Kevin's Watch

He's stoically holding the krill to the croyel's throat while everyone else drinks, eats and sleeps. Not once does anyone offer to take his shift over.
I thought that the Haruchai stopped being "Sleepless ones" after they renounced their bloodguard vow.
WTF?

Doesn't one of the giants offer to take the task from him at some point? Was it Coldspray, or am I misremembering this?

earthbrah wrote:Doesn't one of the giants offer to take the task from him at some point? Was it Coldspray, or am I misremembering this?

Yes, but only AFTER about 24 hours of everyone else getting their sh*t together. In fact, I think it was even after Linden attempted to wield the staff of law and the white gold against the Croyel!
Poor Galt!

I'm serious about this. Just think about the level of concentration it takes to hold a weapon on a prisoner who could, at any moment, make a wild run for it, or take advantage of the slightest distraction and then use magic against you!
But everyone is just sleeping, eating, talking, coming to terms with themselves, etc., and nobody so much as establishes a rotation and a methodical "change of the guard" that might prevent a wild dash on behalf of Galt. There is no mention of him being thirsty, even though several paragraphs describe how the giants collect water and carry it back in their armor for everyone else to drink!
These people are desperate for water, yet Galt doesn't ever get a sip of it.
Hell, even Jeremiah takes in more sustenance than Galt.

The Haruchai, even without the Bloodguard vow, have incredible stamina and endurance.
Look at Stave, he was able to fight off Infelice's stasis.

I'm pretty sure I remember the Brin and Cail et al. also being able to go without sleep for lengths of time.

Also, the krill is an instrument of Earthpower, just by holding it, it would be able to sustain him somewhat.

drew wrote:The Haruchai, even without the Bloodguard vow, have incredible stamina and endurance.
Look at Stave, he was able to fight off Infelice's stasis.

I'm pretty sure I remember the Brin and Cail et al. also being able to go without sleep for lengths of time.

Also, the krill is an instrument of Earthpower, just by holding it, it would be able to sustain him somewhat.

During the first run-in with Roger, Donaldson described the Haruchai's toughness as "preternatural." I take that word to mean "surpassing the ordinary or normal." Fighting against Infelice, Stave himself has surpassed the Haruchai norm for preternatural toughness. I think he is being represented as the only one capable of such a feat.

Well I know all that and I know it's a point of pride that Haruchai don't accept help-- but still, if the point is not addressed in the story itself, I get uncomfortable and too distracted to absorb much of the story.

Plus this could have been an opportunity to explore Galt's character a little more.

What is it like to hold a magic weapon against a monster like that, who at any moment of slack could escape, with devastating results is a huge responsibility-- surely someone in this company might have addressed it.

Also, this should be a big conflict for Galt, who does not support the use of any supernatural power, being a Master.

Also, don't forget that the Hurachai eschew weapons.
So this is a real personal conflict for Galt as well.

It is a lot to ask of an author who is writing literally millions of words-- and who I still feel succeeds wildly at it, but you know... this kind of thing makes it difficult to pay attention to everything else.

Also the point that Galt is the only person willing to kill Jeremiah in order to hold that power over the croyel should have been explored more.

This might have been expressed, so that Galt's determination to continue holding the croyel captive might have had more meaning.

Lord Zombiac wrote:Well I know all that and I know it's a point of pride that Haruchai don't accept help-- but still, if the point is not addressed in the story itself, I get uncomfortable and too distracted to absorb much of the story.

Plus this could have been an opportunity to explore Galt's character a little more.

What is it like to hold a magic weapon against a monster like that, who at any moment of slack could escape, with devastating results is a huge responsibility-- surely someone in this company might have addressed it.

Also, this should be a big conflict for Galt, who does not support the use of any supernatural power, being a Master.

Also, don't forget that the Hurachai eschew weapons.
So this is a real personal conflict for Galt as well.

It is a lot to ask of an author who is writing literally millions of words-- and who I still feel succeeds wildly at it, but you know... this kind of thing makes it difficult to pay attention to everything else.

Also the point that Galt is the only person willing to kill Jeremiah in order to hold that power over the croyel should have been explored more.

This might have been expressed, so that Galt's determination to continue holding the croyel captive might have had more meaning.

I don't know the answer to most of that, but Galt had to be the one chosen to hold the croyel captive so he can be killed. In that way, Donaldson conveniently gets rid of a character with the same name of another character in a book created by an author he despises probably more than any other.

Do tell.

To whom do you refer?

Lord Zombiac wrote:Do tell.

To whom do you refer?

srd wrote:As a passionate anti-elitist, I don't have much use for Ayn Rand. If I had remembered that the name 'Galt' appears in one of her books, I would have chosen a different name for my character.

(11/07/2005)

It warms my heart to know he dislikes Ayn Rand too!
"as a passionate anti-elitist" is the most brief and concise criticism I have yet encountered of her!

Lord Zombiac wrote:It warms my heart to know he dislikes Ayn Rand too!
"as a passionate anti-elitist" is the most brief and concise criticism I have yet encountered of her!

Donaldson's GI responses are known for their brevity, but he's stated the same point elsewhere at length, I don't remember where it was now. I think his reaction lies somewhere between "somewhat" and "very" mortified by the choice of the name "Galt." He just has no use for Ayn Rand whatsoever.

I should add that not many of her fans/followers recognize the elitism, it requires a more - objective - view to see it.

it requires a more - objective - view to see it.

Objectivism?;)

Lord Zombiac wrote:

it requires a more - objective - view to see it.

Objectivism?;)

I just got up. :yawn: Is that the word of the day on KW? I hope not, it's off-topic here. But I have a place to discuss the topic if anybody wants to. objectivism-criticism.blogspot.com/

I wouldn't worry too much about Galt. He is mentally linked to the other Masters, who would take over if they felt he was slightly faltering. Also, changing guards would probably be the best time for the croyel to try to escape.

Orlion wrote:I wouldn't worry too much about Galt. He is mentally linked to the other Masters, who would take over if they felt he was slightly faltering. Also, changing guards would probably be the best time for the croyel to try to escape.

So why didn't it use that wall-of-force trick to escape any time it wanted to?

TheWormoftheWorld'sEnd wrote:

Orlion wrote:I wouldn't worry too much about Galt. He is mentally linked to the other Masters, who would take over if they felt he was slightly faltering. Also, changing guards would probably be the best time for the croyel to try to escape.

So why didn't it use that wall-of-force trick to escape any time it wanted to?

Maybe it needs to be chomping on poor Jerry's neck in order to possess him entirely? It can't get him to wave his hands around mystically (or indeed do anything else) unless it's actually biting down on him?

TheFallen wrote:

TheWormoftheWorld'sEnd wrote:

Orlion wrote:I wouldn't worry too much about Galt. He is mentally linked to the other Masters, who would take over if they felt he was slightly faltering. Also, changing guards would probably be the best time for the croyel to try to escape.

So why didn't it use that wall-of-force trick to escape any time it wanted to?

Maybe it needs to be chomping on poor Jerry's neck in order to possess him entirely? It can't get him to wave his hands around mystically (or indeed do anything else) unless it's actually biting down on him?

I think that was it.

TheWormoftheWorld'sEnd wrote:During the first run-in with Roger, Donaldson described the Haruchai's toughness as "preternatural." I take that word to mean "surpassing the ordinary or normal." Fighting against Infelice, Stave himself has surpassed the Haruchai norm for preternatural toughness. I think he is being represented as the only one capable of such a feat.

Stave also passes the Haruchai norm earlier, where in the Lost Deeps he is the only one of all the assembled company - Covenant excepted - capable of shaking off the glamour and enchantment of the Viles' ballroom and following Linden into Jeremiah's chamber.