[Ulrik]

Eh, I do not think that every romance must be preluded by month of lekking. I´ve seen many relationships based on "one-evening-flame" sometimes forged in bed even same night. And it was and are pretty successful relationships. Big love doesnt grow only from scenes burdened with classical clichés. Sometimes Pale, Hound of Shadow and strong intimacy can be enough. (and sometimes not)

[Wyzaard]

Obdigore, on 29 December 2009 - 10:40 PM, said:

Raymond Luxury Yacht, on 29 December 2009 - 04:46 AM, said:

It wasn't the best exacution of a love story I had ever read. It seems a little forced and rushed, like a DM in a game of D&D just saying "Oh yeah, those two NPCs are in love and stuff."

They both felt alone. Sexual attraction. They helped each other. I'm not sure I see anything wrong with a man who has been on a mission for years away from his family, who just got told he is going to be betrayed by everything he believes in, and a woman who just lost all her friends deciding to knock slippers and military issue boots.

Especially when they are both helping each other

Exactly. Never underestimate the power of the hook-up to allay... even for just a little while... the loneliness and desperation that confront those enduring dire physical and emotional circumstances/conditions.

[Wyzaard]

Ulrik, on 01 January 2010 - 09:34 AM, said:

I´ve seen many relationships based on "one-evening-flame" sometimes forged in bed even same night. And it was and are pretty successful relationships.

Heh... and I've got the ring to prove it.

[Vesper]

I'm afraid that I must agree with the OP. Erikson's is an unequivocably skilled story teller, but like most plot-driven fantasy books there was a notable absence of the necessary characterization to explain any meaningful relationships that develop -- such as between Paran and Tattersail. Unlike Sorry/Apsalar and Crokus, where the relationship was brought together by a sub-arc in the plot that lasted 3+ chapters and Crokus' pathological soft-spot for young, attractive women was already established with the noble's daughter as another plot-point, Paran and Tattersail just didn't seem to have enough gravity to be taken seriously.

Up to this point (having gone to re-read it), I had subconsciously interpreted the scene as a random hook-up, which was far more reasonable. After all, I'd probably be hooking up with random, attractive compatriots if I were in such an abject multitude as the Malazan Army. Who knows when you're next going to be horribly mutilated, murdered by your innumerable enemies, or executed by your own Empress?