The most obvious difference between Onyx and Jasper in "Fireborn" is that Oynx tends to rely on experience when making decisions and Jasper relies on faith. This is the kind of thing I've seen in science fiction before and the author usually presents the two characters with some problem at which one succeeds and one fails either because of their faith or lack of faith. So with Onyx and Jasper's little exchange on p. 492:
"'Someday you'll die of not believing.'
'Someday you'll die of dreaming!'"
I definitely expected one of them to come out worse than the other. I was honestly surprised at the end when they end up together and relatively unharmed. They still have different goals and ambitions but each of them dealt with the fireborn a different way according to their personal philosophies and both made it out just fine.
I also found this surprising, and perhaps a bit disappointing because the entire story seemed to focus on their different perspectives of the fireborn and their different goals. I was actually looking forward to seeing how both Jasper and Onyx would end up, and I never would have guessed that it would have been together. It almost makes the story seem more common than a science fiction story, because it has a happy ending that does not seem typical of science fiction stories, especially since it was set up in such a way that it seemed almost impossible for the two characters to have the same outcome.
ReplyDeleteI definitely understand the notion that Onyx relies on experience and Jasper on faith. I believe the author tries to highlight their differences throughout the book, although he knows they will end up together. The story would not be as interesting if the two characters were very similar and ended up together. Sometimes opposites attract.
ReplyDeleteI actually enjoyed that both emerged relatively unharmed despite their differing views. It spoke to the legitimacy of both points of view. Sometimes you have to dream; take thing on faith BUT you also have to have some sense about you and draw from your experiences.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note: I'm glad Jasper and Onyx sabotaged their respective Fireborn "teachers" (?). Neither seemed particularly worthy of the reward they sought.