[Alrin]

The thing to keep in mind is that CAINE'S LAW is a very different book to what Matt had originally conceived. Back when he first planned the Atonement arc, the second part was to be called DEAD MAN'S HEART and, like CAINE BLACK KNIFE, would feature a split narrative that focused the relationship between present-Caine and one of his past adventures (this time around being the Race for the Crown of Dal'Kannith). I tend to think (and this is solely my assumption, and Matt might well set me straight if ever asked about it) that the reason the concept was eventually abandoned was simply because Matt had no interest in writing the same story over again. So DMH evolved to HIS FATHER'S FIST and, eventually, CL. There was briefly talk of revisiting the concepts of the original DMH in a fifth Caine novel, but with the way CL eventually played out I find it very unlikely. I think we've a much better chance of seeing the Act of Faith trilogy if anything, as Matt has said multiple times that he finds her a far more fascinating character than Caine himself.

[Tiste Simeon]

Welp. Finished CBK. What a great book! Enjoyed reading it a lot more than BoT for some reason. Anyway, the ending was great and I am going to enjoy CL despite how different it might be.

[Morgoth]

Returning to the Jonathan Fist discussion on the previous page. It's not a theory that it's a Faust reference. It is a Faust reference. If it wasn't obvious at the time you read it you should go read Faust. If you've read Faust before you should go read it again.

In fact, read it again no matter. It is never wrong to do so.

This post has been edited by Morgoth: 19 August 2013 - 08:06 PM

[Aptorian]

Morgoth, you sound like you're trying to sell me something.

[Morgoth]

Aptorius, on 19 August 2013 - 08:36 PM, said:

Morgoth, you sound like you're trying to sell me something.

I can't for the life of me understand what you mean.


Read Faust

[Tiste Simeon]

OK so 17% into CL & I'm not sure I have understood a word I have read so far... :-p

Also re: Fist I would have thought the Mephistopheles (sp?) ref by Duncan would have made it obvious...

[Abyss]

Tiste Simeon, on 20 August 2013 - 08:19 AM, said:

OK so 17% into CL & I'm not sure I have understood a word I have read so far... :-p
...

Sounds about right. Carry (the fuck) on.

[Tiste Simeon]

Yeah 41% now & still working it out... Like is Time Travel possible? Or now he is

Spoiler

the "Avatar" if you like of the Blind God has he got more power? At the end of CBK he kills the Justiciar & goes back to Earth. Then when he is finally back in "our" timeline he is put back in time & appears to be another incarnation of Caine...

And what the dickens is going on with the scenes with Duncan et al? Whose power has brought them there? Methinks its a conflagration of the Gods (he is Ma'elKoth, Angvasse is Khryl, Shanna, if she shows up will be Chambrayana(sp?) etc.) Or is he the Blind God? Confusing...

Also took me ages to work out the stuff with the Horse Witch is pre CBK...

[Tiste Simeon]

Ah hang on I think Faith is involved somehow (he spoke to the Witch through a horse!)

[Salt-Man Z]

Tiste Simeon, on 20 August 2013 - 06:33 PM, said:

Also took me ages to work out the stuff with the Horse Witch is pre CBK...

Yeah, I thought it was neat when I figured out that the prologue for CBK

Spoiler

is Pirichanthe calling Caine away from the horse-witch's place.

[birthSqueeze]

Been thinking about reading this series. People here seem to really like it and it's ranked very high at best fantasy books. What's Stover's writing style like. From what I understand it seems like this is a mixed fantasy/sci fi series. How much of a role does the sci fi element play?

[Tapper]

birthSqueeze, on 21 August 2013 - 06:30 AM, said:

Been thinking about reading this series. People here seem to really like it and it's ranked very high at best fantasy books. What's Stover's writing style like. From what I understand it seems like this is a mixed fantasy/sci fi series. How much of a role does the sci fi element play?

There's very little of the 'mechanical/ scientific' component. Instead, the science component is an enabler to explain interaction between worlds. I'd say the sci-fi part is more the way 1984 is sci-fi and a way to explain certain things, than a hard pillar under the story and I'd classify the series firmly in the fantasy realm if that term has to be used (it is more of a character-driven novel that takes place in a fantasy setting).

[Tiste Simeon]

Yeah the bits in the fantasy world bit are much more prominent (though I like the "real world" parts too as they present a scaryvyet not entirely impossible future...)

[Abyss]

birthSqueeze, on 21 August 2013 - 06:30 AM, said:

... What's Stover's writing style like.

HEROES DIE is all first person perspective from Caine's pov, and while grim at times, is overall a grand adventure sort of fantasy story.

Subsequent three books use first and third person and go from grim dark places to sheer adrenaline highwired brilliance.

Quote

From what I understand it seems like this is a mixed fantasy/sci fi series. How much of a role does the sci fi element play?

It's not hard sci fi, no one spends five pages explaining how a jump gate or whatever works.

I say just read it.
Either it blows your mind to fuckdom and back again, or you'll know pretty quickly if it's not for you and that you're cold and empty and broken inside.

[Salt-Man Z]

Abyss, on 21 August 2013 - 02:06 PM, said:

birthSqueeze, on 21 August 2013 - 06:30 AM, said:

... What's Stover's writing style like.

HEROES DIE is all first person perspective from Caine's pov

False. First-person is reserved for Caine's POV on Overworld; the rest of the book is in third-person, be it Hari's POV on Earth, or various other perspectives (Pallas for sure, maybe others.)

If you want to get a taste for his style, pull up a book in Amazon and try it out (if you can, I don't know where you're located.) Personally, I find the opening of CBK (Chapter 1, after the prologue) to be the most gripping (and non-spoilery, unlike CL.)

This post has been edited by Salt-Man Z: 21 August 2013 - 03:24 PM

[Abyss]

Salt-Man Z, on 21 August 2013 - 03:22 PM, said:

...False. First-person is reserved for Caine's POV on Overworld; the rest of the book is in third-person, be it Hari's POV on Earth, or various other perspectives (Pallas for sure, maybe others.)

I stand mostly corrected because i vaguely thought

Spoiler

the other povs in HD were as viewed by Harry after the fact

.

[Tiste Simeon]

Finished! Don't have time to write too much now but I really enjoyed how the end tied everything together (mostly) Is that the last book in the Caine series or are more planned?

[Abyss]

Tiste Simeon, on 21 August 2013 - 06:06 PM, said:

...Is that the last book in the Caine series or are more planned?

Unknown. Stover has plans for more, but the odds of him gettings dollars to write them are poor. fuck.

[Morgoth]

Abyss, on 21 August 2013 - 06:30 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 21 August 2013 - 06:06 PM, said:

...Is that the last book in the Caine series or are more planned?

Unknown. Stover has plans for more, but the odds of him gettings dollars to write them are poor. fuck.

Objection. The Universe is ultimately charitable and will bestows blessing upon Stover. amen.

[Abyss]

Morgoth, on 21 August 2013 - 08:41 PM, said:

Abyss, on 21 August 2013 - 06:30 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 21 August 2013 - 06:06 PM, said:

...Is that the last book in the Caine series or are more planned?

Unknown. Stover has plans for more, but the odds of him gettings dollars to write them are poor. fuck.

Objection. The Universe is ultimately charitable and will bestows blessing upon Stover. amen.

Over-ruled. The evidence clearly, abundantly and painfuckingfully shows that the Universe is a cold harsh cash money driven place and Stover's true genius is ignored while he's paid to write licensed property stuff.