AATE First Impressions

[dlbpharmd]

I'm only 2/3 through the book, and I'm already stunned at the lack of imagination on the part of SRD. "She Who Must Not Be Named?" Why does SRD need MORE villains? He's had Lord Foul, a GOD who has been an awesome antagonist through 2 Chronicles. He's had 3 Ravers, who were responsible for the murder of trees and genocide of the Unhomed. He had ur-viles and Cavewights. He had the Illearth Stone and that great creation of fantasy literature known as the Sunbane. Now we get Mrs. Voldemort? Are you kidding me?

More to come. Disappointed so far.

[largo]

I'm almost done the first half and am impressed so far, though I agree about "She Who Must Not Be Named". I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that; never expected such a rip-off (and a cheesy one at that) from an author like Donaldson. But I loved the confrontation in the Lost Deep against Roger and the croyel.

[aliantha]

Now we get Mrs. Voldemort? Are you kidding me?

Hey now. Certain members of my immediate family would kill to be known as "Mrs. Voldemort". (There's only so much a parent can do... )

I heard somewhere that the term "He/she Who Must Not Be Named" was used well before JK Rowling picked it up. Can't confirm that now, tho.

[Madadeva]

Yeah - someone pointed out in another post. HP Lovecraft

[Fist and Faith]

Well, as I've txted to three of you (sorry, largo ), I'd like to know why Elena was sacrificed to What's Her Name. I've only read the spoilers here, but I guess it doesn't say in the book, eh?

[Madadeva]

because the dead of Anele thought it'd help Covenant and his crew escape if SWMNBN was occupied munching on dead Elena (she must taste ... er ... musty!)

Edit: BTW, downloaded my iPad version - my Amazon version delivered - and of course I did by the ARC. I will support SRD's revenue no matter who ridiculously EMO I think he has made Linden!

I would challenge even the most ardent Linden lover to be impressed with her performance at the end of this one! lol She whines more than Bahkti at his worse!!! (in joke guys!)

[But I did kinda root for Jerimiah!]

[Fist and Faith]

[aliantha]

I think Sunder & Hollian knew exactly what they were doing when they sent Elena into SWMNBN (and yeah, okay, I wish he'd picked a different name for her, too...). SRD makes such a big deal about the fact that nobody's forgiven Elena -- and say what you will about that manhug, Fist , it was juxtaposed against Elena's wailing for a reason (which you would KNOW ABOUT if you would just READ the book YOURSELF already, instead of texting the hell out of the rest of us ). He makes it all about *Linden* not forgiving Elena, there in Andelain, but there's more to it -- nobody else there is rushing to forgive her, either. I would hazard a guess that Elena will redeem herself by working on SWMNBN to lift Kevin's Dirt.

[dlbpharmd]

I would hazard a guess that Elena will redeem herself by working on SWMNBN to lift Kevin's Dirt.

I can see that happening.

I've just finished the part where Jeremiah gets his mind back. My iPad is down to 1% charge left so it's time to get some sleep.

[Seareach]

I would hazard a guess that Elena will redeem herself by working on SWMNBN to lift Kevin's Dirt.

Nice theory. I hadn't thought of that. I dunno whether I think that's going to happen but it's got me thinking....

Oh, and my abbreviation for She Who May Not Be Named has always been SHE...

...but, hey, you could go with dlb and just call her "Mrs Voldemort"

[aliantha]

Oh, and my abbreviation for She Who May Not Be Named has always been SHE...

...but, hey, you could go with dlb and just call her "Mrs Voldemort"

No no, that's what I'm saying. Mrs. Voldy is Batty. She even shaved her head in order to dress up as Voldemort for some convention. One of her e-mail addresses starts with "ladymarvolo". I'm telling ya, *my* genetic material cannot possibly be responsible for this!

I like SHE. Easier than trying to keep track of all the initials while typing out the acronym!

[Fist and Faith]

which you would KNOW ABOUT if you would just READ the book YOURSELF already, instead of texting the hell out of the rest of us

Alas, I have too much integrity and self-respect for that.

He makes it all about *Linden* not forgiving Elena

Makes sense. It is all about Linden, after all. She wasn't around to know Elena. She only saw her as a shade for five minutes in the 2nd Chrons. But SRD wants all to be seen and judged by her. It's looking more and more like What's Her Name is a future Linden, or something along those lines.

[inablackout]

put "spoiler" in your topic line!!

[dlbpharmd]

put "spoiler" in your topic line!!

No need to do so. See kevinswatch.ihugny.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=19975

[Orlion]

And you know what else? He uses magic in these books! How dare he use magic when Harry Potter uses magic! And how dare the Harrow, who has transported instantaneously before and said he can transport people instantaneously do so! He should have made them walk!

[variol son]

The fact that She must not be named will come into play I think. After all, when Covenant asks He Who Should Not Exist As He Adds Nothing To The Story Whatsoever (otherwise known as HWSNEAHANTTSW, or Esmer) to tell Her who She really is, HWSNEAHANTTSW refuses. Which means that the name must have some sort of power, either for her or over her, and suggests that Her true name isn't one that the characters already know - so not Diassomer Mininderain, Emereau Vrai or the Auriference.

Funnily enough, Diassomer Mininderain doesn't appear in the Glossary.

[dlbpharmd]

Esmer was, at least, a predictable consequence of Cail's decision to go to the merewives. I can tolerate Esmer. I can't tolerate Mrs. Voldemort (or, as Revan called her, Voldemortina.)

[Aranion]

While I'm not a huge fan of the ungainly name, I didn't find SWMNBN "wrong" or a bad addition; indeed, we've been reading about virulent banes buried deep in the Earth since the first Chronicles, and AATE is explicit in that She isn't something that comes into play because She choose "sleep" over active villainy, ala Foul.

And it's clear, from the text and the GI, that Foul is "absent" because he's using proxies to protect both himself and his plans. It's not like we saw Foul a lot in the earlier Chronicles, either; pretty much the pattern we saw was brief appearance in first book, then no direct presence or encounters until the finale/climax of the series.

I'm still not sure how I feel about AATE - it seems alternately very "talky" and then all-out action, without much in between - but I think I can understand why SRD is pulling in all the elements he has.

[Ur Dead]

The fact that She must not be named will come into play I think. After all, when Covenant asks He Who Should Not Exist As He Adds Nothing To The Story Whatsoever (otherwise known as HWSNEAHANTTSW, or Esmer) to tell Her who She really is, HWSNEAHANTTSW refuses. Which means that the name must have some sort of power, either for her or over her, and suggests that Her true name isn't one that the characters already know - so not Diassomer Mininderain, Emereau Vrai or the Auriference.

Funnily enough, Diassomer Mininderain doesn't appear in the Glossary.

Anybody with an ex-wife can tell you what the true name is.


and She is in the Glossary with Diassomer Mininderain absent..

But it did say that the She may be the basis for the Diassomer Mininderain story.

And I can't forgive Linden, for not forgiving Elena.(Really it's SRD but..) That part in the Lost Deep I found the most disturbing event of all the Chronicles.

[aliantha]

SHE kinda reminds me of Burn in the Malazan books, to tell you the truth. Except that Burn doesn't seem to be malevolent....