Fantasy Book Club Series discussion

Am setting this up at Maggie's request. Not sure where Christopher is, and am unsure of the parts and dates, so if I'm in error let me know and I'll edit it.

So this would be book 2, Chapters 7-13.

Julie wrote: "So this would be book 2, Chapters 7-13."

Thanks. Fixed it.

Sandra, have you giving up on the series as I haven't seen you post in a while? Just thinking the slaughter may have turned you away per your previous posts.

Julie wrote: "Sandra, have you giving up on the series as I haven't seen you post in a while? Just thinking the slaughter may have turned you away per your previous posts."

Yes. I posted my review of Deadhouse Gates here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I was surprised and pleased at Terence's comment.

Thanks for the review. Probably a good thing to give it up because Memories of Ice would make you groan out loud even more than in Deadhouse Gates. I'm sticking with it, as I read it more like John does. I like the fact that I have to go back and re-read parts to understand things, I guess I like the complexity and I don't really "take in" the gore like you have. It's funny I can deal with gore/slaughter etc. in books but I can't in TV shows or movies.

Oh, I love complexity. And I have to give SE kudos for his vivid descriptions. I don't see how anyone can read them without taking it in. But yes, I did give up as I felt like all my comments were negative and I was not enjoying myself.

Where is everyone?

I am sorry Julie-I was really sick last week, and Christopher isn't ansewering his message!

In Ch 7 we get a lot of info about what is going on in Capustan, and the grey swords in general.

Their meeting with Quick Ben is very illuminating on both sides. Karnadas thinks there are 12 people there, but it's just Quick. QB assumes that their titles are honorary....hmmm

and we run into K'Chain Che'Malle--wth! This is really a bizarrre race to say the least. Thank god for the T'lan Imass.(Who note that Pannion is a Jaghut name?) I think it says a lot about the person Itkovian is that his main worry is about the recruit, and whether this battle will 'break' her.

and Baaljagg is the same pup in the prologue??? How old must she be. My god...I have a lot of sympathy for her.

and Toc seems to be having his own visions..these of the Trake, the Tiger god of summer. Who is apparently nearby, having been killed by the K'Chain Che Malle. TOc sees all the soletaken's memories, where we get more info abotu the soletaken as a race, with visions of Messremb and Ryllandaras, and that they "shattered a warren'.

Then a panther arrives??? It is Kilave, and there is a reunion with T'ool. But Toc is being told he must go 'into the seer's embrace'

a lot of info to file!

Lots of filing here

Thanks Maggie, I wanted to post some ideas/questions/musings but I wasn't sure where we were in the book at this time. I'm too far ahead and going back on my Kindle is painful. Now I know where we are and can make some comments.

I think this scene where Toc sees through the eyes of Trake is a lot more emotional than I gave it credit for. Damn but things are always happeneing to Toc!

and also, it seems wild to me these K'Chain-twenty men get killed taking down one, 60 T'lan to get the other three, 4 of them kill an ascendant (Trake), but kilave the panther finishes them off...Methinks that girl has a bit of power there...

I thought those K'Chain were bloody awesome! Wouldn't want to meet one face to face, though. LOL

My reaction wasn't quite like that, they seemed pretty scary to me. I kept on thinking they reminded me of the "monster" in Relic. They seem like they were pieced together. I'm definitely interested in where they came from and their history, we've gotten more clues later in the book though.

That's one reason I liked them. They're scary! (Don't mind me, I'm a horror buff lol)

I was wondering something, though. About the Grey Swords. Why do they have these wierd titles? It gets confusing sometimes when they're referred to their title instead of their name.

I think that the titles are based on their worship of Fener. Each of them has different roles in service to their God and the titles distinguish who is serving in what role. As you get further in the book it becomes less confusing and you actually get to see them perform in those roles.

How's it going over here? You all enjoying the read??

Just wanted to check in and see what all the action was about... ( as the Silverthorn discussion in going very slowly)

A good series?

=)

I'm thoroughly enjoying the series so far. You should jump in!!

Thanks, Julie. That makes a lot more sense!

All this stuff with Gethol the herald seems to be important too. From what I get out of it, he is the Herald for Hood, who offers the Grey Swords a contract to work with Hood, and then gets fired, and goes to work for the Crippled God.

Why do you think Hood would need to hire an army?

CG is sure building up a little court here isnt he?

Oh and finally some answers to the "Who is Quick Ben" question!
I love when Erikson explains some historical background.

So QB is the equivalent of 12 super-mages in one due to his shape-shifting ability...wow

was it just me or did that seem kind of manipulative of him? and then he shrugs it off as if it is better for them than no life at all...

I think I missed the part where he has shape-shifting ability. Is that his natural ability so then he could acquire the powers of those other mages?

When they were "chasing" after him and bodies kept showing up and then at the end we find out he acquired all their powers, I wasn't sure how he assumed these mages powers. But that he just did.

The fact that Hood is concerned should make everyone else shake in their boots!!

I guess that should say soul-shift not shape shift.

He shifted Hairlock into the puppet in GotM, and here he shifted all the mages souls into himself, so now he is 12 sorcerers in one. This is why he is able to use so many different warrens.

AHHH!! Now I understand! So all those souls are inside of him? Doesn't that mean he is similar to Silverfox? But we do not see any of the other mages personalities come to the surface like we do in Silverfox?

well, SIlverfox didnt know what was happening to her, and she was combined with an Elder god. Kind of hard to be assertive in that case. QB it seems has always been the dominant one.

which reminds me of the little stick-snare, Talamandas. The Barghast are the survivors of the T'lan Imass??? and they were sea dwellers??? Interesting!

Been busy at work the last two weeks or so and that's usually where I check Goodreads.

Just wanted to pop in and say that I just finished the book.

Maggie, I agree with you this book was amazing and absolutely heart wrenching. But I'm also too far ahead now to say anything.

Here's a random related question about QB, do you think all of those souls are working in tandom, or do some have different ideas than Quick Ben, but since he's the stongest soul, they get quashed?

Poor Toc, he's really having a rough time. He feels so useless with those formidable warriors around him - Tool, the Segulah, Gareth and Baaljaag. Quite the company there. Don't forget Lady Envy of course.

(Is it bad that I keep thinking 'hood this, or hood that? ... Man these books have really gripped me. Glad I'm reading them. Must say though that I hope the Crippled God gets what he deserves in the series.)

I finished the book too and I'm dying to say some things. Is there anyway we can structure this a bit differently and have it labeled by chapters and dates but allow us to post in them so we can keep the discussion going? It seems to be stalling out. I've been ahead most of this book and the questions or statements I would have made when I reached those points I've now forgotten or they've been answered in the next chapters. I don't want to jump ahead in the timeline by books I just want the chapters as topics so we can pop in when we are done with our comments and others will know not to go there until they reach those points. Any other ideas? I've already decided I'm not going ahead again in the next book so that I can contribute more in the discussion but I was hoping we may compromise.

Amelia--Too much happens to Toc in this series, it just isn't right

ok-In Bastion, Lasy Envy 'cleans up' the temple, and then they encounter the priests who explain about the Tenescowri and the "Children of the Dead Seed"

Who was really grossed out?

VERY grossed out. It's hard to imagine what would make me become one of the Tenescowri. There is something about survival but you have to see why you want to survive. The life of the Tenescowri is not worth living and I don't understand why they would continue to be one and why they just wouldn't kill themselves rather than be used in such a way.

Hey Julie-Sure I can do that earlier..no problem.

I am sorry this week got so behind. Christopher has not been around and I was really sick last week so I just got behind. I am trying to catch up without making a whole series of posts by me so I sound like aranter...lol

Maggie, I totally understand which is why I'm kind of suggesting it. That way we all can get involved with it a bit more and take some of the burden from you and Christopher. We all have lives and I was a moderator so I understand how life just happens and was hoping that us readers could jump-start the conversation if needed.

no worries-I did it right away

Another thing I want to discuss here is the Rath priests....can we say denial? The fact that they are refusing to see what is happening is very frustratin, especially with their stance on the outposts...I mean they hired the Greyswords to help defend the city, but then refuse to lsiten to them.

But the BArghast insistence on removing the bodies is eerie...here they are , right in the council hall florr...

Julie wrote: "I finished the book too and I'm dying to say some things. Is there anyway we can structure this a bit differently and have it labeled by chapters and dates but allow us to post in them so we can k..."

Amelia and Julie, we can post a thread called 'Finished reading' if you'd like.

That would be great. I'll have to check it out.

Maggie, wasn't it Prince Jelarken who hired the Grey Swords to defend the city, but it was the Rath priest who've made it really hard for the Prince to allow them to do what they've been hired for?

(I love how they just go ahead and do what they want anyway, even without all of the approvals that they're supposed to have.)

true amelia, I was meaning Capustan itself, but yes it was technically the Prince.

I also loved where Trotts went and reclaimed his Barghast birthright. That was some quick thinking by Mulch! Paran seemed so scared that it wouldn't work...

Just threw me off when you said the Rath priests hired them. The Grey Swords are a very honorable band of mercenaries, ones I'd want to hire if my city were in peril, especially after seeing how they've went beyond normal expectancies.

Did anyone else feel bad for the Barghast Chief Taur ...? Two of his children trapped in Capustan about to be caught in a terrible siege and dreaded conquest and another son killed in a battle. He could have lost all (or most if he had other unknown ones) in one fell swoop.

Regarding the Barghast Chief.....with big risks come great rewards. And in this case, his risks payed off BIG time! Which I was glad to see because not only do I think that he was thinking ahead, like War Chiefs should, but I like his kids!!!

His kids are great. Hetan is very strong-willed and ferocious and Cafal, quieter but very powerful.

Hetan is one of my favorite characters...talk about a strong woman!

Just letting you know I moved this folder down so it appears after the Riftwar discussion, since it was a secondary place in the election.

Okay, I am fully hooked! (and late I know). I really enjoyed DhG but this book has really got me. I have started reading on my Kindle exclusively so that I can highlight and find things later. There are so many things (like the hints about QB having more than one soul) that are scattered throughout the early chapters. I am really enjoying all the plot points that keep getting revealed/twisted/completed. I feel like I need to have a big board (like the cops during a case) to try and keep track of everything. Every time SE drops some knowledge it blows me away (the chapter with the birth of QB and the Bridgeburners was fantastic) and then he brings up a new problem or twist and I just can't read fast enough.

This is awesome...

Glad to see you're still with us Ben!! :)

Wait my friend just wait, there's nothing but goodness coming your way! As to a board game, ect there is supposed to be a companion book coming out, but I haven't seen anything on it yet!

So keep reading Ben and post any questions you may have, I'll still be around after the reading is finished to answer any q's you may have! :)

Shells:)

Ben- Memories was probably my favorite too...and the Bridgeburners are a big part of it.

Nothing is as it seems!

As for the board, I was thinking of doing up some kind of character list....Ive read these all twice and still cant keep it straight

@Shelley: Not board game... big board. ;) You know like when cops are on a case and they stick all the pictures and stuff on a board so they can see everything... maybe its just I watch a lot of cop shows.

@Maggie: The highlights from my Kindle are going into notes... whether or not I'm catching things its really fun trying to keep track of "important things" and seeing whether I was right. SE's writing and hidden plot threads is so complex its almost like a mystery novel.

Hahahahhahahaahahahhaahhaahhaaaaa....sorry Ben, it was very early here when I read that!!! :) Since I was a Military Policeman back in the day, I get what you're saying, I'd think that you'd need a whole house full of empty walls for enough space to keep track of everyone!!!! For myself, I'm waiting for the companion guide to come out!! :)

A companion guide would be nice for a re-read. At the moment, I'm really enjoying the discovery and sleuthy nature of trying to predict and catch all the plot threads. SE's got quite a style.

Ben, I too am currently reading through the series and checking on the posts here as I go. I am about half way through HoC atm. These posts really help to bring out things I missed. I am also checking out Tor.com's site, there is a re read going on and each chapter has a summary and then a couple of people that are doing the rereads comments on the chapter. Really cool and then at the end of the book there is a Q & A with Steve himself. Really helping me to make sure I don't miss much, which I do anyway :) Enjoy!

http://www.tor.com/features/series/ma...

They just recently finished with Midnight Tides and seem to be taking there time, but so far it has been quite helpful.