[TML] Training Heirs, was re: lifeboats

[Richard Aiken]

On 10/5/07, Michael Jenkins <darvedd at gmail.com> wrote:
> If it doesn't achieve the desired effect, you can always shoot him later!    :)

IIRC, part of the premise of the story was that all that had already
been tried.  The safari and it's guide were the heir's final chance to
show some basic decency.  He failed.

Plus, there's also the fact that if someone is destined to rule a
galaxy full of people, then he must be able to pick up on the subtext
of what's actually going on around him.  Even if the potential heir
*isn't* a decent sort (per Machiavelli, true decent sorts may make
poor rulers), he should be able to figure out what's really going on
or at the very least suspect that something else *is* going on.  If he
can't - or (worse) refuses to - see past mere appearances, then he'll
only become a puppet if he takes the throne.

Of course, there are certain interests which would *prefer* a puppet
Emperor . . . which is undoubtedly why the Emperors in the story
decide to use this extreme (and highly secret) method of culling their
own bloodline.

-- 
Richard Aiken

"Never insult anyone by accident."  Robert A. Heinlein