seems to me u have been reading robert howards conan the barbarian novels tk
or perhaps just the comics or seen the movie but thats besides the point
even conan became a successful king in the end which means he wuld have understood the difference between notions of personal honor & guile u need when leading a nation
"The complete 180 in firefighters made it hard for me to become immersed in the book though."
When every house is fireproof, the original job becomes obsolete. The houses became containment chambers where they could burn it to cinders and start anew.
What killed it for me was once he left the dystopian society. Before going into the woods was the best portion of the book, while the people who memorized stories just felt... lacking.
Effectively, if you leave one justicar in charge of reading the media before reporting it to you, you could very well end up making another Guy Montag. Anything that is both knowledgeable and taboo can make for a rebel radical, since knowledge is far more inflictive than physical force. Inevitably someone would question why you don't want certain information to become public, and if they can look at it themselves you grant them the means to unravel everything you've strived for.
"If you look at other honor bound, war-like societies like Feudal Japan you'll see shame and disgrace is considered a worse punishment than death. I'd imagine that would reinforce their loyalty."
That still has some of their humanity left intact, which while that makes for smarter warriors also gives them the potential to learn enough to cripple their efficiency and loyalty.
I think it could be pushed further with a sick enough mind at the helm through attempting to drive them insane in targeted ways.
"It'll be task like this I'll appoint to my more observant justiciar having him get a detailed report of what books come in from scavenging missions."
Ever read Fahrenheit 451?
They'd need to read it to recognize the damage before reporting it to you, wouldn't they?
"We already beat people who oppose our will to death in an arena. If not pain, public humiliation in an honor based society should be more than enough."
I was figuring something closer to breaking the minds of those who would later be psychologically conditioned into the proper warriors. Philosophy can adapt, brainwashing is rigid. Without their humanity intact they could change from people into tools.
"I was figuring something closer to breaking the minds of those who would later be psychologically conditioned into the proper warriors. Without their humanity intact they could change from people into tools."
That is exactly how the USMC shapes you, I'd try to be more unforgiving then my drill instructors. Part of the personal training I'd imagine I'd give. If you look at other honor bound, war-like societies like Feudal Japan you'll see shame and disgrace is considered a worse punishment than death. I'd imagine that would reinforce their loyalty.
"Ever read Fahrenheit 451?"
I have, interesting alternate reality in that book. The complete 180 in firefighters made it hard for me to become immersed in the book though.