I’ve heard it’s from LOTR but I’m not very into that but want to understand what that foreshadows for this dystopian data grabbing nightmare company
Simplified: It’s a crystal ball that allows you to see through space. However, the target can also see you.
Think of it like one of those
cryingscrying (ducking autocorrect) balls from the Disney movies. Or a two-way-camera setup.Can’t wait for some terminally online dork with a python script to figure out that the god password for Palantir is “StudMuffin1234” and dump everything online, thus making the two-way aspect a reality…
EDIT: Just for the record, it’s been over 30 years since I read the books. I may remember it incorrectly.
The concept is used by Palantir the corporation to refer to the fact that they are placing the world under malevolent surveillance. And they’re clearly proud of that malevolence. Yucky.
The palantirs were mainly used by the evil side during the time the books are set in. Specifically, Sauron (main bad guy) uses it to draw Saruman (former good guy turned bad) to his side.
Only the LoTR books. In the earlier time periods they’re very much a tool of the “good guys” to communicate.
I knew someone was going to write that.
I couldn’t help myself:p
Only thing missing is the two way allows for the corrupting and controlling influence. Sauruman basically became the way he did by using them to much and he is from a class of beings that are about as resistant to the effects as can be.
crying balls
Hopefully you mean scrying, a crystal ball that cries sounds dreadful.
Hah! Terry Pratchett could have run with that.
Granny Weatherwax: “What’s wrong with your ball thingie? Looks leaky.”
Magrat: “Oh! I got it from Boffo Novelty and Joke Shop (No. 4, Tenth Egg Street, Ankh-Morpork). It’s supposed to be a top-of-the-line scrying ball!”
Weatherwax: “You got swindled you wet hen. That’s a crying ball if I ever sees one.”
Nanny Oog: “Now Granny, give young Magrat a break. Here honey, have a shot of this. Always puts me right on top of the world! And sometimes on the bottom, which is just as well.”
Weatherwax: “I can’t be havin’ with you two. Goats need fed.” (jump starts her crappy broom)
However, the target can also see you.
Not really…
If you knew what you were doing you could look anywhere
If you were a fool of a Took you just turned on a giant beacon that everyone who knew what they were doing and had their own immediately looked at.
Think of it like how some people “look for aliens” by beaming out a giant “hey, look at me! I don’t know what I’m doing!” Signal to anyone who can hear.
That’s what happened in LOTR. Then others used their own crystal balls to look at where the signal was and saw Pippen.
Literally nothing you said was correct.
Well, thanks for the links!
In addition to the other comments, when Gandalf, known for being among the wisest at the time, sees the lost seeing stone, he is immediately suspicious and wary.
Maybe you watched the movies and remember that scene where saruman doodles around with a sort of flaming crystal ball. Thats the thing. A two way spy/communications device specifically used by the bad guys.
Essentially they named their project after the totalitarian spy device of the worst guy and his corrupted (by that very device) sidekick in lotr**. Apparently that is aspirational to these people
**yes, i know sauron is not the actual bbeg but for the sake of someone who knows the movies at best i skipped last that.
Originally, The Great Elf Smith Feanor Created three gems (the Silmarils) that captured the light of the trees, Gold, Silver and combined gold and silver light, they were blessed and holy. They were Stolen by Melkor/Morgoth, w the help of Ungoliant, the Mother of Shelob. The Brothers of Feanor Spread out, and they Vowed to get the Silmarils Back, The Palantir were then created by Feanor so the brothers could coordinate w each other over distance. In LOTR, We see that Sauruman has one, and Sauron (Servant of Morgoth) Has one. - His power and influence worked through it, he could see the minds and the intentions of those who looked into it. Originally they were just for the Brothers to communicate. The Silmarillion is my favorite book, really worth reading, IMHO better than all the LOTR + Hobbit, Its the total Backstoiry/Prequel to LOTR and Tolkien Died before it was truly finished, His son Published it, and it’s brilliant.
Basically it’s really great to have this card out for yourself, and pretty horrible if it’s on your opponent’s side.
It’s Skype Middle Earth Edition™.
I mean, the artifact in LotR is magical. Reading too much into the name would be a mistake.
