Peter McMullan > Recent Status Updates

Pumped to be re-reading about the Dead Men

Interesting points about interpersonal relationships and power struggles. Important to remember about the psychology of possession and use. Glad they will be talking in more depth about how to “pluck up your courage”.

Finished the first night. He definitely caught me on the ‘deny trauma’ front at first. Having finished the chapter now, I feel like this is similar to how I look at the world and people’s excuses. It’s important to be this harsh on yourself, but giving others variable levels of leeway for their behaviour seems kinda, if not entirely Adlerian.

Getting back into it

Finished the introductory section about his time in concentration camps, very clinical review of his time while still giving insight into emotional states.

Middle of the book was slow - one too many interactions/interruptions. Jason is less annoying than I remember, but they mention at one point that he’ll need to lead the seven half-bloods and I got pissed all over again.

The Odd Group are more interesting this time around, mainly because Silchas and Fear make more sense. The things going on in Letheras (especially the Invigilators) are more much more sinister and honestly just gross.

So fun already. Very happy that she’s not stingy with killing off characters - Dylan at the beginning really set the tone.

So they’ve pulled off the fake death. Alia is the villain, Irulan has shown herself to be a kind woman despite all these horrible things the other characters think about her. Leto is being forced consistently into the spice trance by Duncan/Namri/Sabiha on Jessica’s orders. Ghanima is to be wed to Farad’n, whom Jessica is teaching. Crazy stuff!

Started slow, was unsure about this one. But the twin minds of Leto and Ghanima, the casual drop into insanity of Alia/Baron Harkonnen, Duncan’s heartbreak, Farad’n’s coming into his own, and everything else have brought me around. Very excited about the whole sun-plot that the BG were trying to eliminate everyone except for Ghanima and Farad’n.

Fantastic! Street fight with Kalam, Tavore, T’Amber, and the claw. Understanding the power Mallick Rel has, he and Korbolo Dom have manipulated to have the Empress under their thumb. Thank Hood Pearl dies, what a punk. Glad we’ve got Nimander and gang in the book.
“Because we're waiting. We're waiting for the Adjunct. Destriant, we're hers, now. It's done, and the damned empire can rot!” Beautiful.

Immediately following chapter seven you feel kinda hollow, like the book should’ve ended and you could get some space and pick up the next book months after Y’Ghatan. At this point Fiddler and crew haven’t even caught up with the 14th yet! Also completely forgot how big of a part Ganoes plays in this book, and delving into Poliel’s temple with Dujek almost comes out of nowhere.

The siege and escape from Y’Ghatan is nuts. I forgot how many die in the siege and fire, and how the main characters in the 14th army remain the ones who escaped. Possibly one of my favorite sections of a Malazan book.

Completely forgot the K’Chain Che’Malle flying fortresses were moving through the Imperial Warren - and that Kalam and Quick Ben went after them. I guess they didn’t necessarily come out of nowhere to attack the Bonehunters in Dust of Dreams…

Paul was just blinded. All of his talk about prescience and finding the best path through the future is more satisfying now, because we start to see him use his foresight to “see”. Can the Tleilax see out of the eyes they sell to people? Will they be able to “see” from the POV of all the guards that were just blinded. Also the introduction of atomics is awesome and I’m excited.

Interesting read - Paul’s POV is my least favorite right now. Makes me appreciate the way Eriksson avoids giving POV for certain characters, I think Paul would be much more interesting if we couldn’t see into his mind and rather experienced him from the Chani, Irulan, Stilgar, or Alia’s POV.

Seren Pedac scenes with the Crimson Guard are significantly better this time around. Corlo’s explanation of warrens is (I think) the first in the series to fully make sense. The description of Seren Pedac dealing with the horrors she survived in Trate was very touching and makes her a much more grounded character this time around. Trull is also way better - every time he calls out the Emperor I flinch.

Learning a lot more about the history of the Tiste. The differences between the Letherii and the Edur are really interesting, and I understand WAY more of Udinaas’ POV.

Trull Sengar and the Tiste Edur carry this book from my recollection. Just got introduced to Seren Pedac, can’t remember overly enjoying her parts.

Karsa has gone from truly detestable to fine. I hate how easily you grow to be okay with his actions.

Syen is my favorite POV, waiting to find out what’s up with Hoa (think he’s a construct like the woman that was with the guy who caused the massive tremor at the “end of the world”).