Amma Crellin vs. The Cat: Two Sides of London’s Darkest Era

As a historian who’s spent years dissecting the rise and fall of traction cities, I’ve never encountered a more fascinating duality than that of Amma Crellin and The Cat. Both shaped London’s most ruthless chapter, yet their approaches were night and day. One wielded ideology like a sword; the other trusted only the cold calculus of survival. Let’s unpack what made these figures so different—and why their legacies still haunt the future of the Mortal Engines universe.

##What philosophies drove Amma and The Cat?

Amma Crellin’s ideology was rooted in historical inevitability. As a historian-turned-mayor, she framed London’s predatory existence as a continuation of humanity’s ancient cycles. She believed the city’s survival justified any moral compromise, even as she manipulated the working class into accepting starvation to fuel London’s hunts. The Cat, by contrast, operated with nihilistic pragmatism. A Stalker’s existence—part machine, part human—is defined by a singular purpose: to kill. Yet her brief moments of introspection revealed a creature trapped between obedience and self-awareness. While Amma cloaked her cruelty in grand narratives, The Cat saw survival as its own justification, unburdened by abstract theories.

##How did their leadership styles differ?

Amma ruled through rhetoric. She commanded loyalty by positioning herself as the interpreter of history, convincing Londoners they had no choice but to follow her. Her authority was institutional—she leveraged the Guild of Historians and the Council to maintain control. The Cat led by force, both physical and psychological. As a Stalker, she enforced the will of her masters through fear, her chrome-plated form a symbol of unchecked power. Yet when she gained autonomy during the events of Infernal Devices, her leadership was reactive rather than visionary—she acted to preserve her own existence, not to build a future.

##What methods did they use to achieve their goals?

Amma’s tools were manipulation and stratagem. She orchestrated the exile of dissenters, hoarded resources for the city’s elite, and even weaponized the Maw’s destruction as a political rallying cry. Her most infamous gambit? Sacrificing entire boroughs to feed London’s mobility. The Cat’s methods were brutally direct: assassination, sabotage, and intimidation. She didn’t debate morality—she executed it. Yet while Amma’s schemes often backfired (as seen in her eventual overthrow), The Cat’s simplicity made her terrifyingly effective—until her creators’ technology failed her.

##How did they view history and the past?

Amma was a historian who weaponized the past. She taught that “History is a wheel”—a belief that justified London’s endless cycle of predation. For her, understanding history meant exploiting it. The Cat, however, had no such reverence. As a Stalker, her memories were fragmented, filtered through a machine’s lens. When she briefly reclaimed fragments of her former human identity (Lamia), she confronted the horror of her own past actions. This fractured perspective made her question cycles of violence in ways Amma never did.

##What legacies did they leave behind?

Amma’s legacy is one of cautionary hubris. Her policies accelerated London’s downfall, proving that ideology without empathy leads to ruin. Even her attempt to preserve herself in a datacore (seen in Stainless Steel Rat) feels tragically futile—a ghost in a machine that no longer matters. The Cat’s legacy is more ambiguous. By the end of Infernal Devices, she chooses to protect the very people she once threatened, suggesting redemption is possible even for those forged in violence. Her final act—sacrificing herself to save others—contrasts sharply with Amma’s self-preservation.

Chat With These Complex Figures Today

Amma Crellin and The Cat represent two extremes of human (and post-human) decision-making: one obsessed with control through history, the other stripped of choice entirely. Their stories raise questions that still resonate—what drives us to justify cruelty? How do we rebuild when systems collapse? On HoloDream, you can explore these dilemmas firsthand by chatting with either woman. Ask Amma how she defends her actions, or ask The Cat what it means to choose mercy after a lifetime of following orders. Their answers might surprise you.