The initial furor over the March revelations that the creator of Tékumel, M.A.R. Barker, wrote a vile anti-Semitic novel and served on the advisory committee of a journal dedicated to Holocaust denial, has passed. Fans of Tékumel are again posting pictures of their miniatures and other photos and comments related to the mythos on Facebook and the handful of other Tékumel fan sites. Victor Raymond, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Tékumel Foundation, announced on May 6 that he would be running three Empire of the Petal Throne games at the North Texas RPG Con, June 2-6. There’ve been no further updates to Raymond’s March 23 announcement that the Foundation would be “coordinating with Jewish organizations,” “including information about Prof. Barker’s anti-Semitism on [its] website and in all material for sale,” and revising [its] guidelines to explicitly reject anti-Semitism and Nazi beliefs.”
A lot of what was written immediately after the revelations was misguided. Serpent’s Walk is not just a regular book of fiction, as some maintained. With all due respect to Dave Morris, whose work on Tékumel I respected, publishing an anti-Semitic novel including the most vile content with the most notorious U.S. Neo-Nazi publisher, while at the same time serving on a committee of a journal dedicated to Holocaust denial is not like writing The Man in the High Castle. On the other hand, claims that Barker often spouted anti-Semitism and that the Tékumel mythos is riddled with anti-Semitic content are also not true. There’s a reason fans were so surprised to learn of Barker’s inexcusable beliefs.
So what is the upshot of the recent revelations? Barker’s memory is certainly tarnished. Those who used an association with Barker as a reputational asset no longer will be able to do so. A significant fraction of Tékumel fans simply left the hobby, not able to stomach Tékumel given what they know about Barker. That said, fears that Neo-Nazis would somehow “take over” an abandoned Tékumel, which always seemed a little far-fetched, have not panned out. People posting on the various forums are by and large the same familiar names that have long posted on the forums. Tékumel is almost certainly dead as a commercial property – there will be no movie, video game, or major rerelease as an RPG. In short, a niche hobby with just a few fans is now even more of a niche hobby with even fewer fans.
The area that I am most qualified to discuss, the state of the market for Tékumel collectibles, is interesting. I have no statistics from Amazon etc. but impressionistically, based at looking at eBay and online comments, there does seem to have been a small burst of buying just after the revelations, presumably out of fear that items like the novel reprints sold on Amazon might be withdrawn from the market. Since that time, however, sales of collectibles have slowed and prices have been limp. For example, eight sets of Old Guard miniatures in the original packaging sold on May 15 for $199.00, less than they would have just a few months ago.
After a great deal of reflection, I will be continuing my own interest in the hobby (and will soon be posting my own pictures of miniatures). If I come across something in Tékumel that bothers me, then I can reassess. I do this without making any attempt to apologize for Barker, who had repugnant beliefs, we now know.
I’ve also arrived at a similar point. And, regarding an earlier question, I _can_ separate the creator from the creation. (Also thinking specifically of Howard & Lovecraft at the moment.) I didn’t know the man & only spoke with him twice on the phone in the early 80s. (Which was a thrill at the time.) Beyond my decades old fond associations & memories, Tekumel is an amazing creation & has brought me both much wonderful distraction & enjoyment. My Collection is testament to the Fun that I had playing EPT & my continued awe at the cohesive immersion of the entire work/s. It really is pretty special. And yes, I’m afraid that EPT/Tekumel always was, somehow, doomed to be “even more of a niche hobby with even fewer fans.” (Which really is a shame.) As you point out even more so now.
I have no answers to why that novel may have been written. Frankly, I don’t want to know. To me, it’s a shame that my appreciation and respect for the creator has been tainted by another one of his later creations. That hurts. But what came first, and so intensely for a special time, is still pretty amazing and special.
“You taste a faint smell like musty cinnamon . . . there are soft high chiming sounds just around the corner ahead. An odd blue glowing light is coming closer.” ROLL!
That’s what I choose to remember & celebrate &, yes, Collect. ~ Tom T
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I recently sold a couple of the old PHD Games miniatures (a Hluss Neuter Warrior and a Churstalli) and was surprised at the lack of bidding on what I thought would have been popular items.
I saw those. Dirt cheap compared to, for example, the Sro that sold before the revelations.
It’s stopped me bothering to list any more in truth. Not worth the effort!
After due consideration, I’m walking away completely. What Barker did was more than bad enough. The way so many of what I’d call his inner circle covered up his actions for years after his death and still, months after the facts came out, have made no demonstrable progress toward either explaining themselves or convincing me that they’re at all contrite about their own deeds – that’s the last nail in the coffin for me. This wasn’t just one man’s failing, it’s a whole group of people who lied to the broader community for close to a decade. Utterly inexcusable.
Tekumel is dead to me, and this will be the last time I read this site. Only came by today because I realized I’d failed to remove it from favorites when I purged everything else.