The ending to Sabres of Paradise offers a sober counterpart to the high passions of the previous two parts. The story of a rebellion that even in defeat refuses to be forgotten shifts into the story of a man who, in captivity, refuses to sacrifice his dignity and faces his new life and coming death with grace few can imitate. We count down all the pieces that fall into place as history marches on past the Murid Rebellion. The hostages return to their homes, the Russian Empire consolidates its victories in Ozymandian pride, and mountains still stand. Closing this book felt like saying goodbye to a world we were immersed in for months. We can't wait to return to the Caucasus.

Opening Song: Laudanum by Velvet Cacoon

Closing Song: Dag Lezginka by Oleksandr Nepytailenko

It won't be the last we see of it, but this is as far as the Universal Century goes.

In some ways compromised but never boring or lacking ambition, Victory Gundam is a true Tomino original and one of our favorite things that we've covered so far.

For this discussion we discuss the motivations of colonization's middle-managers, inter-generational conflicts vs. cooperation, and more on Lupe Cineau's psychology than is probably merited.

Join us next time as we wrap up the third and final installment of Sabres of Paradise, and next, Fighter G Gundam.

Part two of Lesley Blanch's Sabres of Paradise is takes us beyond beyond introductions and scene setting and places the reader in the middle of the push and pull of rebellion. (Though many scenes are still set and characters introduced in Lesley Blanch's signature prose). The Russians acclimate to fighting in the Caucasus and the people of the Caucasus hold fast under the relentless onslaught of Russian invasion. We discuss where Murid resistance frays in the examples of Hamzad Beg and Shamyl's own son, the early examples of guerilla tactics and counter-insurgency present in the Murid War, the and the terrifying counterfactual of horse-sized war cats.

Intro and outro Music: Laudanum by Velvet Cacoon