So, how did your predictions hold out?

[Fist and Faith]

kevinswatch.ihugny.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=10161&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
Attitudes aside, this was a very interesting thread! Lots of predictions thrown around.

[MrKABC]

I just finished the book!!! Whooohoooo! Now I can hang out here again.

I must say that FR *rocked*!!!! My unhappiness with ROTE has been washed away... SRD has really hit his stride now, and IMHO a home run while he is at it. WOW, what a roller coaster ride this book has been!!!

Now back to topic.

My predictions were WAYYYYYY off...

I thought the Mahdoubt was Lord Foul in disguise. WRONG!!!

I thought the TC at the end of ROTE was Kastenessen, or some other Elohim. WRONG!!!

I thought that we would not see Giants or Sandgorgons again in this Chronicles since we had gotten an extensive look at them in the Second Chronicles. WRONG!!!

I thought that there would be no more time travel. WRONG!!!

I thought that Linden et al would head west to the Outer Earth, since that area remains unexplored in any of the Chronicles - that thought was reinforced by the Chapter 6 readings indicating Linden struggling with snow and cold weather. WRONG!!!

Since SRD has been adamant about not writing "excessive backstory" and wasn't interested in prequels, I assumed that we would not get a look at Loric, Damelon, et al. WRONG!!!

Wow!! I sure blew my predictions, didn't I?

[Relayer]

I think the only prediction I really got right was that we *would* see Giants again... just because Stave said "they will not return to the Land in your lifetime" didn't mean squat to me.

And that the TC at the end of ROTE wasn't really TC. The whole "Find Me" thing...

[variol son]

I dunno, The fact is that Covenant himself thought what Linden did at the end was awful. So... *shrug* my assumption is that Linden didn't use the runed SoL the way Caerroil Wildwood wanted her to.

I wouldn't be so sure that Linden summoning Covenant is what he is talking about. It could be, but I think that would be a little disappointing. Also, just because Covenant isn't happy about something doesn't mean it was the wrong thing to do, in the same way that Linden didn't necessarily do the wrong thing just because Esmer of Infelice or the Harrow or whoever the hell else think she did.

[dlbpharmd]

I think the only prediction I really got right was that we *would* see Giants again... just because Stave said "they will not return to the Land in your lifetime" didn't mean squat to me.

Yeah, that was a solid prediction. A chronicles without Ranyhyn is one thing, but without Giants?

[wayfriend]

My predictions? Guesses is a fairer term.

I guessed that it could not be TC, that he had Foul all over him. I was correct, in general, but not in specifics. I guessed that it might be a Foul-possessed TC, and that was wrong.

I guessed , based on Foul's words in Runes, that the Jeremiah approaching Revelstone had to be serving Foul. Again, correct only in a general way.

We didn't get far enough into FR to test too many guesses about TC. I had, early after Runes, guessed that TC was "fragmented" somehow. That's wrong. Later, I guessed that TC "contained" Foul in some way. This is still up in the air IMO.

I guessed that the Mahdoubt was related to TC in some way. That was completely off in wrongville.

I guessed that SRD was all used up with Giants, and we'd do something different. That's was wrong. And actually I'm sort of sad: that part of the story feels like a direct ripoff of TWL.

I guessed that Linden would kick A and take names. Nuff said.

[dlbpharmd]

that part of the story feels like a direct ripoff of TWL.

Agreed.

[Ur Dead]

that part of the story feels like a direct ripoff of TWL.

Agreed.

I'll disagree on that..

We have learn quite a deal about the Giants.
Don't mess with the swordmaidens. They will kick your patooney from one end of the Land to the other.
It doesn't take the Illearth Stone for a Giant to die.
Both male and female are about equal in strength and stamia.
Did I mention that the maidens can kick your <backsides>
They can be fanatic with an idea to the point of insanity.

The women can kick your butt!!

/goes off to find Giant GF..

[aliensporebomb]

I was actually very happy with the way this book went. It was almost as if ROTR was sort of a "foundation" for what happened here. So if that book was a little, I won't say
"underwhelming" but it is not like this one!

And in a way, this book brought me back to the joy that was The One Tree - Giants, Elohim, Sandgogons, Kresh, Croyel, Bloodguard and more!

The battles were terrific and the new characters a nice addition. Particularly that of the insequent.

It answers the Kenaustin Ardenol question for once and for all (how did that guy get stuck out on the island all of those years?).

[Relayer]

that part of the story feels like a direct ripoff of TWL.

Agreed.

I'll disagree on that..
We have learn quite a deal about the Giants.

I'll agree with both of you.

The way they appear is too much like TWL... just at a crucial moment, they come in and save the day, and one of the Giants has had some sort of vision which has led them.

But given that's how they show up, the rest is pretty f'in cool.

[Mistweave]

The way they appear is too much like TWL... just at a crucial moment, they come in and save the day, and one of the Giants has had some sort of vision which has led them.

Actually, I think SRD is purposely mirroring many things, including specific events, from the first and second chronicles, often giving them a twist. He is also weaving stronger strands between all three chronicles.

I loved the almost throw-away line of how Linden used Earthpower to build the pillars under Skyweir to support the caverns. I immediately had an image of the boat drifting between them in TIW.

As to predictions the only one that came close was my theory about the Mahdoubt.

Another theory Rolling Eyes - I think she might be a manifestation of injured time.

Her patchwork dress = moments seemingly stitched together randomly into a whole

She seems to 'see' what is needed and when (see thru time? precognition)

The way she places the tray of food precisely, as if there is the right spot for it.

Mahrtiir initial recognises something about her and questions Liand's statement "She serves?" I read this that he recognises that she is like the Ranyhyn or the Elohim, power incarnate. Only instead of earthpower it is earthpower as specifically manifested as time.

Otherwise I'm glad in a sense that I didn't predict correctly. It's nice to be surprised. And boy! can SRD surprise you.

[callback]

Here's how my speculations held out, after looking back through some old posts.

1. The Haruchai either helped make or refused to combat Kevin's Dirt. DEAD WRONG!!!!

2. Suspsicion that it really wasn't TC and J at the end of book 1. RIGHT!!!

3. Someone would resurrect TC. RIGHT!!!!!! Guessing that it'd be Foul. WRONG!!!!!

4. Sandgorgons and Croyel working together. WRONG!!!! (probably. This still could come up later.)

5. Kevin's Dirt's main purpose was to prevent Joan from making caesures. WRONG!!!!!!

6, Time travel would be limited to one or two more trips and we'd get to meet Berek, Damelon, and Loric. MOSTLY RIGHT!!!!!

7. It's possible for the worm to be roused without breaking the arch or destroying the world. SEEMS LIKELY!!!!! (Otherwise we are going to have to put up with two books full of Linden and TC floating around in space.)