Warcraft Well Read discussion

The Warcraft Well Read podcast is preparing to record their next episode! As part of the show, the hosts are looking for your viewpoints about January's book club selection: Rise of the Horde.

- Would you like to present a topic to the discussion panel?

- Do you have a lingering question that needs answered?

- Feel strongly about a specific theme? Character?

All opinions are welcome and encouraged! Feel free to post your thoughts onto this thread *or* anywhere within the Rise of the Horde discussion forums.

Thanks and happy reading, my friends! :-)

The "Thrall's notes" at the begining of each chapter feels like the "Irulan's writing" in the begining of each chapter of Dune

If we were reading this in chronological order, I'd probably pick up "the last guardian" to fill in the parallel story of medeiv/garona/khadgar. I tend to like reading stories in order as you miss out on details otherwise.

One theme I'm feeling strongly about is one of missed opportunities, mostly for Velen. I don't have access to my Kindle right now with my notes (because my son is enjoying Angry Birds), but I have a whole slew of notes pointing out times Velen could have helped the orcs and/or put a stop to their corruption (or many from being corrupted since I think Gul'dan and a few others would have still gone for power) and possibly gained allies.

I understand the story had to happen in such a way that the orcs invaded Azeroth, otherwise no Warcraft, but to allow the story to happen in such a way that Velen is only a victim (and later a hero/savior?) is to ignore that he dropped the ball, or why the Naaru, the self-professed creatures of Light and goodness, seem to dictate the orcs must fall to darkness. It also ignores how many other planets (we're never told how many) the draenei visited only to leave at the first whiff of the Legion's approach. It's especially galling this time because Velen and the draenei have no means of escape. Their ship is no more and so it's not like they can run from the Legion, so why not gather some allies and try to at least make a last stand?

(I know, I know, it had to happen that way, but it still bugs me.)

On the opposite side, Durotar and Orgrim had their own missed opportunities. The moment Ner'zuhl started to talk about the draenei being a danger, Durotar and Orgrim both had doubts. They never tried to confirm them until it was far too late to turn back. Durotar saw the land literally dying around them, and he did nothing, not even trying to find those he might be able to trust. Granted, Durotar did have to worry about being branded a traitor and his choices were often like what we see with Lor'themar Theron right now: Do I speak up and put my clan/people in danger of death, or do I keep my head down and go along and hope for the best?

So true about those doubts. I was so frustrated with Durotan and Orgrim. I think leadership really is about making the hard decisions. They knew the path was wrong and they followed it. The passage by Thrall about how it is easy to judge when their decisions were not our own really struck home with me.

This book is really a tragedy in the telling. Thrall being able to look back upon the history with what he knows only makes the story more sad.

The Orcs are not the first culture to go down a path of fear and learn to late that they had been led astray. While the slaughter of the draenei was truely a horrid act it did some good for the horde, I mean there wasn't a 'Horde' before.

There were chances for wave of murder to be stemmed, but even the strongest of leaders couldn't stop this tide till it had run its course.

I think Nerh'zul is one of the more tragic figures in the book. He starts out wanting what is best for the horde, in his heart of hearts he desires to see his people strong. He doesn't possess the naked lust for power that Gul'dan does.

This is a brilliant book, and a fantastic read.