Kevin's Watch

I dunno, I think Grub's story was as wrapped up as it could be. It was foreshadowed (or rather, blatantly stated) a few books back that he'd be a High Fist(?) one day. In his last scene, he came to the realization that he was a child of war, it was all he had known and it was pretty much how he was created. He took leadership when he needed to. He's beginning to fulfill his destiny. Since he's a kid, I imagine that after the story he remained in the military and he's going to move up through the ranks until he becomes High Fist. Maybe we'll get to see him again the the Karsa books.

Well, I guess that's true. I was just expecting something serious from him then. Brys made him his 2nd in Command, right? Shoulda done something strategically extraordinary. heh

Spoiler

So, the crippled god turns out to be sorta a good guy, or perhaps a redeemed guy in the end. And he got redeemed by the Malazans. He didn't really do that much good in the end.

So, is Karsa becoming a new god of war? He killed Fener over the battlefield, and somebody said something about there maybe being a shattered face replacing all the visages of the gods of war.

The empire is pretty much up in the air...Fid goes back to Malaz, but no word about the political situation...Mallick Rel is the Emperor now...

Knew Quick Ben and Kalam would make an appearance. Glad Lostara got her guy through it all.

Great series. Serious thanks to LuciMay for sending me book 1. And Fist for the next 3. (Just GotM wouldn't have done it. )

[Edit: Since people are posting in here who haven't read the book...]

--A

I just bought a copy of Crippled God. It should get here in a week. I've been busy reading the six Dune books Frank Herbert wrote, and am down to the last hundred or so pages of book six, so I figured it was time to get CG. Now, if I can stretch it out for two months, when the new GRRM book comes out.

I just read the first chapter, and I'm finding it pretty hard to follow. Too much obfuscation trying to provoke intrigue.

How long ago did you read DoD?

--A

Too long, of course, but reading it wouldn't make the Ben Delat segment any more comprehensible, or explain what was going on with Paran. Erikson's trying too hard to make us guess.

He says in the interview that there haven't been enough clues for us to know who Quick's parents are. Which is annoying, but at least you don't have to waste time trying to figure it out. Heh.

Paran? That's just where he is. In position for all the final action.

Erikson's always liked to make us guess at things for a while, but it's just the sheer number of things in the first Paran segments - where he is; who is besieging him (the two figures on the barrow); where the children came from; what's going on where he says they just keep throwing the Shriven and Watered at him and not attacking him with their full power, and then identifies one of the children as Shriven (when the children were all supposedly from hiding in the caves); what he wants from Shadowthrone; what is "this assault on the Warrens" that Shadowthrone says he did after sitting in Aren.

It just seems like Erikson's reached a point where his own opinion of his cleverness has exceeded himself, and he's putting way too much of this hinting into things. When it's not even possible to guess the answer, because he's withheld necessary information, then it's not mystery, it's just obfuscation, and it alienates the reader from what's going on in the story.


I don't quite get what you mean about Ben's parents, by the way. In the scene I read I gathered he was addressing Mother Dark, talking about her, Anomander, Nimander, Father Light, and stealing some Andii artifact. Beyond the general sense of who is involved and the idea that they succeeded or failed at certain things, the monologue is incomprehensible, particularly when he seems to be referring to distinct parts of himself without any indication of which.

Murrin wrote:When it's not even possible to guess the answer, because he's withheld necessary information, then it's not mystery, it's just obfuscation....

It didn't bother me, but that is probably the best description of the distinction between the two that I've ever seen.

--A

I've heard people talk say they couldn't get into these books because they found them boring, and though I disagree I can see why they migt think so. Hundred of pages of mostly walking, and talking, and thinking - chapter after chapter of journeying toward something and worrying about what will happen when they get there.

It's probably something not everyone can appreciate, seeing these characters wax philosophical over so many pages and the content being of character rather than action.

Erikson spends a helluva lot of time on preparation, buildup, and aftermath.

Haha, I never even thought about that.

--A

I'm halfway through the book and they're only a few days into the desert - some characters have only just reached its edge.

I just now read the bit where the Unbound say that the whole House is with the Bonehunters, and I felt like recording my guesses.

Consort: Tavore
Reaver (male and female): Yil/Gudd
Cripple: Banaschar
Leper: Hedge
Fool: Blistig

The one I'm not sure of is Cripple. Edit: I was right!

anotherplace.wordpress.com/2011/05/29/crippled-god/

Fortunately, I doubt I'm widely enough read for anyone to bother calling spoiler against that review, heh.

(Triple posting - don't tell jay!)

Nice review, Murrin.

Agreed.

--A

I have witnessed. What a story.
Best I've ever read.

Not as good as Against All Things Ending