SFF Readalongs led by Kitty G discussion

This is for discussion of Chapter 24 of Memories of Ice. Please ensure you do NOT post spoilers for any other part of the book! Thank you!

I think we all knew this chapter was coming. The death of Whiskeyjack. That stubborn fool brought this on himself every time he declined to have his leg healed. I tried to tell him that his leg wouldn't see him through the end of the book, but I couldn't figure out how to get the message through. Still, my heart grieves his loss.

Also, I knew that Artanthos was somebody, but I failed to make the connection that he was Tayschrenn. Kallor's link to the Crippled God, however, I did anticipate.

I will just say that if Quick Ben or Paran die (and I'm liking Picker more and more) then I'm going to chuck the offending book against the wall... and then pick it up and feverishly finish the series. Consider yourself warned. Also, I recognize that Paran has already died once...

Speaking of the bridgeburners, those condors are bad news. I don't know how many Moranth and quorl's we have left. They are getting rocked! If anyone can terminate them, however, it is the bridgeburners.

Yes, the death of Whiskeyjack hits hard. Its a grievous blow that's hard to come back from. And what makes it all the more sad is that it was a death that could have been prevented had he let Mallet heal him. How will Mallet take this, knowing that he could have healed him and prevented this?

If Erikson ever made one mistake with this series, it was in killing Whiskeyjack too early. His presence becomes sorely missed. But ah, that's just the course of the narrative, gotta weather that weight.

And yes, Picker is a solid character. I like how she debuted in Gardens of the Moon as a very minor character with only a few pages worth of screen time.

As for the Bridgeburners, what else can you say other than Bridgeburners don't quit, they're not in the business of making things easy for their enemies.

I had to take a break after this chapter. The death of Whiskeyjack was just the straw that broke the camel's back after waves upon waves of emotions created by this chapter. The foreboding of his death was seeded many times throughout the book by Erikson but it still hit very hard.

The Bridgeburners are really awesome, I have to say. I absolutely love them!

And Itkovian, OMG, Itkovian! I felt so very very sad (and angry) when Silverfox refused to release the T'lan Imass who suffered for almost three hundred thousand years, and Itkovian is going to embrace their grief??!!!!

And still on the topic of the T'lan Imass, the other section that brought tears to my eyes was when Tool appeared and strode purposely towards the keep to rescue Toc the Younger, the one who called him friend.

Tool's scene and seeing him striding in as TS said was wonderful and whilst I hope all becomes well with Toc I have to say I like Tool more as he's just awesome.

Whiskeyjack dying was indeed a blow and a big one. I don't know what else to say other than he was brilliant, and if only he'd healed the leg. I had hoped that he and Korlat would become 'an item' but I see little chance of that now! Alas as Evan said the Bridgeburners don't quit and they'll go on.

Itkovian embracing the sadness and grief of all the T'lann Imass is insane and it's certainly not something I am going to envy him for. I too felt that Silverfox was unfair in the way that she wouldn't release them and that she knew their suffering.

Looking forward to seeing how it all wraps up now as theres only 88pgs left in my edition and I am sure it'll be crazy as ever :)

Oh boy, Chapter 25 is a LOT to process.

TS wrote: "Oh boy, Chapter 25 is a LOT to process."

100% agree on that!

Wow is all I can say.