[Use Of Weapons]

I had an idle thought last night. I wondered if there's any connection between Darujhistan and Jhistal priests, and if so, if the god Karsa is intended to kill in Darujhistan is Mael? A bit random, and probably not supported anywhere in the text apart from that linguistic similarity. But what if Mael is the Tyrant?

[spazzo]

after reading ROTCG I was wondering what sort of timeline the last 2 books are going to be working on? after all some pretty significant s**t happens at the end of ROTCG and isn't it set some 10 years after TTH?

[Lisheo]

RotCG is actually set during Reaper's Gale and TtH, more or less I believe.

[Grief]

In short, no.
Its set pre-TTH, by a relatively small interval.

Lisheo! Begone! Im being helpful mod
Damn cross-posts...

[Cougar]

 jitsukerr, on Oct 27 2008, 03:55 PM, said:

I had an idle thought last night. I wondered if there's any connection between Darujhistan and Jhistal priests, and if so, if the god Karsa is intended to kill in Darujhistan is Mael? A bit random, and probably not supported anywhere in the text apart from that linguistic similarity. But what if Mael is the Tyrant?

This would be a colossal leap and I don't think there is any reason to believe this would be the case. Is there any connection between Afganistan, Stanstead Airport and Stanley, no. Just words that sound alike; same as there is almost certainly no connection betwwen Dasem Ultor/Dessembrae and Dessimbelackis a connection pointed out purely on linguistic terms before.

[spazzo]

cool, I stand corrected. confusion no longer reigns supreme. is there any news on the next IAC installment? I'm really hopefull that there's more of Dassem in the next 2 books, traveller brings a different angle to the whle plot.

[Sinisdar Toste]

in response to the question of melters a page or so back, yeah they make an appearance in RotCG

[Traveller]

I think the fate of the dead will have to be wrapped up somehow - and I'll guess that maybe the Redeemer will be tied into this.

Hood wanted out, and was clearly tired of the lack of justice; also, the whole Redeemer plot seemed to focus on the fact that if everyone could be redeemed, where was the justice? If these two are brought together, isn't the Redeemer setting up to be a replacement for Hood? But, one that might be able to be more judgemental. The conversation between Draconus and Pearl might be relevent to this.
They see the approaching Chaos as figures, an army - possibly made up from the evil part/side of their souls. It's possible that a different god of death/redemption might be needed to balance this out somehow.

Also, after seeing Kallor in a new light - was he right about Silverfox? At the time he went for her, it seemed unreasonable - but he said that they would all come to regret not taking her down when they had the chance.

I think it's likely she's going to make a reappearance, (we know SE doesn't just forget about past characters) and someone is going to seriously wish they'd taken Kallors advice.

(Karsa may be off with ICE for a time, but I bet he's back for the end - for the moment predicted by Calm).

And.... The Empire itself. RotCG spoiler

Spoiler

Now that the Empress is dead - I really can't see Mallick staying in power for long. Tavore/Paran are now both commanding significant quantities of Malazans - mages, veterans, sappers etc. Ok, on different continents. Both seem like possible successors to the Empress. We know the Empire itself doesn't fall just yet, as Grub is set to become a High Fist of the late Empire period.

Tavore for Empress, with Kalam in charge of the Claw, and QB as High Mage. The Late Empire could be awesome.

(Although Traveller realises that Tragedy is bound to also feature heavily...)

This post has been edited by Traveller: 30 October 2008 - 12:13 PM

[Abyss]

 Urb, on Oct 19 2008, 10:29 AM, said:

... I just hope the tenth book doesn't end with some young girl in a hospital, waking up from a bad fever-induced coma, and HER NAME IS BURN!
...sorry

Bernice, actually. *dies*

 flea, on Oct 19 2008, 11:17 AM, said:

 Aptorian, on Oct 19 2008, 12:58 AM, said:

I hope that's not the case. I feel the other eight books have been build-up and a hell of a lot action needs to take place for the whole CG-plotline to start making sense.

My biggest problem with this series is that there's no feeling of impending doom.

That the last volume is named The Crippled God should help with your concerns, but I'm with you on the over-all feeling.

...

I dunno, there have been a LOT of hints that we're only seeing part of the CG's agenda. He has other empires, other cults, and he could be linked to both the jade chunks AND the Kchain lizards.

 Ain't_It_Just_, on Oct 20 2008, 05:13 AM, said:

I believe Tavore and the 14th will face off against the CG. However, I can't see how a mortal army is going to lock horns with a shadowy, slippery god. Perhaps they'll besiege his pocket warren.

 Lisheo, on Oct 20 2008, 05:16 AM, said:

"Mate, look, we know you're in the tent, just come out."
"No! My warren!"

LOL

 Hetan, on Oct 25 2008, 06:48 AM, said:

What do you all think about Erikson saying DoD will be all about set-up for the final book?
Is it going to satisfy you all?
Will you be expecting a 200 page finale like with Toll?
Or do you not expect a pay-off at all in this book?

I can live with the set-up so long as the Book 10 payoff is HUGE.

 Sparkimus, on Oct 27 2008, 10:27 AM, said:

I just want to know why the damn moon kerploded...or did I miss something somewhere.
...

Falling jade chunks was my guess.

- Abyss, still psyched.

[Urb]

 Sparkimus, on Oct 27 2008, 03:27 PM, said:

I just want to know why the damn moon kerploded...or did I miss something somewhere.

 Abyss, on Oct 31 2008, 12:11 AM, said:

Falling jade chunks was my guess.

Time for some Toll the Hounds quote... typing..

Toll the Hounds, on Bantam Hardcover, page 858, said:

Something massive had arrived from the depths of the blackness beyond and struck the moon a short time back. An initial eruption from the impact had briefly showered the moon's companion world with fragments, but it was the shock-wave that delivered the stricken moon's death knell, and this took time. Deep in the core, vast tides of energy opened immense fissures. Concussive forces shattered the crust. Energy was absobed until nothing more could be borne. The moon blew apart.
Leave it to the flit of eager minds to find prophetic significance. The cosmos does not care. The fates will not crack a smile.

I think Abyss might be onto something there.

[Lisheo]

Well, we saw the moon get strick in tBH, those "dark spots" were obviously impact craters, like in the case of the real moon.

[Cougar]

Surely we saw or heard about the Jade statues hitting the moon in BH? I'd have to look it up but we defo knew it was happening before TtH.

[Lisheo]

We did, Cougar. Remember, those JAde chunks were suggested by someone to have hit the moon.

~And on the moon, gardens died~

[Urb]

An understatement is a perfectly legitimate literary tool.
Go ahead and look it up.

This post has been edited by Urb: 01 November 2008 - 12:08 PM

[Sparkimus]

Thanks for the quote Urb... Now I just need to get back the book from my friend for a reread.

[Jude]

 Urb, on Oct 31 2008, 04:15 PM, said:

Time for some Toll the Hounds quote... typing..

Toll the Hounds, on Bantam Hardcover, page 858, said:

Something massive had arrived from the depths of the blackness beyond and struck the moon a short time back. An initial eruption from the impact had briefly showered the moon's companion world with fragments, but it was the shock-wave that delivered the stricken moon's death knell, and this took time. Deep in the core, vast tides of energy opened immense fissures. Concussive forces shattered the crust. Energy was absobed until nothing more could be borne. The moon blew apart.
Leave it to the flit of eager minds to find prophetic significance. The cosmos does not care. The fates will not crack a smile.

I cannot believe I missed that. When I was reading tth I was under the impression that the moon actually fell apart in tbh when the jade dudes hit it, so when it fell apart in tth I was all "oh.. twice?.. what?" and then there were threads on here where people were like "no no i think it only STARTED to fall apart in tbh and actually exploded in tth." And I was all "yeah I'll buy that." Seems that if I had just read what Urb just quoted well enough, I wouldn't have had that problem at all. sheesh. Also I like the bit about eager minds finding prophetic significance. Nice way of covering that he used the moon exploding to make rake's death that much more badass. I'm not even being sassy there, it actually IS a nice way of covering that.

Now for how I want DoD to be. I would actually be the most pleased if Erikson made this book more like tbh than any of the others. set the stage for us, don't give us a huge "OMG" climax if you want, but give us awesome cliff hanger endings and pack it with action and fun stuff all the way through, like Y'Ghatan and Paran vs Poliel and the Jade Statues and Malaz city and Icarium at the first throne. Something in that structure. I'd much rather that than a TTH style with a whole lot of nothing aside from repeated themes and developments going on while the stage is being set. Remember, Erikson.. people can be introspective and philosophical WHILE chopping heads off and running from their own cussers.

[Abyss]

Based on the title of Book 10 i figure DoD and TCG will be all about resolving the conflict with the CG. That doesn't mean it will be the ONLY thing the books are about tho'.

Sure we have lots of stray plotlines around, but fundamentally the biggie, Dragnipur and the end of the universe, was resolved in TtH.

Imnsho, 9 and 10 will tie up...

- The fate of the 14th with all related characters;
- the fate of Paran and the Host;
- the fate of Skinner and his 40 Guard;
- the link between the EGs, the dragons, and the conflict with the CG (includes Draconus' return and wtf's up with Krul);
- the CG generally, including the Chaining to Burn (Dassem's daughter, Brood's hammer, the Jade Giants);
- wtf happened to Icarium and whether Mappo will find and help him;
- ST/Cot's master plan (includes Edgewalker, Dassem, Kalam);
- the KC return to Leth and the Skykeeps in the IW;
- who sent the HoLs after Dragnipur.

Plotlines which we know or suspect have been flipped over to ICE and therefore will not figure into DoD or TCG...

- all things Assail;
- all things Darujhistan;
- all things Malazan Empire;
- all things Karsa related;
- all things related to the remaining CrimGrd;
- all things Greymane.


Things i suspect we will never be fully explained or concluded:

- the Azath;
- the Deck;
- Dessimbelackis;
- Apsalar and Cutter;
- the Moranth;
- the fate of the Edur;
- healing/fixing Kurald Emurlahn;
- the Deragoth's pursuit of the Hounds.

- Abyss, can live with that.

[Jude]

Abyss I think I can agree with you on that except for some little things.

1. Are you sure Skinner and his guard will be included? they havent been Erikson related at all to this point except for the second wanting to bust his ass in TTH.
2.You really think Karsa will stay out of it? Erikson didn't really say that he was leaving Karsa to ICE. People have just been thinking that because he said he was leaving the Daru plot to ICE and Picker told Karsa to stay in Darujhistan so that he could kill a god. I don't think that this means we should have him down for the count in the remaining SE arc.
3.Apsalar and Cutter being have to come back. There's no point in him not wrapping it up with them or having them both their to the end.
4.there doesn't really seem to be any reason not to wrap up the deragoth persuit of the hounds. I bet he'll tie that in as a sub plot towards the end.

[Tapper]

My expectations are these:
- lots of military action and all things going well for the Malazans, until the cliffhanger, where the CG suddenly pulls out another pet-army/magic assault/ other big bad bunch of whoopass and everything suddenly looks bleak for the Malazans (he has Kallor

Spoiler

, Skinner,

short-tails and who knows what else... might even be that (some of) the feral dragons are on his side!);
- conflict between people we think are both good (Tool & Malazans come to mind) for extra tragedy;
- Icarium and Mappo will be important;
- a return of dragons and insight in their why's, how's and when's;
- Cots and ST being badly surprised somehow by someone playing them like a fiddle, hopefully before they're unleashing all those assassins;
- a painful death for the Errant.

And then tCG starts in the moment of despair and it is all about individuals instead of grand military action.

Edit to spoiler RoTCG reference.

This post has been edited by Tapper: 06 November 2008 - 12:04 PM

[blackzoid]

 Jude, on Nov 5 2008, 10:15 PM, said:

Abyss I think I can agree with you on that except for some little things.

1. Are you sure Skinner and his guard will be included? they havent been Erikson related at all to this point except for the second wanting to bust his ass in TTH.

Jude, you have not read RoTCG have you? You do know that RoTCG spoilers are now going to be open season in this forum?
Trying not to ruin your enjoyment but if you read that book, you will know that there is no question that Skinner will be in the last 2 SE books. No question at all.

This post has been edited by blackzoid: 06 November 2008 - 11:31 AM