The Navajo witch eradication campaign of 1878 was a significant event in the history of the Navajo people. It marked a time when the United States government, through its Indian agents, sought to suppress and eliminate traditional Navajo spiritual and cultural practices. The campaign took place in the aftermath of the Long Walk of the Navajo, when the Navajo people were forcibly removed from their homeland and relocated to Bosque Redondo, a reservation in eastern New Mexico. The Navajo people faced harsh conditions and widespread displacement, leading to the deterioration of their traditional way of life. As a result, the government's efforts to eradicate Navajo witchcraft were seen as a means of bringing order and control to the Navajo reservation. The campaign involved the appointment of John P.
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About the AuthorMartha Wells has written many fantasy novels, including Witch King, The Wizard Hunters, Wheel of the Infinite, the Books of the Raksura series beginning with The Cloud Roads and ending with The Harbors of the Sun , and the Nebula-nominated The Death of the Necromancer, as well as YA fantasy novels, short stories, and nonfiction. From the breakout SFF superstar author of Murderbot comes a remarkable story of power and friendship, of trust and betrayal, and of the families we choose.
The campaign involved the appointment of John P. Clum as Indian agent for the Navajo, who was tasked with implementing the policy of eradication. Clum was a staunch advocate for assimilation and conversion to Christianity, and he believed that Navajo witchcraft was a major obstacle to the Navajo people's progress and development.
Witch King by Martha Wells
After being murdered, his consciousness dormant and unaware of the passing of time while confined in an elaborate water trap, Kai wakes to find a lesser mage attempting to harness Kai’s magic to his own advantage. That was never going to go well.
But why was Kai imprisoned in the first place? What has changed in the world since his assassination? And why does the Rising World Coalition appear to be growing in influence?
Kai will need to pull his allies close and draw on all his pain magic if he is to answer even the least of these questions.
He’s not going to like the answers.
I loved the Murderbot books and was excited to dive into Martha Wells’ latest release, Witch King. It’s fantasy rather than sci-fi but I like both genres so my hopes were high.
The first problem was that the book starts with a “dramatis personae” – ie a cast list. It is long. Many of the names are complicated “fantasy names”; some of them are very similar and, there was just no way I was going to remember almost any of them. The cast list describes who they are, their race and/or role and where they might fit into the story. Or, at least, I expect that’s what the intention was. It’s completely useless on audio.
In a print book, one can go back and forth from the story to the front matter to refresh one’s memory about who is who. In an ebook, it’s harder but possible. (I think it would be annoying though.) On audio it’s just not an option.
Consequently, I started the book with only the blurb to help me. There is no explaining – I was just plunged into an entirely different world with many characters, most of whom I could not place. And, apart from about five or six of them, when they came up again, I couldn’t remember exactly who they were. I made it about a third of the way into the book but really at that point I was so lost and I had no real hope of ever being found. It’s not enjoyable to spend hours listening to something where my prevailing thoughts were “who is that?” and “what is happening?”. Most of the time, I could not answer those questions.
Added to that, the narration was unevenly paced with some parts being at a good speed and others being way too fast. It meant I couldn’t slow the entire listen to fix the problem. Mr. Mok had little differentiation between characters of different genders and that made it even harder to work out who was who. After a third of the story I really didn’t know all that much more about the world or the story than I had from the blurb.
Possibly Witch King is a great book. But it’s best read in print I believe. Maybe once a listener is familiar with the story and the cast (ie having read the book already) the listening experience would be entertaining. But for me, it was not.
I’m sorry to say Witch King was a DNF for me.
Tagged DNFUnder Clum's leadership, the campaign sought to identify and punish individuals believed to be practicing witchcraft. This often involved coercing Navajo people into providing information about suspected witches, and conducting raids on Navajo settlements to apprehend individuals accused of witchcraft. Once captured, these individuals were subjected to intimidation, interrogation, and punishment, often without due process. The campaign resulted in the imprisonment, exile, and execution of many Navajo individuals, further exacerbating tensions between the Navajo people and the U.S. government. While the eradication campaign was ultimately unsuccessful in permanently eradicating Navajo spirituality and culture, it had a lasting impact on the Navajo people. It served as a traumatic reminder of the U.S. government's attempts to forcefully suppress indigenous practices and impose its own religious and cultural beliefs. Today, the Navajo people continue to practice their traditional spiritual and cultural customs, although the memory of the witch eradication campaign remains an important part of their history and ongoing struggle for cultural preservation and sovereignty..
Reviews for "The Impact of Missionary Efforts on the Navajo Witch Eradication Campaign"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Navajo witch eradication campaign 1878". The book promised to shed light on a dark chapter of history, but instead, it felt like a superficial overview. The author failed to delve into the cultural and historical context of the events, and it left me with more questions than answers. Furthermore, the writing style was dry and lacked emotional depth, making it hard for me to connect with the characters and their experiences. Overall, I found the book to be a missed opportunity to explore an important topic in a meaningful way.
2. John - 1 star - I regret wasting my time reading "Navajo witch eradication campaign 1878". The author's approach to the subject matter was insensitive and disrespectful towards the Navajo community. It seemed like they were more interested in sensationalizing the events rather than presenting a balanced and well-researched account. Additionally, the writing was confusing and disjointed, making it difficult to follow the narrative. I would not recommend this book to anyone who is seeking a nuanced and respectful exploration of this historical period.
3. Emily - 2 stars - "Navajo witch eradication campaign 1878" was a letdown for me. The author seemed to have a biased perspective, portraying the Navajo people in a negative light throughout the book. It lacked empathy and failed to acknowledge the impact of colonization and cultural suppression on the events described. Furthermore, the pacing was slow, and the narrative lacked cohesion. I struggled to stay engaged and found myself skimming through pages. Overall, I was hoping for a more insightful and balanced account of this historical event, but unfortunately, this book fell short of my expectations.