Xan ’s Comments (group member since Apr 14, 2014)

Xan ’s comments from the Beyond Reality group.

Kathi wrote: "Has anyone read the rest of the trilogy? No spoilers, just some impressions, if you have."

I read all three, liked them all, and especially liked Meili. I treated the technobabble as stream of consciousness writing and just moved through it not caring how much I understood. IIRC the technobabble lightens up in book 3. I also liked the story, and I liked the author's imagination most of all. I give him high marks for imagination and attempting this.

I liked Vashya, and Arden's writing was easy to read, but the story itself lacked something. We wait and wait for something big to happen, wait and wait for Vashya to grow into her powers, and then after waiting and waiting it's over in a flash. As endings go, this one felt especially rushed.

A bear is a vampire? A nightingale turns into a young stallion (or did it)? The Frost King leaves in the middle of battle? A few things that made no sense to me, probably because I don't know Russian fairy tales.

I thought this was every bit as strong as Deadhouse Gates through the battle of Capustan, but then it started fragmenting. Too many plot paths going on at same time, especially during the battle of Coral, and I was expecting a lot more from the character Silverfox (Tattersall) than I got.

Still a great series.

Quick Ben does have great power, but what distinguishes him from others, I think, is his thinking. He plans, anticipates, keeps cool under pressure, and reasons through everything. He's the smartest guy in the room. This is what makes him one of my favorite characters.

Mappo Runt -- nice play on the last name -- shows more humanity than humans in that near too last scene in DH. He gives the last two potions to heal the dogs. A great scene. Enough killing; time to show compassion.

Kruppe is hilarious. What a great character and what a good decision to have him refer to himself in the third person. I wonder if there is more to that decision than just comedy, I'm half through MoI.

Rake, a lost soul carrying a lot of responsibility on his shoulders.

Korlat -- she cares but fears to show it because that's not what Tiste Ande do . . . anymore. Except that Rake does too. Her relationships with the Mhybe and Whiskeyjack are touching.

Finished this section yesterday. So Rake, Brood, and Lady Envy once traveled the world. Wonder what happens when all three reunite, and I'm trusting they will.

This book seems to follow the format of DG, and I'm guessing it will be as good. The K'Chain is one order among several K'Chain, and I'm wondering if we will see other orders, and if there are there great differences between them.

And Kruppe is back. I love Kruppe. And his exact powers, plus his role in all this, are still not clear. But he makes for great comic relief, which he uses to hide his more serious and mysterious side. He's the master manipulator.

And Quck Ben is back as well. Is it only me who thinks he is still largely a mystery.? How powerful is he, really? I mean he messes with the Crippled God. Sheesh!!!

And has anyone figured out from what we know so far who the gods were in the prolog? Kallor was the one they came to stop. At least I think it was him.

I read the first 5 in publication order. My understanding is you learn the origins of the magic earlier in chronological order (later in publication order), butI have no personal knowledge of that. I can say based on what I've read I saw no continuity in publication order, which is one reason I quit reading the series.

You can find the chronological order of Recluse here (not publication order)

http://www.travelinlibrarian.info/rec...

Ah, Cotillion. Are we seeing another side of him.? He had a daughter once (meaning Sorry). And then remember what he said to Penek:

Listen very carefully. They didn't punish you because you didn't do what you were told to do. They punished you because they could, because no one was there to stop them. I'm sure your father wanted to, but he was helpless too.

I'm paraphrasing, but of all the lines in the book, those lines most stick with me.

Sorry for falling so far behind.

I think a point Le Guin is making is there is no such thing as an anarchist society. Even without a government, bureaucracies exist and influential people rise to control them and through them society. Social mores also serve as a controlling mechanism. Bureaucracies, influential people, and social convention all serve as a de facto government.

I'm liking book 2, but it's different than book 1. It's easier to follow POV's are a plus, but I admit to missing the seat of the pants approach in book 1 a bit. The character choices are interesting, as well as the characters themselves.

Felisin is surviving and succumbing to the abuse. She wants back with her abuser because he's the only protection she has.

Crokus disturbs me a bit because his personality has changed from book 1. He's much more the complainer and his role seems to be to get Fiddler and Kalam to explain things. If it were a comedy team I would call him the straight man.

Fiddler was an interesting choice because we saw so little of him in book 1, but it's good to get his POV.

Kalam is Kalem.

But I'm fascinated most by the new characters: Icarium and Mappo, the wanderers/questers and Pust and servant, who for some reason remind me of Gomez Addams and Lurch.

I plan on reading it.

There's what you know, what you know you don't know, and what you don't know you don't know. :-)

I wanted to add that Rake has his own moral code, and it seems founded on what others might call honor. I'm thinking of the way he treats the mages of Pale versus Darujhistan. The mages of Pale abandon their city (and Rake), and look what happens to them. The mages of Darujhistan do not abandon their city and Rake sends Serrat to protect Baruk, and in the middle of fighting the demon lord takes the time to tell Crokus to go help Baruk, because he's rather busy at the moment. Like him or hate him, Rake has a code he lives by and it is not all about himself. At least that is how I see him at this point.

Thanks, John. Good to know those questions will be answered. As to the gods, I'm wondering if they can truly die, nothing more than that. I guess that's my definition of god here :-) The twins certainly seemed to fear the sword and the hounds. K'ruk (?) seems to have died in the sense that he no longer matters -- no people who believe in him. Just thinking out loud.

The trilogy sounds like something I will be reading.

And, yes, I will RAFO.

Just finished and loved it. Getting Deadhouse Gates tomorrow.

I had originally thought Anomanda Rake might represent evil because he is referred to as the Son of Darkness (a name he does not like). But darkness and light are ambiguous here -- the demon lord used light -- and after listening to Rake confide in Baruk about his wishes, desires, and his sadness, I find I like him a great deal. Looking forward to seeing more of him.

I also hope to see more of Kruppe, whose power is still a mystery to me. Having someone refer to themselves in the third person usually fails to grab me, but in this case, given Kruppe's (projected) persona, I think the third person fits him perfectly.

Wondering what will happen to Rallick and Vorcan now that they have entered the Pillar of Innocence.

And I'm also very interested in Quick Ben's history. He opened seven warrens. Wow!

Still don't understand the relationship between Elder Gods, Modern Gods, Ascendants, and mages. I'm guessing Elder Gods are the gods of the peoples who once populated the earth. Does that make Rake an elder god? Where does he fit in?

Are Ascendants modern gods or are they on their way to becoming gods?

And are any of the gods really gods or just called gods because of the powerful warrens they control?

So many questions.


See you in book 2 discussions.

Dani, I too am liking Quick Ben and Kalam. When thinking of Hairlock, I realize how different he is from Quick Ben. Where Hairlock is wild and reckless, Quick Ben is disciplined and careful. He plans his magic before using it. Also he and Kalam have gained a lot of wisdom over the years. I think Quick Ben is a powerful mage, not just because of his abilities, but also because of these qualities. I wonder if he and Tayschrenn will face off.

I too can't wait for Tattersail's return. She is one of my favorite characters.

I have a question about Anomander Rake. He is referred to as the son of darkness. Is he evil? What are his motives? Anyone have a guess?

Kathi wrote: "A couple other random thoughts:

I'm wondering if Hairlock was already somewhat insane or did the soul transfer from his severely-injured body into the wooden puppet push him over the edge? What do..."

I don't think it is the soul transfer, but his playing with the warrens, especially the warren of Chaos, that's driving him mad. He was always odd though.

I'm enjoying to too, Kathi, but am a little behind. Still in the second section.

What's with Hairlock becoming Pinocchio? Is that a joke?

Kathi wrote: "Teanka wrote: "I wonder, how did you like the multiple prologues?"

I didn't think of them as multiple Prologues since only the story of Paran as a boy is in the stated Prologue, but I can see how ..."

That's a good question about Ascendents. Isn't Tayschrenn referred to as an ascendant by Tattersall? He's not a god. But I also think gods are referred to as ascendents. It's a little vague. I haven't gotten to Darujhistan yet.

Teanka wrote: "Definitely the warrens magic system is great, and very varied. There will be a lot more coming concerning magic system, throughout the series.

I wonder, how did you like the multiple prologues? T..."

Concerning the old witch, I was under the impression she had gotten into Sorry's mind before dying. Wondering how that might affect things?

And did Cotillion kill the old witch? I thought that was a soldier and Cotillion came after.