Kevin's Watch

...IMO, is Esmer. So far at least I think Donaldson has made him too powerful. Previously his other power-rife characters were, for one reason or another, largely incapable or unwilling to use their power: Covenant because of Unbelief and then venom, Linden because of her own conflicts (she’s very careful even in Runes), Findail because the Elohim are too self-involved to care about much of anything, and Vain because the Ur-viles made him largely unreactive. But Esmer just seems to throw power around on a daily basis, and in an annoyingly random way.
And by the way, just why is he so powerful? Yes, he has an Elohim grandfather, but the other three quarters of his lineage is human (counting the Haruchai as human; I realize they are in some ways more than just human). And even the Merewives did not appear to have the sort of power Esmer posseses, since they seemed pretty limited in TOT to seducing seamen and raising some fairly minor storms.

Well, it could be that they weren't limited to those things, they simply only chose to use their powers in that manner. I think it's interesting that for the first time in the series, Donaldson has a character who is incredibly powerful and does not care how he uses it. This coupled with the fact that any helpful act is balanced by a treacherous one makes him a very dangerous character.

A large part of his power could come from the being he admits to serving (see spoiler). Also, I believe it said something along the lines that he was [more powerful than either and less than both].

Spoiler

Kastenessen?

He did indeed. I like Esmer's character. He's different and refreshing. I find the idea fascinating; the notion of an immensely powerful being who is compelled to always balance his actions.

I'd have to disagree, Liand is clearly the most annoying character in the book. He's like a useless tagalong "sidekick", straight out of a Disney movie!

I'm sure that he'll end up doing something major, maybe he'll be the first of a new group of Lords, I always thought that's what would happen with Sunder and Hollian's son (oops, got that one WAY WRONG! )

As for Esmer, I think he's interesting, but it's a real shame that Cail could have caused such distress to the land, I feel bad for the kid! At least he did it in true Haruchai extravagance!

Esmer is intriguing to me, but I would like to learn more about Cail's trip back to the merewives.

Liand is extremely annoying, and I also tired of Anele very quickly.

Liand kinda resembles a puppy dog right now, doesn't he? I assume SRD has something big planned for him -- there's gotta be *some* reason why he keeps tagging along....

SRD *always* has bigger plans than we realize. That's the way his mind works, and that's why he's better compared to great writers of classical literature than other fantasy writers. Everything is there for a reason. I'm puzzled by Liand, but I trust that something will come of him. Esmer seems as conflicted as TC, albeit in different ways. I mean, to loose the Demondim on them and then warn them (even if it was mostly for the benefit of the Ranyhyn) - that was kind of cool. Still, I'd like to see someone ( ?) rend him beyond recognition. I mean, why does he hate the Haruchai so much? His mother's the one he should be pissed off at. She didn't need to be tootin' her horn, after all.

Back on topic. Annoying? The Masters. They all need to be taught a lesson.

aliantha wrote:Liand kinda resembles a puppy dog right now, doesn't he? I assume SRD has something big planned for him -- there's gotta be *some* reason why he keeps tagging along....

Whoa!!!! Nice Steed! Will you ride that to the Elohimbruch!?


Er... on topic - Linden is most annoying. She swears too much!!

Annoy the Courser, oops, wrong series.

Most annoying? Those Humbled idiots that had their hands chopped in half like Korik and co. Dopes.

Sheriff Lytton. The man is such an incredible cheesehead that he simply defies credulity. In the first two series, I could just about believe in him as a one-dimensional, crooked small-town cop — because he did all his Snidely Whiplash stuff offstage. But when he turns up in person, you expect him to have some kind of redeeming or at least human quality. Megan Roman said once that Lytton had just enough humanity to get himself re-elected every two years. Well, in Runes, he had no humanity at all.

That bothered me, because SRD usually does so much better than that. He reminded me exactly of Aaron in Titus Andronicus:

If one good deed in all my life I did,
I do repent it from my very soul.

(Shakespeare wrote several bad plays, but in my book, only Titus was truly loathsome.)

..I tell ya who aggrevates me the most...its the boyfriend,significant other,lover, who Linden Doesn't have in her life. ....I mean..c'mon, shes a freekin doctor in a small town..There must be some attorney, cop,,fireman,,emt,,fireman,, sheriff deputy,,fireman,,hardware store clerk, fireman,,small business owner, college grad who came back to smalltown usa to live the real life,,somebody...maybe even a fireman on the side,,but nobody,,....Not one soul in the whole town has been brave enuf...Okay, okay , okay,,we don't really know about Lindens looks. We don't know her dimensions. We know alot about here interior and how she changed it for a new life...but there apparently isn't one soul to be interested in this professional confident woman?? What is wrong with the male population of the town? Shes got hiking boots..You mean to tell me she went hiking alone???...C'mon Donaldson,,how about another summoning...perhaps somebody's boyfriend. I mean ole TC has been hanging out in the Arch for what 3 thousand years..." i'll be rite back honey, I'm just going down to the corner store for a pack of cigs..."
...Who is her boyfreind? Tom Cruise?, Brad Pitt? Wild Willie Clinton? C'mon Donaldson, there is a huge void and jeremiah isn't filling the position. Whoever has been eyeballing Linden and not asking her out,,even if its just for lunch,,yea, that guy is really annoying...I mean, he could be on the trip of his life rite now...or Roger would be dead on the porch where jeremiah lived...because somebody was on the other side of the door waiting for his dum arse..........MEL

I took it that she was so in love with Covenant, and the experiences she shared with him, that "real world" men didn't real interest her. Jeremiah provided companionship, and that was all she really wanted.

..Yes,,quite the commitment on her part but really now. Her " new life" then isn't exactly right is it. " Her" new life is centered around ...TC..? I mean,, a woman has biological urges and needs. Lindens " new life" may be all about confidence and helping others,,,but umm..perhaps a little doctor heal thyself is in order.
...There is a flaw here,,as there has to be in Linden. A spurned suitor could have illustrated it perhaps. maybe there is more to Lytoon( pretty much a cartoon character) than we know.
..Yes, i am aware to her "love " for TC,,but,,she aknowledges his death 20 years ago. That puts her in the same catagory as a " Nun". That is sad , imho.
...But it raises another question. Beings, most is inside out now in the Land,,will there be a Lover for Linden?..The ghost of TC? a certain ex-master..a naive stonedowner,,maybe a bi-polar Elohim?,,or a tuff and ready Ramen? ,,...I just can't see Linden going for at least 3000 pages maintaining her chastity,,,and i find that annoying. Yes, There i said it..Lindens Chastity is the most annoying character.....MEL

Linden shared something with Covenant that she can never share with anyone else, and he reached her in a way no-one else could. I don't think she wants anyone else, nor do I think she's at the mercy of her biological urges.

Agreed, Cjr. Linden seems to have no desire for that kind of contact.
If she can't have TC, she wants nobody.

...And you all don't see the flaw in character of all that?
Its Her " New Life",,btw of the 2nd Chrons,,but Her New Life is anchored on a dead character..She hasn't moved on. Even Jeremiah is a connection to the past. His altruism can be seen in a different light,,Her inability to move on, from that horrible night, is manifest by Jerry.
...Lindens " enlightenment",,her completion of arc,,has alot to do with a Love that is Real..tangible,,full,,balanced,,to and fro,,and in that regard, physical..imho.
...While she is presented so far as the professional, cool, confident character,,she is not balanced, or well rounded. There is something wrong with,,her not wanting any one else,,especially when the anyone,,is dead.
...She's a doctor. She knows all about the biological.
..So while I agree with what you are saying,,I'm also saying those very traits and decisions she has made,,reflect to a wider perception of her.
..MEL

By no means am I saying that she is healthy that way, but certainly it is necessary for the way SRD intends to tell us the story?

If she did have a significant other, then perhaps "Kevin's Watch: the Soap!" would be nearer to the truth.

...and yes,,maybe what is going on in my mind is this,,and there has been a long discussion going on about the initial " rape" that started this fantasy...Perhaps SRD can make amends or balance the uglyness out by the end...I mean..sex has not been taboo in the series,,even tho the kind of sex hasn't been " right". So, back to the way Steve is telling the story,,I see an opportunity for the author to fill out the Linden character, make her more real,,and all of it still within the plot and themes parameters.........MEL

You're complaining that she's not a balanced individual? Have you ever read anything by Donaldson? None of his characters are balanced.

And I have to say I find it perfectly reasonable to believe that, if Linden felt as strongly about Covenant as she claims, she might never "move on". You find elderly couples like that sometimes, who die within a short time of each other because they can't bear to be apart. There are real people who lose the one person they truly want to be with and feel they can never replace that person, so they never try. That is exactly the kind of extreme that makes us human. IMHO, of course.