s world wears a watch that functions the same way.
But technology’s not the only thing keeping people in line. While I don’t show this in Cursed Mage, it’s implied during the book and confirmed at the end, that specific student organizations and societies within each college campus look kind, welcoming, and helpful on the surface.
But when one digs deep, they’re nothing but outlets that spread propaganda for the superpower nation of Vimsinew.
Think of them as something related to “cultural centers” even, whose more prominent members secretly look for patterns when speaking to general members and keep close watch on anyone they deem a threat to go against mainstream narratives.
What are these mainstream narratives, anyway?
Think about what’s going on in America and the world in the 21st century. We’ll save the political theater between a duopoly that doesn’t agree on anything for another discussion. I don’t care about them right now.
What I do care about is the good old “horseshoe theory,” and how it pertains to Cursed Mage. For the uninitiated, one interpretation of the “horseshoe theory” exposes how both parties on opposite sides of the political spectrum are more alike than they otherwise want to believe.
And latching onto mainstream narratives is one way they drive that point home. Well, when their party’s in power, that is. So what narratives are we talking about?
- Hawkish foreign policy: Because when our party leads the charge, it’s fine.
- Debts don’t matter: Because when our party’s spending, it’s for the ‘greater good.’
- Prussian model education: Because the curriculum our party forces everyone under is morally just.
- Funding public projects: Because when our party funds something, it’s a public necessity.
You can point to many things, but you get the gist. Both parties are fine with forcing the masses to live under their thumb for their “own good.”
The same thing rings true here. The Augury and Mercenary Parties are only supporting foreign entanglements when their party’s calling the shots. Ditto for debts, strict education models, and public projects that the people might want.
And if you have enough balls to critique it, they’ll gaslight you. Criticize hawkish foreign policy? You must hate freedom and democracy. Have a problem with government spending? You don’t care about poor people.
Against paying your “fair share” to fund public schools? You don’t care about children. Don’t like your tax dollars going to public projects? You must not care about your community.
And if you criticize mass surveillance both parties love?
Let’s face it: Repubs and Dems love mass surveillance; they just want to be the ones controlling it. In Cursed Mage, don’t let either party fool you. They also love surveillance, which is one of many reasons why you can call it dystopian fiction.
But if you criticize it here in the real world? Oh, they’ll just claim “you don’t care about safety.”
Criticize it the way some do in Cursed Mage and Astray Mage? Chances are, they’ll keep a closer eye on you. Get more vocal about it, and you might wind up in a notorious institution for some “re-education,” and brace yourself for soft torture.
In other words, it’s dangerous to criticize the powers that be in a society full of mass surveillance. Both in our own world and in the world of Catenary.
Are you ready to dive into this dark paranormal fantasy, complete with dystopian fiction elements that’ll make your skin crawl and hate the surveillance state even more?
Get Cursed Mage from my own store as opposed to that big online book outlet that tracks every damn thing you buy, and get it for a better price.
