Discussion Nudges for "The Hydraulic Emperor", by Arkady Martine
https://uncannymagazine.com/article/the-hydraulic-emperor/
Wordsmith Jarvinen - 21 Nov 2019

The story is titled after the name of an artifact within the story. An immersive film of 9 minutes and 27 seconds.

"Immersive film is not interactive. You’re just there, surrounded by someone’s multi-point vision, like a ghost. The film happens to you. Despite you. No matter what you do."

An alien auction where the value of what you bid is the level of sacrifice you feel.

What was Aeverill Kesily's goal in the auction? Who was he working for?

How did that affect the story?