r***@gmail.com
2005-10-11 20:09:07 UTC
KoD - Random Boye' Thoughts
It was available at my local non-chain bookshop. I was off yesterday,
and went to town on the book.
Spoilers for the Uninitiated
Overall, I liked it. I was certainly the best since LoC, but still
lacking, IMHO. Nothing will ever top tSR for me, but anyway, I digress.
Random spoilers in no particular order
1) I predicted (as did many of you) that Galad would challenge Eamon
Valda to a duel of honor over Morgase, and well, yeah. That happened.
2) This book was Sappho-rific! Lesbians Ahoy! Really. Firstly. RJ has
all but laid it out on the table that virtually every novice/Accepted
has some hot girl on girl action in the Tower, and that it's merely a
childish fling, although some like *Galina* never put it aside. -
Yes, Tarna comments that Galina put the moves on her after she was
raised, but Tarna poltitely declined. Also, Elaida and Meidani (the
Rebel Grey "Ferret") may have had a fling as well, and while we are at
it, and not terribly surprising, but homosexuality seems not uncommon
among the Maidens of the Spear - Arella Shiago of Cha Faile has taken
to sleeping with the Shaido Maiden who took her as gai'shan - OTOH,
Lacile Aldorwhin has taken to doing the same with the Aielman who took
her as well.
However, having said all that, the revelation about Galina particularly
makes me think that RJ is definitely influenced by his readers, no
matter what he claims. Galina's vaguely lascivious comments regarding
Erian, way back when, sparked discussion of her orientation, and now he
sees fit to set the record, uh, straight.
Not to mention Aran'gar and Graendal, plus the fact that Delana has set
out a rumor which explains why she and Halima are so close, and it has
nothing to do with taking dictation or filing correspondences.
3) As a sop to John Hamby specifically, Bennae Sedai *finally* makes an
appearance! Plus, with her own last name, no less (that I forget) No
Serafelle, though. Lirene and Tsumata also show up. Tsutama is the new
Red Highest.
4) Similarly, RJ saw fit to clear up a few, umm, oversights in his
world set-up. We learn that the Tinkers *do* have a cultural method of
dealing with girls who can channel, and yes, there is even a Malkieri
Aes Sedai! A somewhat less than stellar Green named Nacelle.
Apparently, there were many, but they all got themselves killed on
vigilante quests.
5) For that matter, we finally see some of the pocket refuge
communities of Malkieri! In related thoughts, Nynaeve rules. Trust me.
6) Stuff really happens. It's true. So much gets resolved it is
startling!
7) We learn who killed Adeleas. It actually makes sense and jives with
the established story. Well done, RJ. Unfortunately, Vandene dies, and
she was always one of the more plausible and decent Aes Sedai figures.
8) Elayne's annoying plot is all but done. Yay! Alas, RJ has developed
an annoying habit of making sure we know the names of all the
Guardswomen, plus a small tidbit of their backstories.
9) Nice character development on some of the Red Ajah. Nuances added
that make them less of a Feminazi Man-Hating Club. One still pays for
the educations of her nephews and cousins, another dates men, quietly,
a third still dotes on her father, etc. Oh, and Pevara has a last name,
but it is something long and convoluted like Maratavavni.
10) Romanda gets a POV, and we finally get a slant on her that makes
her seem more human and less of a caricature. Plus, she's sharp and
instantly makes a connection between the deaths of Kairen, Anaiya and
Cabriana Mercandes that rings true and *actually* acts on it!
11) Oh, and Sharina Melloy is an organizational genius.
12) Egwene seriously rocks. She has grown like ten-thousand fold
between books. Coldly brilliant, resolved and serene, she plants seeds
of revolt cunningly and subtly, wows the novices, and makes friends and
influences people.
13) Rand loses his hand in a strangely anti-climactic scene, but
Semirhage is captured. Semirhage's by-name, by the way, was Lady of
Pain. Pretty cool.
14) House Saighain of Cairhien is really treacherous. Colavaere's
cousin Dairaine is a prisoner among the Shaido like Faile, and she's
feckless and treacherous as Colavaere.
15) Faile has finally reverted to the smart, capable and decent young
heroine she seemed during the Two Rivers campaign. She really has
acquired quite an entourage of her own. She also speaks the Old Tongue.
In a related note, Perrin defeats the Shaido with a stroke of genius.
16) Setalle Anan admits her status as a former Aes Sedai. No name,
though, but she is so totally Martine Jenata.
17) Yay, the Seanchan Empress has a name, Radhannan, but don't bother
getting used to it.
18) Everyone behaves stoically, heroically, intelligently and
pragmatically, but I have noted a disturbing tendency on the parts of
many of the characters to tolerate the chattel slavery and mind-fucking
of the Seanchan social system. Mat and Perrin, specifically, I am
looking at you. Rand, as well. Perrin, for example, bought the
assistance of the Seanchan with the promise of hundreds of new damane.
That's a slippery slope you tread, pal.
19) The Steward of the Dragon in Arad Doman will so obviously be Rodel
Ituralde.
20) Yes, the Tower heads orchestrated the place-holder Sitters in both
Towers, acting through the Obstructionist Five in Salidar (the five
pre-Schism Sitters who split) Saroiya, Varilin, Magla, Takima and
Faiselle. Not explicitly confirmed, but through Romanda's POV, we see
that Magla was pushing for the "inappropriate" Salita, while Romanda
was lobbying for Dagdara Finchey. Ultimately, Magla's status as a
sitting Sitter trumped Romanda's status as an exiled one, plus Romanda
was angling for two offices for herself, namely, a Seat in the Hall and
also First Weaver.
21) The scene with the arrival of a party of Reds willing to bond
Asha'man at the Black Tower was actually very, very menacing and well
done, and is one hell of a cliff-hanger.
I liked it, a lot. Stuff really happens. Characters develop (finally)
and acquire new dimensions. It's got a little bit of everything for
everyone. Tower foo. Derring-do. Battles, mysteries resolved, beloved
characters living up to their promise, etc.
Hooray.
--
RMB
***@webspan.net
***@gmail.com
It was available at my local non-chain bookshop. I was off yesterday,
and went to town on the book.
Spoilers for the Uninitiated
Overall, I liked it. I was certainly the best since LoC, but still
lacking, IMHO. Nothing will ever top tSR for me, but anyway, I digress.
Random spoilers in no particular order
1) I predicted (as did many of you) that Galad would challenge Eamon
Valda to a duel of honor over Morgase, and well, yeah. That happened.
2) This book was Sappho-rific! Lesbians Ahoy! Really. Firstly. RJ has
all but laid it out on the table that virtually every novice/Accepted
has some hot girl on girl action in the Tower, and that it's merely a
childish fling, although some like *Galina* never put it aside. -
Yes, Tarna comments that Galina put the moves on her after she was
raised, but Tarna poltitely declined. Also, Elaida and Meidani (the
Rebel Grey "Ferret") may have had a fling as well, and while we are at
it, and not terribly surprising, but homosexuality seems not uncommon
among the Maidens of the Spear - Arella Shiago of Cha Faile has taken
to sleeping with the Shaido Maiden who took her as gai'shan - OTOH,
Lacile Aldorwhin has taken to doing the same with the Aielman who took
her as well.
However, having said all that, the revelation about Galina particularly
makes me think that RJ is definitely influenced by his readers, no
matter what he claims. Galina's vaguely lascivious comments regarding
Erian, way back when, sparked discussion of her orientation, and now he
sees fit to set the record, uh, straight.
Not to mention Aran'gar and Graendal, plus the fact that Delana has set
out a rumor which explains why she and Halima are so close, and it has
nothing to do with taking dictation or filing correspondences.
3) As a sop to John Hamby specifically, Bennae Sedai *finally* makes an
appearance! Plus, with her own last name, no less (that I forget) No
Serafelle, though. Lirene and Tsumata also show up. Tsutama is the new
Red Highest.
4) Similarly, RJ saw fit to clear up a few, umm, oversights in his
world set-up. We learn that the Tinkers *do* have a cultural method of
dealing with girls who can channel, and yes, there is even a Malkieri
Aes Sedai! A somewhat less than stellar Green named Nacelle.
Apparently, there were many, but they all got themselves killed on
vigilante quests.
5) For that matter, we finally see some of the pocket refuge
communities of Malkieri! In related thoughts, Nynaeve rules. Trust me.
6) Stuff really happens. It's true. So much gets resolved it is
startling!
7) We learn who killed Adeleas. It actually makes sense and jives with
the established story. Well done, RJ. Unfortunately, Vandene dies, and
she was always one of the more plausible and decent Aes Sedai figures.
8) Elayne's annoying plot is all but done. Yay! Alas, RJ has developed
an annoying habit of making sure we know the names of all the
Guardswomen, plus a small tidbit of their backstories.
9) Nice character development on some of the Red Ajah. Nuances added
that make them less of a Feminazi Man-Hating Club. One still pays for
the educations of her nephews and cousins, another dates men, quietly,
a third still dotes on her father, etc. Oh, and Pevara has a last name,
but it is something long and convoluted like Maratavavni.
10) Romanda gets a POV, and we finally get a slant on her that makes
her seem more human and less of a caricature. Plus, she's sharp and
instantly makes a connection between the deaths of Kairen, Anaiya and
Cabriana Mercandes that rings true and *actually* acts on it!
11) Oh, and Sharina Melloy is an organizational genius.
12) Egwene seriously rocks. She has grown like ten-thousand fold
between books. Coldly brilliant, resolved and serene, she plants seeds
of revolt cunningly and subtly, wows the novices, and makes friends and
influences people.
13) Rand loses his hand in a strangely anti-climactic scene, but
Semirhage is captured. Semirhage's by-name, by the way, was Lady of
Pain. Pretty cool.
14) House Saighain of Cairhien is really treacherous. Colavaere's
cousin Dairaine is a prisoner among the Shaido like Faile, and she's
feckless and treacherous as Colavaere.
15) Faile has finally reverted to the smart, capable and decent young
heroine she seemed during the Two Rivers campaign. She really has
acquired quite an entourage of her own. She also speaks the Old Tongue.
In a related note, Perrin defeats the Shaido with a stroke of genius.
16) Setalle Anan admits her status as a former Aes Sedai. No name,
though, but she is so totally Martine Jenata.
17) Yay, the Seanchan Empress has a name, Radhannan, but don't bother
getting used to it.
18) Everyone behaves stoically, heroically, intelligently and
pragmatically, but I have noted a disturbing tendency on the parts of
many of the characters to tolerate the chattel slavery and mind-fucking
of the Seanchan social system. Mat and Perrin, specifically, I am
looking at you. Rand, as well. Perrin, for example, bought the
assistance of the Seanchan with the promise of hundreds of new damane.
That's a slippery slope you tread, pal.
19) The Steward of the Dragon in Arad Doman will so obviously be Rodel
Ituralde.
20) Yes, the Tower heads orchestrated the place-holder Sitters in both
Towers, acting through the Obstructionist Five in Salidar (the five
pre-Schism Sitters who split) Saroiya, Varilin, Magla, Takima and
Faiselle. Not explicitly confirmed, but through Romanda's POV, we see
that Magla was pushing for the "inappropriate" Salita, while Romanda
was lobbying for Dagdara Finchey. Ultimately, Magla's status as a
sitting Sitter trumped Romanda's status as an exiled one, plus Romanda
was angling for two offices for herself, namely, a Seat in the Hall and
also First Weaver.
21) The scene with the arrival of a party of Reds willing to bond
Asha'man at the Black Tower was actually very, very menacing and well
done, and is one hell of a cliff-hanger.
I liked it, a lot. Stuff really happens. Characters develop (finally)
and acquire new dimensions. It's got a little bit of everything for
everyone. Tower foo. Derring-do. Battles, mysteries resolved, beloved
characters living up to their promise, etc.
Hooray.
--
RMB
***@webspan.net
***@gmail.com