[CatalystCorpse]

Hi everyone,

I have come across a lot of passages like this one where Erikson tries to explain life itself as well as tell a story (and I think we can all agree they are amazing stories).

Karsa Orlong looked at Samar Dev. 'What is this frozen time, witch?'
'The past, Teblor.'
She watched his eyes narrow thoughtfully, then he grunted and said,'And the unfound time is the future, meaning that now is the flowing time-'
'Yes!' Boatfinder cried. 'You speak life's very secret!'

Or am I reading to much into passages like these?

[Defiance]

I don't think you're reading too much into it. Erikson is very conscious of what he's going as a writer. There have been a few instances where he's broke apart passages that he's written. The level of detail that goes into each paragraph is pretty astounding, especially since he says a lot of it is stuff he does subconsciously.

[Spoilsport Stonny]

But what does the penis bone mean?!?!?

[Jade-Green Pig-Hog Swine-Beast]

Penis bones are sometimes worn as charms for luck or fertility...apparently.

This post has been edited by Jade-Green Pig-Hog Swine-Beast: 29 May 2013 - 01:21 PM

[CatalystCorpse]

The penis bone part is true. Www.theevolutionstore.com/store/penis-bones-og101/

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Defiance, on 29 May 2013 - 03:15 AM, said:

I don't think you're reading too much into it. Erikson is very conscious of what he's going as a writer. There have been a few instances where he's broke apart passages that he's written. The level of detail that goes into each paragraph is pretty astounding, especially since he says a lot of it is stuff he does subconsciously.

Can you link to these times? I'd be interested to read what's going on in his noodle.

[Spoilsport Stonny]

CatalystCorpse, on 30 May 2013 - 01:48 AM, said:

The penis bone part is true. Www.theevolutionstore.com/store/penis-bones-og101/

I knew the significance of the penis bone. I just wanted to bring up the penis bone because, well, it's a penis bone.

[Jade-Green Pig-Hog Swine-Beast]

You're such a penis bone.

[Spoilsport Stonny]

I wish!

[nacht]

CatalystCorpse, on 29 May 2013 - 02:57 AM, said:

Hi everyone,

I have come across a lot of passages like this one where Erikson tries to explain life itself as well as tell a story (and I think we can all agree they are amazing stories).

Karsa Orlong looked at Samar Dev. 'What is this frozen time, witch?'
'The past, Teblor.'
She watched his eyes narrow thoughtfully, then he grunted and said,'And the unfound time is the future, meaning that now is the flowing time-'
'Yes!' Boatfinder cried. 'You speak life's very secret!'

Or am I reading to much into passages like these?

Reading Erikson will change you. It is as simple that, so you are not reading too much into it.
For one, you start analyzing from multiple points of view.
Also, he gives a deep historical perspective that you catch on to.

[Aptorian]

nacht, on 04 June 2013 - 05:16 PM, said:

CatalystCorpse, on 29 May 2013 - 02:57 AM, said:

Hi everyone,

I have come across a lot of passages like this one where Erikson tries to explain life itself as well as tell a story (and I think we can all agree they are amazing stories).

Karsa Orlong looked at Samar Dev. 'What is this frozen time, witch?'
'The past, Teblor.'
She watched his eyes narrow thoughtfully, then he grunted and said,'And the unfound time is the future, meaning that now is the flowing time-'
'Yes!' Boatfinder cried. 'You speak life's very secret!'

Or am I reading to much into passages like these?

Reading Erikson will change you. It is as simple that, so you are not reading too much into it.
For one, you start analyzing from multiple points of view.
Also, he gives a deep historical perspective that you catch on to.

While I agree with this, I think it is probably also important to note that there is a bias here. Personally, Eriksons observations about human nature, equality and power are very much in tune with my own beliefs and so I enjoy reading his at times overly long philosophical musings. I am sure how ever that there are other people out there for whom Eriksons observations sound contrived or false. People who find his observations overly complicated and pandering to hopelessly naive liberal views on economics and human rights.

Those kinds of people can of course go jump off the storm wall.

[Kruppe's snacky cakes]

The philosophizing in Malazan is typically very eloquent. It's also vague enough, that it's usually open to multiple, reasonable interpretations. That's what I like about it. There are fantasy/sci-fi authors who are very in-your-face, to the point where it's completely obvious that their Mary Sue character is spouting the author's own brand of political piffle. Erikson is not like this. I think you'd have to make an effort to be offended by him, and it would probably be more of an indication of one's own insecurity.

[Sinisdar Toste]

unless you simply can't imagine a world where humans can have blue skin. i mean, come on, are we to believe smurfette is the empress of an empire spanning three continents?