Was the compound at Kleos a cult? Was it beneficial to its occupants. Do you think it continued to flourish after the death of the CO? Why was Reno never attracted to teachings?

Do you agree that the compound at Kleos was a cult? Was it at all beneficial to its occupants? Do you think it continued to flourish after the death of the CO? Why do you think Reno was never attracted to the CO's teachings?

I do think it was a cult .... and like a cult satisfied the base needs of some individuals or they wouldn't have been attracted to the concept. The question of whether or not that satisfaction lasts beyond the time when a person's psyche is healed I guess determines whether or not the "cult" will become more of an established community or religion.

Cult, support group, I suppose it can have many names. The important thing is whether or not it helped members and whether or not they could interact in general society. The activities were pretty extreme but maybe needed by some to cope. The experiences of war may never leave some people and they need others with whom they can find support and help. It's hard when their family members are left out to protect them and keep them from seeing how wounded they are.

Yes, I do. It was focused and had definite plan on how those in the cult should act and react. It was definitely a group with a focus that allowed no individual responses that did not fit into its philosophy.

Yes, I believe the compound was a cult. It was somewhat beneficial to those who could no longer live within a normal society. I don't think it will continue after the CO. Bull just does not seem to have the charisma to gather a group of followers. Reno did not need the confines of a cult and was able to see the dangers of following a group.

It was very cult like. Most likely helped some, drove some over the edge.

Since a cult is generally thought of as being a religion, the Durga aspect of Kleos made it so. How it could have been beneficial to those who came for help would depend on the individual's receptiveness and whether the horror of the crazy ceremonies would affect the individual's mind. After Proudfoot's death, I believe it could not continue because Bull didn't have the imagination nor the ease of a leader.

The whole premise of this Kleos was unbelievable and out of place. Indian women gathering to pray? Come on. And that's only one of the ridiculous things going on.

Reno was a realistic personality, yet he did go through the ceremony.

I think Reno must have been like Suzanne's husband; he realized it was his job, and that was that - he did his job. He was able to compartmentalize the wartime experiences so that he could step away from them.

While the test to determine the next leader may have been a bit over-the-top, I actually thought the idea of the cult was pretty realistic. The setting was supposed to actually made the soldiers comfortable, I think, in that it was pretty much a return to basic training. The next step would be to get each to confront and accept the thing that scarred each so that they could move beyond it and return to society. In some respects I could see that happening, and for the cult to help cure.

It was a cult of damaged men trying to find their way back from the horrors of war. There is a group very much like this, although without the Durga, in South America where PTSD victims go to take a powerful hallucinogenic to purge their nightmares. Whether or not the treatment is effective would depend on many variables but is not unlike electric shock treatment that was used in treating mentally disturbed individuals in the 60's. Kleos could not continue without a strong leader in whom the men could believe.

Yes, I believe it was a cult. I am not sure how beneficial it was to most. I would like to think it did not continue and the PTSD sufferers could receive help in another more realistic manner.

I do feel Kleos was a cult. To me, the CO was deranged and frightening in his power over the vets. I hope that Kleos didn't continue but the author implied that Bull was now leading the mercenaries. My hope is that the vets realized in the end that the CO was insane and can see that Durga's heart doesn't have the power over them any longer.

I agree with Judith. It was a cult, but that doesn't mean it ended with the CO's death. The cult had such a hold over everyone there, so it makes sense that Bull could easily take over. I just hope I'm wrong, and the vets slowly drifted away.

I think the author definitely wanted us to believe that Kleos was a cult with CO Proudfoot as its charismatic and all-powerful leader. I have no doubt that war veterans have wandered into the deserts of the American Southwest seeking escape and answers, but Kleos (with its hallucinogenic drugs, apparent focus on male war veterans only to the exclusion of family and friends, and crazy leader) could not have been beneficial to its occupants. It was only when King vowed to Becca never to return to Kleos did it appear hopeful that King was on a road to full recovery and reunion with his daughter.

I think it was definitely a cult and was of some benefit to some members. I'm not sure, however, how long-lasting this benefit might have been. I doubt it would have carried on for long with out CO Proudfoot as much of the men's faith was in him personally, even more so than Durga. I think when Reno returned he had been able to realize that he was doing a job that he was required and called to do and was able to put it pretty much behind him. He was not the type of personality that would easily buy in to the type of thinking that Proudfoot required.