First of several comments I plan to make, but just have time for a quick one now. When Penric was first looking at the dead woman in her room, my mind flashed to the cover with the snake and the pot and I figured out the method of the murder a few sentences before Penric did. (Or, if we believe the person who put the snake there, I suppose it might be manslaughter rather than murder?) What an unusual way to commit a murder. I remember using outhouses in my youth and worrying about spiders or snakes in the hole I had to sit upon. But I would not have expected one in a chamberpot.

This book reaffirms that Penric really is the Bastard's favourite troubleshooter who occasionally gets loaned out to the other gods. (In Thasalon, it was all of them according to Nikys's analysis.)

Loving Des - "You wouldn’t find this much delicious chaos in Llewen’s court. Have we been following the wrong god all these years?"

I really enjoyed Pen and Des's interactions with children in this tale. He treats them as people and gets good results from doing so. The young thief whom he and the body guard mentor was a very touching story line.

I need to start my careful re-read. I am struggling to remember the names of characters, when I remember THEM as characters very clearly. But then, my first read was very fast as I was using it to distract myself when feeling ill while traveling.

As I started my re-read, I was reminded of how I enjoyed the way that the Princess-Arch-Devine was using this trip, not only to educate Penric, but also to give him a break from his labors in healing for the Mother's Order, an example of some of the ways that she protected him while she was alive.

I also was reminded of the fact that I don't think we ever learn the name of her secretary, whom we first met back in Penric's Demon and see from time to time in later Martinsbridge based books. Does the woman have a name? I am glad that she and the "dresser" were spared the difficulties of this trip.

Jerri wrote: "As I started my re-read, I was reminded of how I enjoyed the way that the Princess-Arch-Devine was using this trip, not only to educate Penric, but also to give him a break from his labors in heali..."

Ha, yes, the secretary does have a name, and if she ever gets a speaking part I'll figure out what it is. But as a general rule, I prefer to burden readers with as few names to remember as possible.

The maid Helgi wouldn't have a name here either except that one of my quirkier test readers requested it.

Ta, L.

On second reading, I realized why the name Stobrek seemed familiar: he appears near the end of “Mira’s Last Dance”, remembering Penric from “that extraordinary Temple conclave in Carpagamo. Five years ago, now…”

So now we have the full story of the extraordinary Temple conclave in Carpagamo, and the first brief meeting of Penric and Stobrek, which only one of them would remember later. How tidy!

Well, the secretary did have a speaking part in Penric's Demon at the sort of hearing held after the exciting events at the castle, but at that time Pen didn't even know that she worked for the Princess Arch Devine, so he certainly wouldn't have known her name at that point. But I remember she asked one or two intelligent questions at that meeting. Which started me thinking about her very early on.

Thank you very much for writing about this phase in Penric's life! I never felt that we knew the Princess-Archdivine very well, especially with how much Pen and Des respect her. It's great to see the basis for that respect. I can imagine the fun she and Ruchia had, gossiping together.

There's a sense of growing old that hangs over the story, in Sassu's relationship with Ruchia and Des, and in Pen's naive enjoyment of medicine and Llewen trying to rein it in. It's particularly sad when we know that in less than five years, Llewen and I assume Sassu be dead. The tone feels appropriate for a closing of this chapter of Pen's life.

I also enjoyed the look into Temple workings and politics. I hadn't expected Ruchia committing forgery, but I suppose that's the Bastard's workings. Pen just seems too upright for that sort of thing.

Rachel wrote: "Thank you very much for writing about this phase in Penric's life! I never felt that we knew the Princess-Archdivine very well, especially with how much Pen and Des respect her. It's great to see t..."

Well, the Bastard is the god of spies... goes with lies, I suppose. Leaving aside that a celibate clergy is not a 5GU custom, Ruchia was no nun.

Ta, L.

Completely aside, I just ran across an AI-generated list of the Penric books "in order" (it wasn't) which included the title Penric's Dragon...

It's heavily implied that the temple in Occo knew about the forgery but used it to get the improper bequest anyway. Which Penric somehow doesn't elaborate on, even after the open bribery attempt at the court. It also implies that the embezzled amount absolutely dwarfs the bequest. Sassu got his work cut out for him.

Lois wrote: “I just ran across an AI-generated list of the Penric books ‘in order’ (it wasn’t) which included the title Penric’s Dragon...”

Well, I look forward to reading “Penric’s Dragon” whenever you get around to writing it.

Jonathan wrote: "Lois wrote: “I just ran across an AI-generated list of the Penric books ‘in order’ (it wasn’t) which included the title Penric’s Dragon...”

Well, I look forward to reading “Penric’s Dragon” whenev..."

To be universe-compliant, it really ought to be "Penric's Fire Wyrm". Or maybe "Penric's Ice Wyrm."

In Demonic Ox I really, really wanted to use the line, "He didn't demand dragons atop." which would have had a snappier rhythm and better alliteration, but I wasn't sure I wanted to admit dragons, with all their our-world cultural baggage, into the series. I've had enough problems with folks' readings by redeploying "demon" and "saint" with very different definitions.

So we got, "He didn't demand fire wyrms atop." Which served.

Ta, L.

Lois wrote: “To be universe-compliant, it really ought to be ‘Penric's Fire Wyrm’.”

Oh, that’s a pity. I was wondering whether you might decide to be mischievous and write a story called “Penric’s Dragon”, in which the dragon turned out to be a toy, or an artwork of some kind, or a small lizard. But, if you feel you can’t use the word at all in that universe, that kills it.

Now I'm tempted to publish an alternative Penric reading order guide on the web for so-called AIs to chew on....

1. Penric and the Chamber of Secrets
2. Penric's Moving Castle
3. Penric of the New Sun
4. Penric in Oz
5. Foundation and Penric
6. Penric, or There and Back Again
7. Again, Dangerous Penrics
8. Penric, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
9. Penric kin Jurald & Mr. Norrell
10. Penric's Dark Materials
11. Penric's Guide to Defensive Baking
12. Penric˙s Cedonı̓an: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style
13. Lord Penric Views the Body
14. Penric of Earthsea

I think the yummiest part of the story for me is all the old-person subtext that is going far over Penric’s head but not at all over Des’s.

It reminds me of all the multigenerational family dinners where all the old sticks are gabbing about things that I don’t know or really care about but occasionally talk about something that catches my interest, and then all of a sudden they’re all exchanging knowing looks.

This publication has sparked my first ever reread of the whole series, and I was pleased to find this title echoing the musings of a character who is a much better devotee of the Father of Winter:

In his past investigations, Oswyl had found many mute things to give testimony that shouted; he supposed he must now add dogs to that list.

(From Penric and the Shaman)

Lois wrote: "Rachel wrote:... "
Durn, seeing the AI "Penric's Dragon," I wantred to bring up Wyrms, but Lois was ahead of me. Another "Great Minds Think Alike" time?

I've finished my first read-through of "Mute Things." Appreciate the expanded look at Penric's time serving the Princess-Archdivine. And a bit more on her protecting him from over-exploitation by healers, which, after she goes to her God, drives poor Pen to attempt suicide. Thank the Bastard (in more ways than one) that Nikki takes up that task later. Interesting to learn the Quintarian-Quadtarian controversy isn't the only theological issue bedeveling WO5G peoples (Old Wealdian beliefs nowithstanding). Thank you Johnahan for noting the Stobrek tie to "Last Dance;" I'd forgotten.gyfhyg (my cat just walked on the keyboard.) (No kidding.) Now I needs must re-read "Mute Things" slowly in search of fresh, relevant comments and/or nitpicks. Lois: Thank you for yet another insight-providing Pen/Des adventure.

Jonathan wrote: "On second reading, I realized why the name Stobrek seemed familiar: he appears near the end of “Mira’s Last Dance”, remembering Penric from “that extraordinary Temple conclave in Carpagamo. Five ye..."

Thank you for the reminder. I'd forgotten that bit. My sponge-like mind isn't what it used to be.

On my slow careful re-read I have reached the part where the Princess Arch-divine's party has reached the crowded square and Penric and the head guard push their way through to encourage the group to make way for their party to reach the Daughter's Chapter House where arrangements had been made for them to stay. I loved the way the common sense of the P-AD in bringing a moderately sized party and traveling in ways that made sense in the mountains is contrasted with some of the other attendees at the meeting! Liking her more and more.

sorry if I got this wrong... but in this paragraph is there are unintentional repeat of fragment of text?
"Pen was about to protest that if he was to be dispatched on this sixth task, he would scarcely be able to be at the princess’s side as recording clerk for all those upcoming sessions, when it came to him that were he to be off poking about at all this, he would scarcely be able to be at the princess’s side as recording clerk for all those upcoming sessions."
specifically the first "he would scarcely be able to be at the princess’s side as recording clerk for all those upcoming sessions, "... The edition I am reading is from a Kobo purchase.

My feeling is that at first Pen thought it was a disadvantage to not be at the meeting sessions, and then he decided that the sessions were often boring, so he might prefer to NOT be there. Thus the repeat. But Lois will know.

Kurt wrote: "sorry if I got this wrong... but in this paragraph is there are unintentional repeat of fragment of text?
"Pen was about to protest that if he was to be dispatched on this sixth task, he would scar..."

It is an entirely intentional repeat, for humor.

About half my test readers reported LOLs, and the other half had the same query as you. So you are not alone in missing the joke. I left it in, because I thought this story could use all the leavening it could get.

Ta, L.

In Demonic Ox spolier discussion, I wrote: One hopes Des has a future opportunity to relate just how she and Learned Rutchia "learnerd the hard way" to dodge dangerous objects with superhuman speed.

Looks like Mute Things isn't where we learn that, either from Des/Rutchia or from Sassu. I gather Rutchia has lots of other advertures offstage we haven't heard of...yet.

I missed Penric going about and kicking random dominoes to culminate in an extraordinary pile of chaos. The inept accountant gang didn't even know what hit them :)

Aleksandra wrote: "I missed Penric going about and kicking random dominoes to culminate in an extraordinary pile of chaos. The inept accountant gang didn't even know what hit them :)"

I take it by "I missed" you mean "I caught..."?

Anyway, exactly.

:-), L.

Lois wrote: "Kurt wrote: "sorry if I got this wrong... but in this paragraph is there are unintentional repeat of fragment of text?
"Pen was about to protest that if he was to be dispatched on this sixth task, ..."
thanks for the clarification... I get it now

I find a sort of related echo in dealing with mortality between the closing grafs of Demonic Ox and Mute Things. Or something like that, which I don't have words for. In the latter, Llewen says, of friends, "We start to lose them...Some try to hoard them. Others try to let them go early...as if that could avert the pain of parting." Des adds she favors the first way: ...I may hoard a few of them, even in the teeth of death. Twelve at present count. Pen doesn't quite know how to respond; Des says, You'll understand in time. Pen makes his mule speed up, as if trying to get away from something-or-other--in my reading.
In Demonic Ox, Pen reflects his children are maturing out from under him. Nikys asks Pen to give her 'Future Pirate Queen Mona' to be nursed. "Pen did so, and lingered to watch. While he still could."
On re-reading that graf with the end of Mute Things in mind, I can imagine Des reminding Pen of their earlier dialog while leaving Carpagamo and silently saying, "Now do you understand?"

Unsurprisingly, James Nicoll approved. "She makes it look easy… but if you look at the dire fates of other long-running SFF series, it can’t be."