[Migol]

I've read the series (and of course am hooked), and am in fact re-reading it. I'm in the 2nd book on the part where Fiddler gets the fated shell, and noticed that he gave the guy his "true name".

I had totally missed this when I first read the books. Is there any current known significance to this? Or good speculation? Or is it just the whole Malazan "your past doesn't exist after you enlist"?

[champ]

Migol, on 13 April 2010 - 09:39 AM, said:

I've read the series (and of course am hooked), and am in fact re-reading it. I'm in the 2nd book on the part where Fiddler gets the fated shell, and noticed that he gave the guy his "true name".

I had totally missed this when I first read the books. Is there any current known significance to this? Or good speculation? Or is it just the whole Malazan "your past doesn't exist after you enlist"?

Dont think we've had even the slightest hint/reference to his real name, only person who we have that i can think of is Stormy

[Migol]

champooon, on 13 April 2010 - 09:42 AM, said:

Migol, on 13 April 2010 - 09:39 AM, said:

I've read the series (and of course am hooked), and am in fact re-reading it. I'm in the 2nd book on the part where Fiddler gets the fated shell, and noticed that he gave the guy his "true name".

I had totally missed this when I first read the books. Is there any current known significance to this? Or good speculation? Or is it just the whole Malazan "your past doesn't exist after you enlist"?

Dont think we've had even the slightest hint/reference to his real name, only person who we have that i can think of is Stormy

Well, we've gotten the real name of Quick Ben (Adaelphon Delat or such), Whiskeyjack (I think? Or is the name hood calls him another he was given?), and I'm thinking Kalam's real name is actually Kalam since they list a last name fairly often? We don't know say, Trotts, Hedge, or Mallet's, but they're kind of tertiary characters compared to those listed too.

<shrug>

It just feels like something's up when the author drops the fact that he has a "True Name" from a secret past, and doesn't give a hint to that name or past, and it's for the arguably main character of the books if there was such a thing. For that matter Fiddler, especially in the last few books has been displaying Waaaaaaay too much magical mojo even for a Bridgeburner.

This post has been edited by Migol: 13 April 2010 - 09:50 AM

[Aptorian]

His real name is Robin. In the old days him and Whiskeyjack were the feared Avian Crime fighters that kept the city of Unta safe. True story.

[champ]

Migol, on 13 April 2010 - 09:49 AM, said:

champooon, on 13 April 2010 - 09:42 AM, said:

Migol, on 13 April 2010 - 09:39 AM, said:

I've read the series (and of course am hooked), and am in fact re-reading it. I'm in the 2nd book on the part where Fiddler gets the fated shell, and noticed that he gave the guy his "true name".

I had totally missed this when I first read the books. Is there any current known significance to this? Or good speculation? Or is it just the whole Malazan "your past doesn't exist after you enlist"?

Dont think we've had even the slightest hint/reference to his real name, only person who we have that i can think of is Stormy

Well, we've gotten the real name of Quick Ben (Adaelphon Delat or such), Whiskeyjack (I think? Or is the name hood calls him another he was given?), and I'm thinking Kalam's real name is actually Kalam since they list a last name fairly often? We don't know say, Trotts, Hedge, or Mallet's, but they're kind of tertiary characters compared to those listed too.

<shrug>

It just feels like something's up when the author drops the fact that he has a "True Name" from a secret past, and doesn't give a hint to that name or past, and it's for the arguably main character of the books if there was such a thing. For that matter Fiddler, especially in the last few books has been displaying Waaaaaaay too much magical mojo even for a Bridgeburner.

QB, Kalam and WJ names are freely given though on a few occassions, (WJ been Iskar Jarak)

Have you got a quote for context?

[Ulrik]

champooon, on 13 April 2010 - 10:55 AM, said:

QB, Kalam and WJ names are freely given though on a few occassions, (WJ been Iskar Jarak)

Have you got a quote for context?

Iskar Jarak is name given by tribe warned by WJ, it means Iron Prophet iirc. Its not his real name. IIRC. IMHO.AFAIK

And for theory Fiddler is "someone big". I completely do not agree. In every his POV we feel he is just "mere" human, soldier for every minute of his live and he dropped his true name long ago for his "real", military name. And his magical mojo is given by ability to read deck and ascending - as BB and as (now its my theory) Patron of Sappers.

This post has been edited by Ulrik: 13 April 2010 - 11:05 AM

[Kanubis]

Possibly Quick and Kalam never got nicknames because they joined the Malazan army as fully developed masters of bad-assery during the Seven Cities campaign?




I'm under the impression that most Malazan soldiers get their nicknames during the earlier, formative parts of their military careers, whether they're named by Braven Tooth or not.

[Illuyankas]

In an extraordinary coincidence his true name was actually Fiddler.

[Garak]

Quote

I'm under the impression that most Malazan soldiers get their nicknames during the earlier, formative parts of their military careers, whether they're named by Braven Tooth or not.

That's pretty much it, yes. Usually the names either reflect who they are (Fidler who likes playing.... guess what) are something that they do/happens to them (Limp).

[haroos]

Migol, on 13 April 2010 - 09:49 AM, said:

champooon, on 13 April 2010 - 09:42 AM, said:

Migol, on 13 April 2010 - 09:39 AM, said:

I've read the series (and of course am hooked), and am in fact re-reading it. I'm in the 2nd book on the part where Fiddler gets the fated shell, and noticed that he gave the guy his "true name".

I had totally missed this when I first read the books. Is there any current known significance to this? Or good speculation? Or is it just the whole Malazan "your past doesn't exist after you enlist"?

Dont think we've had even the slightest hint/reference to his real name, only person who we have that i can think of is Stormy

Well, we've gotten the real name of Quick Ben (Adaelphon Delat or such), Whiskeyjack (I think? Or is the name hood calls him another he was given?), and I'm thinking Kalam's real name is actually Kalam since they list a last name fairly often? We don't know say, Trotts, Hedge, or Mallet's, but they're kind of tertiary characters compared to those listed too.

<shrug>

It just feels like something's up when the author drops the fact that he has a "True Name" from a secret past, and doesn't give a hint to that name or past, and it's for the arguably main character of the books if there was such a thing. For that matter Fiddler, especially in the last few books has been displaying Waaaaaaay too much magical mojo even for a Bridgeburner.

kalam has a brother who we meet at the 6th book i think.

[Garak]

Yes, the blacksmith - Barathol I think his name is.

[champ]

Kalam and Barathol Mekhar, think there cousins as Mekhar is their clan name

[Garak]

Yes, they were cousins.

[Soulessdreamer]

IMO I think you are reading to much into this.

Fiddler was the only marine to make it through basic training without recieving a name from Tooth or whoever.

In fact he didn't get his 'name' untill the 7 cities campain that forged the Bridgeburners, you know where they aquired Quick and Kalem.

Since then he has only used Fiddler (up until he became strings of course) and the number of people who remember his original name are few. Hence the signifagence (sp?) of the mystic knowing. Part of the wheel coming full circle or such.

TTFN

[Gothos]

A bit like Croaker giving his original name to, uh, I think a guest book in that temple place for weary travelers. It's just teasing you to want to know :>

[anderton]

Ulrik, on 13 April 2010 - 11:02 AM, said:

champooon, on 13 April 2010 - 10:55 AM, said:

QB, Kalam and WJ names are freely given though on a few occassions, (WJ been Iskar Jarak)

Have you got a quote for context?

Iskar Jarak is name given by tribe warned by WJ, it means Iron Prophet iirc. Its not his real name. IIRC. IMHO.AFAIK

Iskar Jarak means 'Bird that Steals' I believe, named after said bird that originates on the Seven Cities continent. I think some of the Bonehunters are in a tavern in Letheras maybe and are talking about Whiskyjack and there happens to be two Jaraks in cage next to them.

Iron Prophet is a honorific given to WJ by the tribe that Karsa avenges far to the west of Seven Cities, where he boards the Edur ships to return to the Empire to fight Rhulad. I found the section in The Bonehunters where Samar and Karsa are talking to Boatfinder about the tribes beliefs , and it is my opinion that Iskar Jarak is a name, one that WJ was given previous to his encounter with the tribe, where Iron Prophet is a title given to him after WJ laid down some safety rules for the tribe.

I have no idea why Hood and the undead Jaghut refer to Whiskyjack as Iskar Jarak, as well as having no clue as to why he was given the nickname in the first place, what he was stealing, or if he has any similarities or connections with the bird. I always liked the name Iskar Jarak better than Whiskyjack to be honest.

In my opinion, references to Fiddler's name are similar to the memories he has when he returns to his home neighborhood in Malaz City. Something to make him seem like even more of a lonely old veteran, and contributing to the overall theme of the Malazan soldiers that SE builds throughout the series.

[Defiance]

I don't ever want to know his true name. First of all, I'll always know him as Fiddler no matter what. Second, I don't want to hear his name for fear that it might be terrible...Seerdomin is the perfect case of this. I remember shuddering in disgust when I read his real name, it was that terrible.

[worry]

His real name is Bieber

[Salt-Man Z]

It's "Strings", of course.

[Illuyankas]

Defiance, on 23 April 2010 - 04:24 AM, said:

I don't ever want to know his true name. First of all, I'll always know him as Fiddler no matter what. Second, I don't want to hear his name for fear that it might be terrible...Seerdomin is the perfect case of this. I remember shuddering in disgust when I read his real name, it was that terrible.

What's wrong with Segda Travos? Or whatever it was. It's not like it was a Travosty.