[Ulrik]

I just finished re-reading TCG (awesome, of course) and realized one thing. - BEWARE, SPOILERS FROM TCG - It isnt surprise that reader needs personal experience to acknowledge some values. But I think it is also rule for authors. And i realized it when I read about Gesler sacrificing himself because of Bent.

I always liked dogs. They are cute, loyal, friendly. But I never had one – until last year when we finally bought our tornado on four legs. So, until that time I liked dogs, but... I remember reading scene from Deadhouse Gates where Mappo, Stormy, Ges and Truth use magic potion to save Bent and Roach (iirc). And I remember that it seemed to me too much cliched. Hey, you have forest of dying guys and you save dogs? Yeah, I like dogs, but...hell, there are humans, guys! Or...you can use it some critical situation (funny, I slipped into fantasy cliche myself) It seemed to me … unrealistic.

Well, now I understand. Im pretty sure some people will not understand. But I finally can appreciate, fully appreciate all those ideas or thoughts about humans and dogs. Beast so fiercely loyal and loving...and abused by humans. They will do anything we want from them. They will guard, fight and die. Just because we told them so – and because they will gladly do it for us.

What was interesting for me in Gesler´s monologue in TCG seems to me now heartbreaking.

„The wide head lifted, the motion stretching the torn lips back from the crooked teeth, the misaligned jaw that should have made the dog look comical, but didn’t. No. Instead, it broke the heart. All you did in our name. Too loyal for your own good. Too brave to know any different. And still you failed to protect them. Would you have been happier if we’d let you die? Freed your spirits to run with the ones you loved?

Did we hurt you that day? Me and Stormy and Truth and that Trell? ‘I hear you,’ he whispered, studying the dog. ‘The way you wince when you get up after another night on cold ground. I see you limping at day’s end, Bent.’ You and me, we’re both breaking down. This journey will be the last of us, won’t it? You and me, Bent. The last of us. ‘I’ll take your side when the time comes,’ he said. ‘In fact, I will die for you, dog. It’s the least I can do.’ The promise sounded foolish, and he looked round to make certain no one else was near. Their only company was the other dog, Roach, digging frantically at some mouse hole. Gesler sighed. But who says my life’s worth any more than this dog’s? Or that its life is worth less than mine? Who stands around measuring these things?“

So... does SE have a dog? Or did he? Because Im really interested if he drew this emotions from himself or if he is just so much empathic. Either way... I just learned that I will never stop learning. And I clearly understand end of Gesler now. And Im happy for it.

Oh and sorry for my english...some things I learn, some Im just forgetting - written english for example...

This post has been edited by Ulrik: 30 November 2012 - 09:00 PM

[Abyss]

Actually, when Gesler and co found Bent and Roach, all the soldiers were dead. The only other person around who needed healing was Icarium and really, who cares about him?

That scene where Gesler protects Bent absolutely wrecked me.

There are a few other dog moments in the books... the Malazan rat dog that 'helps' Kalam in DG, Cutter and Blind in HoC, Bent and Roach joining the Bonehunters in HoC then following Sinn and Grub into the Iccy warrens in DoD, and the Hounds' perspective in TtH come to mind.

[Ulrik]

Right, they were dead. It was mine RPG hoarding brain "hey, its your last Hi-Potion, really?" And yup, road to Spire is in fact littered with dog moments. Also, I like the way SE doesnt mix wolves and dogs, in fact his portrayal of dogs is very "Kaminsod-like". Bent is twisted, malformed, lashing angrily and still... Hell, Im slightly drunk and blabbering...
I bursted to tears when Ges and Stormy went after Sinn and Bent is again and again trying to follow through fires of Telas. SE simply must have dog (and he probably meets a lot of little Roaches who are mad from first minute they see you )

[Sinisdar Toste]

i think gesler punching reverence to save bent was about the fourth time in the book that i burst into tears... i agree, SE must have had dogs.

[Dutch]

I think so too, writing this while our dog is snoring close to me.

I probably even would demolish every one who would try to harm our tornado on four legs.

[Gnaw]

Ulrik, on 30 November 2012 - 08:56 PM, said:

I just finished re-reading TCG (awesome, of course) and realized one thing. - BEWARE, SPOILERS FROM TCG - It isnt surprise that reader needs personal experience to acknowledge some values. But I think it is also rule for authors. And i realized it when I read about Gesler sacrificing himself because of Bent.

I always liked dogs. They are cute, loyal, friendly. But I never had one – until last year when we finally bought our tornado on four legs. So, until that time I liked dogs, but... I remember reading scene from Deadhouse Gates where Mappo, Stormy, Ges and Truth use magic potion to save Bent and Roach (iirc). And I remember that it seemed to me too much cliched. Hey, you have forest of dying guys and you save dogs? Yeah, I like dogs, but...hell, there are humans, guys! Or...you can use it some critical situation (funny, I slipped into fantasy cliche myself) It seemed to me … unrealistic.

Well, now I understand. Im pretty sure some people will not understand. But I finally can appreciate, fully appreciate all those ideas or thoughts about humans and dogs. Beast so fiercely loyal and loving...and abused by humans. They will do anything we want from them. They will guard, fight and die. Just because we told them so – and because they will gladly do it for us.

Either way... I just learned that I will never stop learning.

Oh and sorry for my english...some things I learn, some Im just forgetting - written english for example...

Never apologize for your english sir. It is quite good. You will lose it if you don't use it enough though.

I've had dogs since I was 3 yo. I don't understand the relationship humans and horses have, but definitely do so with dogs.

There have been a couple of them that I thought more of than most humans. My favorite breeds come from the 'working dog' classification, which would include almost all of SE's fictional dogs. Bent, Gnaw, all of the dogs the nomadic tribes use.

I loved the part in TCG which finally explained why Bent protected Roach for all those years. That was great.

I've never thankfully been in the position of 'me or the dog'. But I once told a neighbor that if he didn't slow down on our shared driveway I'd shoot him. My Boxer knew the road was off limits, but considered the driveway his and loved to sleep the afternoon on it's pavement. Apparently I said it strong enough that he thought I meant it because he never went by above 5mph again.

Oh, and the day you stop learning, the day you decide that you know enough, that is the day you start to die. Curiosity and reason are what drives the race. (Fear and hatred too,, but hopefully we'll outgrow those two.)

[Catherine]

I agree with how SE must have and understand dogs now that I think about how they are written in the books and their importance throughout. With this in mind, he doesn't appear to have that afinity with horses. Even though horses do play important roles (i.e. as in the horse cultures), there are no relationships with them. Other authors (such as Shadowfax et al in LOTR) have written of closeness/affection etc. As a horse owner I know their personalities can be almost as deep.