Fantasy Book Club Series discussion

To start with, I couldn't work out what was going on with these. As it moved along I became more fascinated.

Essentially, these are incredibly powerful prisoners, seeking freedom and not minding how it's achieved. Seedless seemed to genuinely like the apprentice (names escape me) but how would this change when he became the matter. Who in their right mind would live like this? How did it start?

I was fascinated by it too Helen, as it seems in a way that the captor is just as imprisoned!

Yes, constantly holding the precisely worded 'poem'.

Helen wrote: "To start with, I couldn't work out what was going on with these. As it moved along I became more fascinated.

Essentially, these are incredibly powerful prisoners, seeking freedom and not minding h..."

Me too! In the beginning I kept going back and forth, to make sure I understood correctly that Seedless was "performing" an abortion, but I was still not sure…. but as you read on, (it's weird isn't it) you start to get it and understand the purpose of the andat, how come they're 'prisoners' and why don't they just push out….

Did you come across a Stone-Made-Soft andat yet? Cos I don't want to spoil anything incase you haven't finished the series yet.


Seedless liking Maati you mean? how would it change in the sense if Maati became his poet? I'm sorry I read this sometime in March I remember names ok, but I'm having difficulty remembering other stuff. To be on the same page the apprentice is def Maati.
But what did you mean by "Who in their right mind would love like this?" did you mean Maati's love ? or Seedless?

I want to say something else but again I'm afraid I might spoil…

I think she meant love being a master and 'holding' an andat....it's a prison for both parties.

My impression from the first book is that the relationship between an andat and its master is unique, based on how the andat was created... and Seedless and Heshai have a uniquely or unusually hostile relationship. I don't think Andats necessarily have a hatred for their work and master.

Maati. I meant live but my keyboard disagrees with my word choices!

Didn't it say that for him to control Seedless, he'd have to hold the thought and that that would mean having the self-hatred.

I went on to read book two as mine was a double issue. I held myself back from the last two, so far. I felt that Stone Made Soft was equally keen to escape and murder wasn't a problem. I agree that he didn't hate his master, who seemed a numpty to me!

It sounds like the andat were more common years before. I wonder whether they were always unhappy and seeking freedom.

Helen wrote: "Maati. I meant live but my keyboard disagrees with my word choices!

Didn't it say that for him to control Seedless, he'd have to hold the thought and that that would mean having the self-hatred.

..."

LOL. That was hilarious, and yes I'm laughing at your keyboard.
I'm so glad I asked because it's been a while since I've participated in a discussion and I really liked this series.

Yes both points came across now, that self hatred that Heshai struggled with, will Maati overcome it because Seedless actually liked him? Thing is, Seedless as we see him now with Heshai won't be the same Seedless that Maati will try to bind should anything like that happen. He will surely hate himself, Maati is a downer imo, and easily manipulated. Poor guy. I admit did like his character.


As for Stone-Made-Soft, (view spoiler)[I like how Abraham incorporated that game they played as a way to control the andat. I don't remember what was it between Hashai and Seedless? Omg was it that cage compartment thing he locked him in that time? Holy shit that gave me goosebumps I forgot about that. (hide spoiler)]


I also wanted to point out that I thought Abrahams naming method that he used for the andats impressed me, a LOT.

I think I'm going to list them, even the old ones come to think of it. there was one that made water flow as well,,,,

Anyways, did you start the third yet?

Maggie wrote: "I think she meant love being a master and 'holding' an andat....it's a prison for both parties."

Hey Maggie!

Yeah she meant live lol. I was right to get confused.

(view spoiler)[The cage was awful, I think that was just the 'king' keeping him/it imprisoned for plotting. Not like they can kill the and at as they need it so badly. (hide spoiler)] Maati was funny. He never thought he was good enough, getting ahead because he'd had advice.

The keyboard is a nightmare. It's worse when I physically type a word, as opposed to swiping, as I expect it to type what I've written
Just then it did your for type, building for swiping. Sometimes when I do read over it, the substance is so different that I can't work out what I'd put!

You should send those typos to Ellen, she has a whole segment dedicated to typos they're hilarious.