Timewaster's Guide Archive

Well, as cool as it sounds, its blocked by my work's IP blocker...  where as TWG is not =)

I know where my vote is going!

While I love D&D, I won't mind a "rule-less" system, especially if its onthe boards.  However, can you provide a link to "Gaia"?  Is it a world, or a mechanic?

A 3rd group!?   ...wow.  That would be terrific, kind of like the monks from Elantris.

Some interesting things, I'd like to comment on more, but alas, work calls!

Also, we don't know how Returning works or if a baby can Return.  I would think that Returning babies scattered throughout the empire would be difficult to cover; anyone with that much BioCroma will be difficult to cover up or move unnoticed.

Maybe this was hinted at when Siri was thinking about how the priesthood was timing things.  They could have already found a returned baby (if they are that rare, say, 1 every 50 years, would make sense.)

I don't like "Seb"...  "Sus" works, makes more sense.  Or maybe, "Kingie-poo"? Heh heh.

One thing I would 110% love to see: the red painting!  Lightsong needs to have kept that painting (as previously mentioned), and after the dream in the last chapter, he should run back to it, see something...  This is the point in the Brandon-style that we would all stay up all night, ans 1 layer after another would be revealed.  But with this work, I feel a little more left in the dark about a lot of things (which may or may not be good).  But that could also be because of the 1 chapter a week format (but, I admittedly ready the first 30 chapters all at once, 2.0 version).

I agree with MattD about the comparison of the women in Warbreaker to the women in Elantris (or even Vin from Mistborn).  The main characters of this book seem to be the women, but only Siri's growth seems real to me, and even then, its not too much.  Her forced isolation really stunts what her character could do.  Technically, she could have almost unlimited viewpoints of the Court of the Gods - even the priest hood would have had its spies (or even the Pahn).

Speaking of comparing books...  the one common theme in Elantris, Mistborn, and Warbreaker seem to be a theocratic repressive government/military force bent on control.  Hathran and his forces, the Steel Ministry (the "bone-monks" are easy to compare to the Inquisitors), and now the God-Kings priests (although, we really don't know a lot about them, they could be "good").    Not to hijack this thread, but, EUOL, was this intentional in this book?  Or did the whole idea of the Returned-Gods/Priest religion kind of evolve? 

I want to say this subject is the most important in Warbreaker, but its underdeveloped (mainly because of the main characters limited viewpoints and access to information), at least, as a reader I feel it should be the most important.

No fair!  I've not only shared both Elantris and Mistborn with my significant other, but shared both books with at least half a dozen friends already!  (we're like that anyway).  I'll have to find more victe-er... um...  fans!  Yeah, that's it, fans.

=)

Again, Lightsong gives a 10/10 performance.  The look into Allmother's petitioners was amazing.  It put a refreshing spin on how the religion could work, and at how the people would still have faith in their "gods."  However, the forshadowing of the unrest puts the entire scene in a dark mood, and was perfectly done.  The humor of Lightsong and Allmother, I see, is only a nervous cover.  She is deadly serious - which I think is good to see in a new God character - and a wonderful contrast to Lightsong.

*spoiler*

Allmother sharing her Lifeless codes with Lightsong is the best thing that could have happened to his character.  He is still burdened with responsibility and power, and I could practically feel him sigh.  This action (combined with the aged description with Allmother, she won't last long , I bet) pretty much cancels out Lightsong giving his Breath away to save anyone, who is not crucial to winning the war (as defined by Lightsong).

After Denth turning on Vivenna, this is the best turn in the story so far.

I don't know if naive is the right word for Vivenna. She was the "perfect child" growing up. She seems to never have allowed herself to question much of anything--her religion, her destiny, her upbringing. She only had been taught one worldview and didn't realize that other peoples' views might be just as valid and reasoned.

That's a really good point.  But, by the way Brandon wrote and referes to her "tutors," I would think she would be more knowledgable.  I know knowledge about something  does not equal first hand experience.  But, even in Siri's chapters, the reader is given information about what kinds of things the tutors taught.

As I mentioned above - that strict world view teaching doesn' make sense if tutors are preparing a Princess to marry a God-King of an extremely wealthy, powerful, port-city.  If, however, they were monks constantly reinforcing Austre - then I would buy it. 

I wish I didn’t have to read 21 pages of a thread to finally be able to post my thoughts and comments.  I just didn’t want anyone saying, “Yeah, we covered that on page 10.”  (LOL, I saw that a few pages back.)  Anyway, I hope to make more constructive comments about upcoming chapters, rather than this insubstantial review-like post.

Scoot & Lightsong
     Tremendously awesome characters, Scoots byplay with Lightsong makes the god’s actions, emotions and questioning seem real.  And that holds up the character in later chapters, making his actions seem normal.  (Which Lightsong would hate!)  But I really laughed out loud with the idea of a God picking on his High Priest.  I think a lot of people can understand that “stuffiness” of clergy, and enjoy seeing people’s noses get tweaked.
     I think Lightsong should keep the war painting he liked so much.  If he were caught staring at it by his priests, or if he forced himself to ponder it more later, then his interest in his past life would be more real.  Also, it’s just another time to allow Scoot to worry – maybe cluing the reader in on his and Lightsong’s pre-Returned relationship (this mystery is probably killing me the most).  I do not think Scoot (I'm sticking with that name, 'cause, hey, a God named him) is betraying Lightsong.  Rather, he is looking out for him, so he doesn't endager himself in discovering what he is not supposed to.

Susebron
     If he cannot speak, how does he say the incantation to give up his breath?  Is he the 1st God King to have his tongue cut out?  It would seem that men of Tridees’ nature would have controlled every God-King since Peacegiver. 

Breaths.
     I absolutely detest the term “BioChroma.”  The double capitalization makes it seem like some company from the Shadowrun novels (near future sci-fi/fantasy).  That just links it too strongly to a science, rather than a magic system.  Animating the dead using “souls” screams some kind of Divine Magic.  If you wanted to temper this with the “ichor-alcohol” (I love the alchemy references) and perfect-pitch/hue ideas, I don’t think it works.
   The beautiful colors, and the mysticism attached to it is lost every time that phrase is mentioned.  Why would they use Greek words to say "Life Colors"?  "Breath" is far more simple, elegant, and magical.  However, I'm not saying it should be called, Breath - just that almost anything is better than BC.

Siri.
     She is instantly a likeable character.  Real and down to earth – identifiable.  However, she never reacts to the term, “Vessel.”  I think she would constantly try to rebuff the term – even after being intimidated by the Court, Tridees, and the 1st few nights with the God King.  I think Siri is smart enough to understand that she is separate from the Court. 
     She has defiance in her, but she loses a lot those 1st weeks in the Court.  When she suddenly gets it back, she still lets people call her, “Vessel” – even Bluefingers!  If the term is a religious reference (obviously because she is important for only one thing), then why is a Pahn-Kal using it?  Even when they are co-conspirators? 
     Agreeing with Dreamking47 – how come Siri never wonder’s about Susebron’s mother?

Vivena.
   Although I love her, and her parts, were these all ideas from Mistborn that you didn’t get around too?  I can get behind her idea to rescue her sister – but then it all stops.  So there is a war coming? All of a sudden, its time to topple another city-empire.  Vivena has all but said they she has given up on Siri.  No effort has been made by her to contact her sister.  Granted, the mercs may have done something to interfere (while seemingly helping), but Vivena could have at least tried something.
   Why is she so concerned with disrupting a “war-effort”?  An army of zombies!  They have to fight an army of zombies!  She should be focused on disabling, stealing, or something towards that end.  If a god just told his 10,000 zombies to go and destroy Idris, they might not succeed, but they would cause SERIOUS damage.  Enough so that the next 10,000 zombies, or even real troops, could just walk in.  Unless, of course, the reader is supposed to believe that the Idrian army is pathetically weak.
     I agree with Dreamking47 about Vivena’s constant piousness.  She keeps putting herself in places where she questions her ability to judge people, and place herself above them.  While these are admirable qualities, they should not be in a princess.  Vivena is constantly being shown as more naïve than Siri – which bothers me on a few occasions.  I hope that when the Idrian finally stole her clothes, maybe she would learn some sense.


The Mercs.
     These guys are great.  And even I didn’t see it coming, I was in Vivena’s seat the whole time.  I felt her shock and confusion – well done!  I hope they stick around, only to cause more problems.  If Vashar kills them too easy, I will be disappointed.

Pacing
   I kind of like the random quality of the viewpoints.  Cliffhangers abound all over, and leaving one chapter not knowing if the story finishes in the next is a great way to keep us hooked.  However, MORE VASHAR!  And his sword is probably my favorite character so far.  'I'm better than a shirt' - that brought tears to my eyes!
     As always, the Sanderson slide starts a little slow with a nice grab, but builds exponential momentum towards the end.  Once you pass the ½ way point in one of his book, you have to stay up all night to finish it!