Kevin's Watch

Sorry, you're right, i got it the wrong way around... I wonder why they used to be known by bad names, but were later called the others, then?

That's what Im basing my "SRD just liked the sound of the words" theory on...can't make much sense of it any other way...

It's a definite possibility, fmi!

No. I used to email with SRD. I asked him why he picked those words for the names of the Ravers. I said something like:
"Did you think, 'Hmmm, here's these words with glorious meanings. I think I'll give them horrible associations.'?"

He replied with something like:
"That's most certainly what I did NOT think. I was trying to show how evil often views itself as good."

The fact that SRD emailed you back is really, really cool, F&F.

He da man!

The sad story is that that was the last exchange we had. At that point, my computer broke. Because of how it was behaving before it broke, I'm sure it works fine - it just won't turn on!!!!!!! So his email address is in my basement... Taunting! Screaming!

Phooey on computers that break down .

Hey, there is one name in all of these books that really makes me wonder.
That's everyone's favorite destruction crazed rock crushing killing machine (reformed)..... the sandgorgon NOM.

Why in the name of zarking fardwarks would you have a name that, well to the best of my knowledge means 'name'?
I thought it was because the main reason for even giving it name was so it could be spoken, thus all that was needed was something that said this thing does have a name nothing special but it has one

But maybe I'm wrong.
I just got home a few hours ago, I need sleeeeeep.....

Hmm... well, I guess that,I mean...
yeah name right! I think that it's supposed
to be a thing where , well,you see, Nom he comes when called
eh, never mind good night!

just 2 add 2 the idea of a covenant, in jewish culture when 2 ppl sealed a covenant, they took some animals (a calf and a lamb and a dove i think) cut them in half right down the middle, and separated the halves so you could walk between the 2 piles of guts. then both party would walk thru and declare that they would end up like those animals if they broke the covenant. this is what god did himself with abraham in genesis when he promised that abrahams descendants (the jews) would be his ppl.

and no onions, the bible doesnt say that god punishes the sinful with disease, although many ppl still preach that sort of junk anyway.

sum sui generis

variol son

Phobe: i think you are definately on to something there. Maybe Donaldson is playing with the whole idea of names, the idea that names have power and that by discovering the 'true name' of a thing, you can control a thing.

Also, isn't Baron Samadhi a god in the voodoo pantheon? I seem to recall the name bieng used by Zelazny ( in 'This Immortal' ) and Gibson ( in 'Count Zero').

Earthfriend wrote:Phobe: i think you are definately on to something there. Maybe Donaldson is playing with the whole idea of names, the idea that names have power and that by discovering the 'true name' of a thing, you can control a thing.

You suppose he's read Le Guin?

The sad story is that that was the last exchange we had. At that point, my computer broke. Because of how it was behaving before it broke, I'm sure it works fine - it just won't turn on!!!!!!! So his email address is in my basement... Taunting! Screaming!

Fist - maybe you just need a new power supply?

If I knew anything about anything related to computers, I'd certainly try. A guy I know says that, if he can't get it going, he'll just put that hard drive into my other computer. But who knows when he'll be in the area to do that!

Fist and Faith wrote:

You suppose he's read Le Guin? [/quote]

Very possibly, Fist & Faith.

Damn, i keep forgetting to log in before i post, and my thrice-cursed computer seems to keep forgetting that i ticked the 'log me in automatically each time i visit' box

Anyhoo, the above post was me

Fist and Faith wrote:If I knew anything about anything related to computers, I'd certainly try. A guy I know says that, if he can't get it going, he'll just put that hard drive into my other computer. But who knows when he'll be in the area to do that!

You can do quite well with computer hardware if you are good with puzzles. Remember that a computer is just a collection of different bits that are joined together by cables. If you have a spare power supply you just need to note how your old one is connected to the components (there are only two kinds of plugs) and then connect the new one similarly. I had this problem and it was much easier to change it than I expected.

I do not think that SRD uses names like LeGuin does in her works, for although names have some power in the Land they are not really essensial in the same way they are in Earthsea.

That said there are a few places in the chronicles where I think names are more significant than elsewhere. The waynhim for instance, seem to have more power to their names than humans, and also sandgorgons of course.

And there are the words of power (eg. Melenkurian Abatha). Are they names? The power of the Lords does seem to be wrapped up in their knowledge of the Land, which they express through words and names.
Le Guin is definately more explicit in her construction of 'names equals power', but i think names, and language generally, is very important to Donaldson, and the Chronicles.

bump