I know the book did get to be one of the Science Fiction Book Club's choices of the month and be on their front page etc

It was how I found out about it. I ordered it through them, too.

Maybe they serve whomever the people who took over from the Clave are. A non-earthpower reliant set of Lords.

Some interesting ways of viewing him here that I hadn't considered, especially esmerlover's notions. Any reasons on why you consider him that way?

"Are <i>you</i> mad as well? This is <i>hurtloam</i> I tell you."

I just thought it summarised Foul's exasperation with people in this really remarkably funny way.

Now here's an idea. There has been a lot of speculation that the land ain't gonna surviive this one. I assumed that would be because Foul managed to escape somehow thorugh his plans, but what if it's because Linden willingly goes and rouses the Worm? Because she has knowledge of some plan or other t...

I seem to recall that Linden <i>does</i> remember hurtloam. Let me fish it out... P.178 - "Somewhere she had heard of "hurtloam", but she could not remember what it was, or who had mentioned it." I thought this pretty realistic. After all, it has been ten years since she was ther...

Esmer seemed like something of a deus ex machina character to me, interesting to some extent but really just around so that there is someone powerful to prod things along. Linden et al need a caesure and BAM! a caesure exists because Esmer can do those things. They need a way to approach the Waynhim...

my first post! I was thinking. If she is Kastenessen's lover, the reason that Mahrtiir may have recognised her is because of his familiarity with Esmer. Grandparental genes showing through a couple of generations. In which case, he would be amazed that she serves as he has glimpsed Esmer's power and...