Z, you're welcome. I am indulging a little bit here, cause I was curious about your reaction. It is ironic, TUC and TLD...Zarathustra wrote:Hiro, thanks for the lengthy response! You make some excellent points. I encourage opposing points of view. I want to like this book. I want to be shown how I'm wrong.
The comparison to TLD was interesting. Like you, I thought TLD was a failure, and my complaints mirror my problems with TUC--which is ironic, given how the two books are almost exact opposite in their conclusions.
With that said, I do agree that this series was successful right up until the final volume, and I enjoyed it more than the Last Chronicles.Spoiler
Your explanations for the problems I had seem mostly plausible. I still think that the Dunyain could have met Kellhus prior to the battle and said, "Let's talk," especially since there was a parley, of sorts, before the fighting began. If they wanted to talk to him, I'm not sure why he had to fight his way to the Golden Room.
You're right about the hologram, I suppose, although we're not given any info on why Kellhus has a power that's the equivalent of the Judging Eye, in that regard. Also, his ability to see is a bit arbitrary. If he can see through holograms, see through faces, and has the power of a God, why can't he tell that Sorweel was an assassin (especially when Kelmo could)?
You're right about Kelmo not killing Kellhus. I forgot that. However, it makes his role even more questionable. Kellhus can be startled? Is that the only reason why Kelmo was there? To be a distraction? How did they know that would work or would be needed? If this was a Dunsult plan, it's one of the most implausible aspects of the entire series--that they'd know about Kelmo, know his mother would free him, know that Kellhus would be distracted by him, know that this distraction would be necessary, know that Kellhus wouldn't see him until it was too late, etc. It seems to come out of nowhere.
Whether or not Kellhus was good/evil, mad/sane, doesn't seem so ambiguous to me. Is there any evidence in his actions that he was crazy? All his plotting and mastery of events seem to argue otherwise, a very rational and effective strategy (until the end). Likewise, the only "evidence" we have that he might be evil comes in the form of suspicions of the characters, mainly Akka and Cnaiur. And those suspicions come only from the fact that they know Kellhus is Dunyain--i.e. that they know Kellhus isn't exactly what he pretends to be. But what is it about being Dunyain or pretending to be Holy that makes one evil? If you don't buy into religion (like me), this isn't problematic. I just don't see any evidence to support the claim of ambiguity, except for manufactured effect of the author. Even Kel's treatment of Proyus in TGO makes sense in the context of his goals. And the fact that there is a Thousandfold Thought undermines the possibility that Kellhus can be evil or mad, because we automatically assume that every outrageous thing he does is merely part of a deeper plot.
Spoiler
The hologram and Kellhus: well, the metaphysics of this world are ambiguous and complicated. Problems like these echo my problems with the 3rd Chrons as well, all those different Power-players, hard to relate to and make sense of.
Kelmomas: Kellhus is not so much startled, but Ajokli who possessed Kellhus is forced or pulled out or pushed away when Kel - being the No-God arrives. As soon as Ajokli and his power leaves, his control of the GR leaves with him. And Kellhus dies.
Kellhus: well, that is the thing. Consider Proyas, I've read a lot of people crying foul about where Proyas ends up. I disagree. He seems a righteous man, but he's really a dangerous fanatic. Similarly, yes the Consult are evil, but man does Kellhus kill off directly or indirectly a lot of people after becoming the Aspect Emperor. In the Unification War before the Ordeal, during the Ordeal. The Dunyain use people, in subtle and horrible ways. That's fairly evil, as confirmed by Mimara as well. The thematic parallels between Dunyain and Consult are striking. And look what we get in the climax, the Dunsult. The ambiguity here chiefly lies in Kellhus's concealed motives. Yes, we assume a lot reading these novels. And these assumptions are put to a serious stress test.
Kelmomas: Kellhus is not so much startled, but Ajokli who possessed Kellhus is forced or pulled out or pushed away when Kel - being the No-God arrives. As soon as Ajokli and his power leaves, his control of the GR leaves with him. And Kellhus dies.
Kellhus: well, that is the thing. Consider Proyas, I've read a lot of people crying foul about where Proyas ends up. I disagree. He seems a righteous man, but he's really a dangerous fanatic. Similarly, yes the Consult are evil, but man does Kellhus kill off directly or indirectly a lot of people after becoming the Aspect Emperor. In the Unification War before the Ordeal, during the Ordeal. The Dunyain use people, in subtle and horrible ways. That's fairly evil, as confirmed by Mimara as well. The thematic parallels between Dunyain and Consult are striking. And look what we get in the climax, the Dunsult. The ambiguity here chiefly lies in Kellhus's concealed motives. Yes, we assume a lot reading these novels. And these assumptions are put to a serious stress test.
I appreciate it.
Sorry about that. As a nerd myself, I just wanted everyone to know that I used that as a term of endearment. What up, my nerds? 
. And when they post, if infrequently, Brinn and Hiro have always provided some more sober balance to whatever conversation in which they partake!
