Like many with colonial ancestry I have to work to understand the generational trauma of Residential Schools and the systemic mistreatment of Indigenous people. It’s still new to consider such things in public. The last residential school only closed in 1996, and I still remember the limited and sanitized history we were taught in school. Luckily, I’ve had very generous Indigenous friends who were patient enough to offer guidance on my path of unlearning much of that education, helping me learn more honest histories. I feel like Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson continued this generosity by pulling back the veil a little bit further, showing how trauma can manifest in ways I hadn’t fully appreciated or understood before.

I found out from one of the younger guys that I run games for, that his highschool english teacher had his class read this book. I wonder if I would have appreciated it as much if I had a book like this when I was living in the North. I have to admit, it was a different time and place, still is in many ways—I honestly don’t think I would have gotten the same out of it as I do now that I know more.

Reflecting on the North

I don’t go North, physically or mentally, much anymore. I’m not ready in my therapy to confront that trauma. It was refreshing to read something set in towns and places I knew. While not Indigenous, and can never truly understand the generational trauma layered into the story, I could relate to some of the other emotions the story portrayed by small town and low income—feeling different, feeling alone even when surrounded by people, and the feeling that you are stuck in situations out of loyalty or because that’s just what you do.

When Jared finds someone that seems to give him a modicum of what stability can feel like, only to have that ripped away because of the decisions of others and/or because you don’t know any better—I felt that to my core. I understand the desire to mute those feelings you don’t want to feel, and how intoxicating and painful that kind of love can become, no matter how unwise it might be.

The Power of Emotional Storytelling in Games

As I write this I realize, while I don’t want to life in a small town, how much I’ve grown since those small town days. Many times I wanted to reach into the book and hug Jared, I think I was really wanting to hug myself. I didn’t want to admit this at first, I felt I was getting deeper and more personal than I think my original idea for Appendix Lit was built for. Then I remembered part of a book club is to have a safe space to discuss what you got from the book. I set out to select books that would challenge my western-saturated perspective. Part of that is confronting these uncomfortable emotions, and as my therapist would as, sitting with them for a bit. From a game perspective I can’t make a scenario in a game believable if I can’t draw on and convey the needed feelings.

Handling Trauma in Games with Care

I think it’s really important to acknowledge how vital it is for non-Indigenous people—especially white people—to not use the Indigenous cultural background aspects used in the book. There’s a huge responsibility in respecting these elements. When drawing inspiration, you need to tread very carefully and correctly. This is inspiration, do not let it become appropriation.

Also, using its NPCs as sources of trauma would have to be done with permission and full consideration of the whole table. Using these elements without care could get very real, very fast. It’s essential that they’re handled correctly and with full consent. 

Why Son of a Trickster Deserves a d12

I’m giving this novel a d12 from The GM Tim Rating System. I call the d12 The Underrated. Like this dice, this book feels like a hidden treasure that can offer rich content once discovered. While it may not be indispensible, the way Eden Robinson conveys story and emotions without making it feel trite or phoned-in has given me some new ways to think about story presentation. It brings you into a world with ease, I found myself feeling what Jared feels, even if I am unable to completely understand all of it. Her ability to share such big ideas in dialogue over exposition was a really cool thing to see from a gaming perspective. Having that skill would made your NPCs come alive in a way that would break yours players.

Side note. I wounder if this is why I like Brennan Lee Mulligan’s story telling so much. He has a way to make you feel for the NPCs through their dialogue with the players. It’s pretty cool.

In terms of gaming, the familial elements would be an incredible backstory idea for a D&D, Valiant, or Pathfinder warlock character without even trying hard, even as a rejection of the pact as a storyline, ooooh thats a cool character, born into a pact and rejecting it for another path. If you’re playing City of Mist, Jared’s story of “waking up” to his Rift could be a great character arc. As we discussed last night, this could even be a shared background for a Warlock, Druid, and Bard. This could also be a cool Coyote & Crow storyline, “What happens when the old gods return?”

The NPCs in the book are equally rich—from the grandmothers, to the friends, to the neighbors—all different bonds that could be used to drive characters. The use of animals to manifest fears and spirits is not exclusive to Indigenous cultures and could be used in may ways to deter or engourage actions from the the characters. The otters are even a great example of how an antagonist could use animal friendship nefariously.

As an extra thought, I bet this book would be one that could help with people who use D&D to heal from trauma.

Final Thoughts

Son of a Trickster hit me more than most stories we’ve read—it graciously opened my mind to understanding trauma, identity, and the complexities of growing up in a world where stability is elusive. Eden Robinson masterfully brings Jared’s struggles to life in a way that resonates deeply, even for those of us who can’t share his exact experiences. This book not only left an imprint on me personally, it introduced new tools for storytelling and character creation in my games. It reminds us that stories have the power to reveal new truths, challenge our perspectives, and inspire us to handle our own narratives, and those we create for others, with care and respect.

PS This was made into a TV Show in 2021, you can find it on CBC Gem. I think they should make the others 😉