[drza44]

Being relatively new to the scene, I wasn't around back when the old board was in use. But In reading the majority of the threads on all the boards, I've repeatedly seen the veterans around here refer to Erikson expressly saying that Whiskeyjack isn't coming back. My question is, can anyone give me a reference to the interview or whatever when Erikson said this? I'd just like to see the context, and how it was said, because plot-wise in the book it still is questionable to me why he wouldn't come back either with the other Bridgeburners or on his own and I'd like to see Erikson's actual thoughts on the subject...

[Dr Trouble]

https://starvalddeme...com/Whiskeyjack

Hope it answers your question. It's the only place I've seen it said. (other then the interview in question.)

[drza44]

Thank you very much. I had been searching, and so far the only thing I'd come up with was one I'd seen before:

The ascendant Whiskeyjack? All rightie, this ties in with concerns I've seen expressed about resurrections in the novels. Curious. Paran is the only character truly resurrected, because in his re-animation he is essentially the same person he was before. Maybe Duiker, too. Tattersail was reborn, as was Nightchill, but Silverfox is a very different creature. Baudin as a servant of Hood is perforce very dead, and will remain so. The Bridgeburners who make a re-appearance in HoC are ghosts. Ascended, yes, resurrected, no. Coltaine is a month old and his mother still has to hold him out when he pees. No fast return there. Felisin is gone. Toc's just inhabiting a different body. Will there be any more resurrections? Only one, and it's what all the others are leading to.

But that one never actually came out and said that Whiskeyjack was done. But this one is a lot more to the point. I would like to have heard more about the reasoning behind it, but I guess that'll maybe get clearer as the series goes along (or not. I guess not all questions get answered)...

[Folken]

http://www.malazanempire.com/forums/showth...ght=whiskeyjack

said interview - it's pretty clear cut. WJ ain't coming back;)

[drza44]

Funny enough...I think I'm actually reading the thread that the Encyclopaedia references (Q & A #2 on Malazan Empire, 2003) but I can't find where Erikson actually said that. Oh well.

I guess it just seems to me (even moreso now that I've read that Q & A) that

1) characters anywhere near Whiskeyjack's level of accomplishment (or even below) are all either near assencion, at assencion, and/or by all means have at least the possibility to come back even as an individual.

2) the Bridgeburners as a group, for whom Whiskeyjack is the main guy/head honcho/friggin symbol, have ascended, so how could Whiskeyjack not be part of that?

3) Characters that Erikson had no original plans to resurrect, such as Brukhalian, he at least leaves the door open that he might bring back in some capacity. Whereas Whiskeyjack's absence is set in stone?

I dunno. It just seems kinda interesting to me...

[Abyss]

Heh... 'Iskar Jarak', on the other hand...

EDIT: because i originally wrote 'Iskaral', as in Pust, and that character is confusing enuf as it is...

- Abyss, bait-and-switch technician.

[drza44]

@Jen'isand Rul (that's a handful to type, but I've seen that you don't like it shortened to Jeni ... got a shorter nickname?)

Thanks to you too. It's funny, I could SWEAR that I just got done reading the exact thread you just posted, but on my version the second half of his responses wasn't there (edit. Mystery solved. it's listed under Q&A part 3, not part 2). Oh well. All of my question marks still stand, but Erikson's done a hell of a job answering the mysteries that he's chosen to, and I'm sure if it pleases him to do so he'll go a bit more in depth on this in future novels. The idea that Hood was mad at him may have helped explain why he died, but it still leaves me a bit cold as to why that means he can't ascend...

[Dolorous Menhir]

Woah, Abyss, Iskaral? Now you've got me think Iskar Jarak = Iskaral Pust, and that is not a pleasant thought.

What makes you think Brukhalian is coming back? He's pretty dead. Can't rule a position in HHDeath for him though, he did go out in style.

Who said that Whiskeyjack hasn't ascended? SE just said he's not going to be in the series - doesn't mean he didn't ascend. Just that he's not going to be onscreen. But it's been proposed elsewhere that he might appear under a different name, and that SE was indulging in some lawyer-speak when he said "Whiskeyjack" wasn't going to appear.

Iskar Jarak is a good candidate.

[drza44]

@DM. I don't in any way think Brukhalian is coming back, but in that 2003 FAQ Q&A someone asks Erikson about him and his answer was, to paraphrase, "I don't plan for Brukhalian to come back, but I could change my mind down the road". My point was, if even a character like Brukhalian that actually should be done has the door left open for a future return, it's kinda funny for a guy like Whiskeyjack that seemingly actually should return (based on the rules in Wu, not on personal preference) to be point-blank ruled out.

Now, the idea that it's lawyer speak and WJ could return under a different name...that's very interesting, and a take I hadn't really considered. And you're right, the phrasing is "Whiskeyjack ... will not reappear in the series", not that he hasn't ascended. I can't imagine that he would ascend and stay separate from the events surrounding Malazan, but if he just changed names...hmmm...

[PannionDude]

It seems likely we won't see much of the Ascended BB. An army of Ascended will demolish all opposition on the mortal world, but they probably have more important things to do. I like the idea that they are to guard that bridge, like in the card. My only question is, are they stopping someone from going from the mortal world into death, or vice versa?

[Tiger_sword]

Anyone else noticed the huge increase in ascendants in the last few years of the Malazan world. That quote got me thinking, a resurrection that the rest are leading upto. In other words it seams as if more people are being given the power of ascention to combat whats gonna come. What if (bit of a crazy one) the CG is resurrected? Can walk Wu as whole again? Also who exactly desides who ascends and who doesn't?

[Dolorous Menhir]

Tiger_sword said:

Anyone else noticed the huge increase in ascendants in the last few years of the Malazan world.

Paran did.

[Murrin]

drza44 said:

My point was, if even a character like Brukhalian that actually should be done has the door left open for a future return, it's kinda funny for a guy like Whiskeyjack that seemingly actually should return (based on the rules in Wu, not on personal preference) to be point-blank ruled out.

It speaks more, perhaps, to the fact that Whiskeyjack is important enough for all the events surrounding him to have already been mapped out. Brukhalian was a minor character created for MoI, so had no plan already in place for his significance in the series.

[blewin]

PannionDude said:

It seems likely we won't see much of the Ascended BB. An army of Ascended will demolish all opposition on the mortal world, but they probably have more important things to do. I like the idea that they are to guard that bridge, like in the card. My only question is, are they stopping someone from going from the mortal world into death, or vice versa?

I don't get why the sergent's not with the ascended BridgeBurners. He's part of them too!

same question here. There's this dead army wondering around, ready to do something. Looks like there're going to be more unknown players (or factors) coming up in the later book.

Thinking about that though, I'm reminded of Hedge.... he's gonna make an appearance later.

[Mortal Sword]

SE does seem to play some games, or mini jokes when reffering to what will or will not happen. He likes changing names and has set precedence with Dancer and Annamandas and Ultor and..... I am sure you see the point. I quiet like how Drza points out how SE is very clear about how "WhiskeyJack" wont be back. But thats a wait and see kind of thing isnt it now.

[Dinivan]

Hmmm... in my faint memory the said quote of SE is followed by some "May he rest in peace" or somethin' like that. Doesn't sound to me like he's going back with a different name.

On some Thread there was speculation that WJ's non-ascension (alone or with the BBs) is because of the special spells and wards Rake made around his tomb.

[Mortal Sword]

Dont forget the tanno spirit walker song, that is a step on the path to ascension...... So it wasnt just Rake, plus is he has the ability to stand up to Kallor (note: I am basing this on trulls ability to stand up to Iccy) which could show he was on the path already.... Ummmm well you could interpert rest in peace as his physical body is dead.... but hes still around. (okay okay that was a lil straw grabbing).

[Murrin]

Top pedestal had more of them, and stronger.