Timewaster's Guide Archive

Or it could be Kathryn learning about Laz'R'Us, thus compelling her to flee to the employ of the only bunch of fools in the galaxy to ever survive that discovery.

Oh, hah! Were it not for you I'd have missed the br'er rabbit connection. The robot is named Tarball...

You forgot to mention that it's written by Steven Moffat. My interest went way up when I found that out. I'm definitely gonna give it a look on Netflix.

Been watching Battlestar Galactica. I'm about halfway through the series. I don't know how I managed to ignore this for so many years, and am indebted to my roommate that made me start.

Quote from: Zany And Spontaneus! #678 on May 06, 2011, 11:20:41 PM

Also, What happened to Chapter 3? Did it get eaten by a dragon? Or a wolf? Was it given a raze? Or a raise?

I figured it was a Monty Python reference.

...except the reference in question involves skipping from 2 to 5...

I thought the first two thirds or so were riveting. I found myself quite unable to put it down. Then came Felurian, and that whole sequence just dragged on and on. Then came the Adem, and I'm with Peter: the portrayal of casual sex had me rolling my eyes. Sex without complication or attachment just does not fit with what I have observed of the world.

After those two bits, I feel like very little happened. The book just wound gradually down. But it was effective in that it really drove home to me that this story is not going to have a happy ending. This is a tragedy that leaves its protagonist a broken shell of his former self. And it made me feel just a little of the profound sadness and loss that results.

It also made me realize that I will be very disappointed if that is all there is to the story. I want Kvothe to recover who he was and leave the Waystone behind. The trouble is that I don't see how the third book could have room to do that in any satisfactory way, so the mention of rumblings of a second trilogy make me happy.

So, I guess it's a mixed bag for me, but I'm glad I read it, and the good outweighs the bad.

In closing, some odds and ends:

• I find the theory that Meluan Lackless is Kvothe's aunt especially likely considering his mother's reaction to the lewd children's rhyme he sung about Lady Lackless in the first book.
• I bet the Lockless Box needs to be opened by one who can speak its name. I suspect that may have been what inspired Kvothe to do the same when crafting his thrice-locked chest. (Also, how sad that he can no longer open it. )
• I'd bet money that since Kvothe ran away before the Cthaeh could finish poisoning him, there's a chance that he's already done everything to ruin the world that he's going to do. At least I hope that's the case, or the second trilogy will also be a terrible tragedy.

Pardon my French, but I thought it was pretty badass of Rand to walk right into the White Tower without a drop of fear and announce he was going to break the seals. I honestly don't know why he'd do that though. Wouldn't the Dark One be immediately released once they're all broken?? Shouldn't he wait until EVERYONE was right in front of Shayol Ghul to do that??

The bore was open from the time it was made up until when Lews Therin sealed it, and the Dark One was not able to break out during that time. I understand the War of the Shadow lasted several years. His influence over the Pattern will increase when the seals are broken, but I don't think he's able to break out just yet.

Where/who is Demadred?? I don't even recall him being in any of the books. I thought he was Taim, but from what I've read online RJ said that's not true. I'm only left to believe he is someone in the Seanchan hierarchy.

He's showed up in a couple Forsaken meetings, and he talked to the Dark One at Shayol Ghul once (in Lord of Chaos I believe); that's the last we've heard of him unless I'm mistaken.

I've always thought RJ gave Aes Sedai answers to the question of whether or not Taim is Demandred. I don't remember the exact wording, but there were a few quirks in it that makes me think he was misdirecting us with an intentionally misleading truth. This is my personal theory and doesn't seem to be shared by many others in the fandom.

Where is Loial?? I miss that guy. I don't even remember where he went!

He went back to Stedding Shangtai with one of his parents (I forget which) and his fiancé. The opening quote in TofM is from him. We are given to understand that he will play a pivotal role in convincing the Ogier to stick around in this world, instead of pulling out dolphin style with a "So long, and thanks for all the...well, huh, actually thanks for nothing you bunch of jerks."

Edit: A comment that doesn't specifically relate to your post. I was at first quite sad that Moiraine was so drained of Power coming out. Then I realized that she's suffered a loss of power similar to that suffered by Siuan and Leane, which has a really nice symmetry to it. Those two were able to parley their loss into an advantage, and I have no doubt Moiraine is capable of the same.

I'm starting to wonder if Kathryn is going to wind up hiring onto the Toughs. It's been foreshadowed. They'd have to overcome their mutual bad blood, but, well, the Toughs have overcome worse.