[CrossSide]

So ascended doesn't mean that you are a god? So someone like, for example, Iskaral Pust is also ascended because he is a Priest of Shadow? The whole God thing is still a bit vague for me.

[champ]

CrossSide, on 17 November 2010 - 03:20 PM, said:

So ascended doesn't mean that you are a god? So someone like, for example, Iskaral Pust is also ascended because he is a Priest of Shadow? The whole God thing is still a bit vague for me.

take a look at http://forum.malazan...showtopic=19868 where it is discussed

but beware as it may contain spoilers!

[zenMichael]

So I think the only bits people have mentioned so far that didn't get to me were: Itkovian's death (it was well-written, but Itko never really appealed to me in MoI; I like him much more in TtH), Rake's death (I've never found Rake that interesting, and it seemed like, from about chapter two on, that his grand plan pretty obviously involved him dying, and Brys (the only thing I liked about MT was Tehol & Bugg, so Tehol getting the crap kicked out of him really got to me, but what got to me much more was his talk after Bugg let him keep his memory. I remember when Bugg mentions it as a possibility I was like PLEASE GOD DO NOT DO THAT. Then, Whew!)

A couple of things I'd mention that got to me that weren't on the list, or were on there for different reasons:

My favorite characters in GotM (I think it's OK to have more than 1 since there are BILLIONS of them) were Toc and Lorn, so Lorn's death really hit me hard. And the sheer ... non-badassness of it, the fact that during this giant dragon/demon/Jaghut fight going on she gets taken out by some serving girls from the Phoenix really shocked me and threw me for a loop.
Also, even earlier on, Tattersail's lover. It's been awhile since I've read this, but I remember that flashback to them talking in her tent & just how like ... desperate their love was, and then of course it's gone. That really from the get-go made me know I couldn't pass up more of SE's writing.

Whiskeyjack - I didn't really care for him in GotM (didn't hate him, just didn't attach to him), but the fact that he had won over a Tiste Andii's heart in MoI made me go, 'wait, maybe i need to give this guy a second chance AW DAMN'
Tool going into Coral. I just absolutely loved how Toc was with this group of badass Seguluh, Tool the unbroken, and Lady Envy, the daughter of a god who can command people etc. etc., and he just keeps thinking 'WOW am i outclassed,' never realizing that he's the thing that kind of grounds the others & gives at least Envy & Tool such joy. Then when he leaves (on a mission that's possibly the worst idea ever in the series, though I see his underlying reasons), just how much it shatters everything that group had, and the image of Tool essentially starting to take Coral apart brick by brick just to find his friend ... that really got to me.

In tBH, I was totally expecting the climax to be the siege of Y'Ghatan (pacing-wise, that just seemed like it'd be how things fell out). So I was trying to pay close attention & get to know all the characters carefully. Then when we get to that MONUMENTAL chapter, when like a HUGE chunk of the characters we've been introduced to are just wiped out left and right, it just absolutely floored me. There's one section in particular about a marine who's like mumbling about his mother at the last moment ... /shudder/
Yostara killing Pearl. Ugh, what a horrible ending to that plot line. But in a good way.

RG - Tool finding Toc's body. Toc's death was horrible enough, but at this point if Toc shows up in a book and DOESN'T die by the end, I'll admit I feel a little cheated. But Tool coming on him, and that dude who always harassed Toc finally kind of realizing how awesome Toc actually was ... yikes.

TtH - I guess I'm in the minority in actually loving pretty much everything about this book (the Dying God arc was a little enh, but getting to see the Anamander Babies in action was cool) on a first read, and I think people have mentioned most of it, but I think it's worth mentioning that essentially the entire second half of the book is just gorgeous. Like the first half is so well done, but it's got this light, fun, airy feel b/c of Kruppe (at least in the non-Coral sections), and then slowly over time it becomes darker, but without losing that rich flavor of the text. Strange, unworldly metaphors stay and the mellifluous style of speech continues, but the tone becomes more serious. Beyond what people have mentioned, other things that got to me: when Hood manifests, Kruppe going through a lot of the people who died, refusing to let these deaths off with a mere mention. Especially the guy whose mother had died 10 days ago but kept going through the motions. Then there were a couple of intense bits that are still sticking with me, just lines, like when Murillio's body's being taken back, that whole line like, 'he might've been a little this, a little that, but you can't say he didn't have heart and courage and determination. but this raises a dire question: if that's not enough, what is?'
and that end of (i think) the next chapter, the whole 'the worst grief a man can experience is to take in a breath that begins in love and ends in loss' or whatever it was, and that imagery about how, in love there is always a promise of grief (kind of sums up why we keep reading the books i think -- though the converse), and that 'this is a garden not meant to be shared by anyone. there is ever a single figure there, standing alone. taking a single breath.' MAN

i cannot wait to read DoD

post script -- i've read NoK & RotCG, and though I enjoy them overall, they have not affected me the way SE's writing has. Curious to read Stonewielder tho

[Bauchelain the Evil]

zenMichael, on 05 December 2010 - 04:55 PM, said:

In tBH, I was totally expecting the climax to be the siege of Y'Ghatan (pacing-wise, that just seemed like it'd be how things fell out). So I was trying to pay close attention & get to know all the characters carefully. Then when we get to that MONUMENTAL chapter, when like a HUGE chunk of the characters we've been introduced to are just wiped out left and right, it just absolutely floored me. There's one section in particular about a marine who's like mumbling about his mother at the last moment ... /shudder/
Yostara killing Pearl. Ugh, what a horrible ending to that plot line. But in a good way.

That's Pella's death and I agree. For me that's easily the saddest moment in the entire series.

[HedgeWalker]

zenMichael, on 05 December 2010 - 04:55 PM, said:

TtH - I guess I'm in the minority in actually loving pretty much everything about this book

I'll join that minority! I finished TtH a month ago and am still absorbing the events from memory. I have a yearning to re-read the last sections to try and fill out the gaps that I have missed, however, from what I read around here, Re-Read love is especially strong for MBotF so I will be strong and hopefully enjoy all the more in the long haul re-read.

Back on topic - most emotional moment? Ugh! Too many to list, but stand-out (not in order);

The gush of blood that signified Murillio losing the duel.
"...but first! These Guys!!" - What a nutter, brilliant!
Kruppe Vs Pust, at walking speed.
Rake and the plan reveal. Had worked out what he was up to, but not why and how it linked to everything else.


I'm half way through DoD, should be finished in time for CG... the festive season is expected will be rife with comments such as this;
"Where is he? He's what?! Reading that 'king book again!! Go and get him, the sprouts need peeling and the Dogs' had one of his shoes again..."

<message ends>

[Sinisdar Toste]

half-way through DoD you say? oh man... steel thyself

[Quick Bill]

In HoC when Fiddler, Kalam and Quick Ben are reunited and have a big group hug. When I re-read the series that was such a powerful moment.

"A short while later there was a startled shout from Smiles, and Fiddler turned, in time to see two figures stride out from a warren.

Despite everything, he found himself grinning.

Old friends, he realized, were getting harder to find.

Still, he knew them, and they were his brothers.

Mortal souls of Raraku. Raraku, the land that had bound them together. Bound them all, as was now clear, beyond even death.

Fiddler was unmindful of how it looked, of what the others thought, upon seeing the three men close to a single embrace."

This all happens very close to the end of the books. It brought tears to my eyes seeing the boys back together. Beautifully written stuff.

[Corporal Kimbo]

Hi guys, long time reader of the forum, first time posting.

Just finished TTH last night.

I find that a lot of the 'subtle tragedies' really get to me. For example I didn't cry at all when Rake died (even though I think he is AWESOME).

So the 'subtle' ones I can't really remember a lot of them atm but for example when Hood is killing half of Darujhistan in TTH there was a few pages of just random people dying. There was one bit with a man in his house miserable because of his mother's ailing health. Turns out he's batty or something and his mother is actually dead. Hood 'touches his forehead' and he is at peace. That shook me up something bad! Also remember that Bridgeburner crying for his mum, he got me too

Pretty much anything Chaur makes me cry (he better get out of that damn Azath with his brain working right and proper!), Beak - OH MY GOD, LITERALLY WEEPING LIKE AN OLD WOMAN, Harllo "See Bainsk this is my mother" KNIFE IN MY HEART! And of course Trull, Whisky, Itkovian

Anyhoo, I have a theory that I really don't have much compassion for the Gods/Ascendants. Maybe I find them unrelatable or something (unfortunately I aint no God...well yet anyway). Which could be why Rake didn't upset me too much. I mean he'd been around a LONG time, did a lot of stuff. Yeah he sacrificed himself and that was beautiful but he had a good wicket! I find the more 'human' stories affect me more.

[Corporal Kimbo]

zenMichael, on 05 December 2010 - 04:55 PM, said:

when Hood manifests, Kruppe going through a lot of the people who died, refusing to let these deaths off with a mere mention. Especially the guy whose mother had died 10 days ago but kept going through the motions.

Sorry, was at work and didn't get to read to the end of the posts to see someone else got upset but that poor man also! I feel your pain

[zenMichael]

Corporal Kimbo, on 12 April 2011 - 03:01 AM, said:

zenMichael, on 05 December 2010 - 04:55 PM, said:

when Hood manifests, Kruppe going through a lot of the people who died, refusing to let these deaths off with a mere mention. Especially the guy whose mother had died 10 days ago but kept going through the motions.

Sorry, was at work and didn't get to read to the end of the posts to see someone else got upset but that poor man also! I feel your pain

I also mentioned the "Bridgeburner crying for his mum" (Pella) : )

But yeah, that whole last half of TtH was just crazy for me. I was like alternately laughing and crying page by page, it seemed. You have like the Hood manifesting scenes abutted with Pust vs. Kruppe, Anomander's death juxtaposed with "I shall name him Tufty." The separated tragedy and comedy of the first 3/4 of the book finally interweave in such a way they're bound together. Just beautifully done.

[Dolmen 2.0]

Beak was in my opinion such a loss. He had me rooting for him right to the end and yes i found i felt 4 him more than i felt 4 itko or whiskey jack post humously. Such an incredible character!


Another that hit me hard was felisin getting chopped down by tavore and is it just me or was i the only one 2 shed a manly tear 4 ereko?

[sting01]

Baudin in DeadHouse Gates.

Maybe because I feel close to him, his story I mean not his death as I am still kicking. One who carry familly duty and prefer to die for than to survive by failing said duty!

Coltaine and the others 7th personnages are to me 'romantic personnage' such as Byron or Goethe would have described : their falling is writed in their greatness. Baudin is more normal, having to carry a burden that put on his shoulder from early youth.

[Aetherial]

Just finished TtH, at work.

I have a son, adopted, almost 5.

Imagine how the whole Harllo line got to me... and the "See Bainisk, this is my mother", is without a doubt, the most heartwrenching thing I have read in a book, fantasy or otherwise, in about 40 years of reading.

Beak would be the next saddest part, but that didn't touch the above.