[vrai]

I don't like the characterization of the female heavies. Slow-thinking, mean-spirited piss-pots. Literally! I want one, just once, to flatten Quick Ben with a thought. Surprise me.

[Gem Windcaster]

Bottle;196707 said:

My beef is that it's over too quickly.

That is exactly the quality I like about SE's writing. And you know, deaths are usually like that - over really fast. But I don't agree with the fact that it didn't get enough 'air time'. And I really think we got lots of thought that went through Trull's head. Frankly, what are you on about? :confused:

[mmdw45]

williamjm;196813 said:

In RG I'd say that the characters I disliked most were Feather Witch, Clip and Tribnan Gnol. Gnol is particularly bad because he's such a cliche, was it really necessary to make him a paedophile just to show how EVIL he was?

Even moreso. Treacherous, paedophilic, incestuous sadistic pervert who murdered Diskanar and Brys Beddict with poison. Have I forgotten anything?

-Max

[Bottle]

Gem Windcaster;196951 said:

That is exactly the quality I like about SE's writing. And you know, deaths are usually like that - over really fast. But I don't agree with the fact that it didn't get enough 'air time'. And I really think we got lots of thought that went through Trull's head. Frankly, what are you on about? :confused:

It could have been written a lot more movingly and a lot sadder. It's almost unclear what happens exactly in the last few lines. We only get two lines of thought going through Trull's head once the knife plunged into him. It's all just badly written. I wasn't moved by the scene at all, and Trull was my favourite character.

I just didn't enjoy the way it was written.

[Danyah]

The description of Queen Janall made me gag. Bleh. Still causing strong negative emotions with simple writing means... good writing.

[Gem Windcaster]

Bottle;197039 said:

It could have been written a lot more movingly and a lot sadder. It's almost unclear what happens exactly in the last few lines. We only get two lines of thought going through Trull's head once the knife plunged into him. It's all just badly written. I wasn't moved by the scene at all, and Trull was my favourite character.

I just didn't enjoy the way it was written.

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it. I frickin' cried. For real. And I almost never cry over books. So yes, I thought it was pretty sad. Especially when QB and hedge found him. I guess people just experience the scene differently. In fact, to me, that part is one of the most well written scenes in the entire book. Because of it's raw simplicity on the surface, and the complicated currents beneath. Hah, interesting how two people can view the same piece of writing completely different. :heyhey:

[xhentil]

Gem Windcaster;197159 said:

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it. I frickin' cried. For real. And I almost never cry over books. So yes, I thought it was pretty sad. Especially when QB and hedge found him. I guess people just experience the scene differently. In fact, to me, that part is one of the most well written scenes in the entire book. Because of it's raw simplicity on the surface, and the complicated currents beneath. Hah, interesting how two people can view the same piece of writing completely different. :heyhey:

When Hedge screamed as he saw Trull... man that got me. I would've broken down if my roommate was in the room. I thought it was very well done, and yes I did miss more of Trull's POV, but to me it just made it more of a loss... He was one of my favorite characters. And not just cause he schooled that arrogant bastard Clip

[lfex]

Well I guess nobody likes Triban Gnol or Sirryn Kanar - but they are one hundred percent villains with no redeeming qualities at all. As for not purely villainous characters, two I really disliked are Bivatt and Tomad Sengar. I guess it has to do with Erikson's theme about certainty being the root of all evil - both are very arrogant and sure of their righteousness, and because of that terribly annoying.

[Bottle]

You're right it is interesting how differently people can view things. Glad everyone's clear that when I say it's badly written that's simply my own opinion, and this just goes to show that there is no objectively 'good' way to write.

Trull was my favourite character precisely because he moved me in so many scenes. More so in Midnight Tides, which was my first Malazan novel.
To me his best scenes in that book, were when the Sengar brothers meet together in Rhulads command tent and all got drunk together simply as brothers once more. And when Fear told Trull, that he had been an outlet for Fear's doubts. He had been the voice of reason inside Fear's head questioning everything they were now doing. For me that last scene actually won me over to the series big time.

I guess Erikson touches on such a wide range of themes and emotions, it depends on the individual as to what moves them most. But that just goes to show how many different levels there are for these books to be enjoyed on.

[panic]

Bottle;197039 said:

It could have been written a lot more movingly and a lot sadder. It's almost unclear what happens exactly in the last few lines. We only get two lines of thought going through Trull's head once the knife plunged into him. It's all just badly written. I wasn't moved by the scene at all, and Trull was my favourite character.

I just didn't enjoy the way it was written.

Isn't the death more moving because it ended Trull so abruptly? We can't expect to see much of someone's thoughts in the moment of death.

[Bottle]

For you, yes. Maybe.

But for me, it seemed rushed. I wasn't expecting much more, just a few more lines and written in a more poignant way. I think the death should have been swift. But there is ways to write a swift death and to touch upon all that was lost.

As I stated a minute ago, it seems this really just boils down personal preference. It seems most people thought Trull's death was well written. As Gem points out she loved it for its brevity as for her that reflected the shocking truth that death can be in reality. For me so much was lost when Trull died, so much chance for forgiveness, for redemption. Those themes were touched upon just before he died, as he cradled Rhulad's body. But once Sirryn had stabbed him we only a glimpse into what’s going on in his head.

I'm not sure about you, but for me any moment can encompass an infinite amount of emotions in my head. I don't really think in sentences, unless I'm formulating something to say. So emotions just move around, that if were to be written down; any heartbeat could probably fill a good few pages at least.

Now this isn't what I'm asking, or was expecting. Just a few more lines is all I wanted. Was he really just thinking of Seren when he died? Granted, probably a lot. But I would have also thought emotions for his brothers, his parents, his people, would have all come into play too. And this time I would have liked them to be left said rather then unsaid, simply because I feel it would have been much more moving and tragic.

[Shadow_God]

Frankly, I only "hate" characters who are annoying to read, rather than character who are moral monsters - those are sometime the most interesting for me. Among the former catagory are:

1. Mhybe
2. Udinaas
3. Heboric (in places)

What ties these three characters together is that they take up sizable sections of the various books in long, stream of consciousness style rants and do little or nothing else. When they are busy doing other things, I find them more enjoyable.

The monsters, of course, are too numerous to mention.

[kkyyyssss]

must admit i liked udinaas, like the mhybe too... kinda liked heboric before but in TBH i just couldnt stand him... i must say i didnt like the caracter of laseen and how she was depicted in TBH... that s probably the 2 caracters i dont like the most in the serie...

[QuickTidal]

It's funny how over these books certain characters you can start off disliking to read about can become faves. I initially hated Karsa, and now he's one of my faves (the scene at the end of RG with Withal...."Don't do it again!"...that was AWESOME!!), and I also hated Udinaas but by the end of RG I dug him.

Mallick Rel and Korbolo Dom of course.

Effing Pormqual.....grrrrr....

I actually LIKE Hellian. She's a very chaotic character to read, but you always got some nugget. Plus, her always threatening to cut body parts off as punishment to her squad was hillarious!

Then Mhybe, while being important for various reasons WAS rather boring to read.

Yeah, I really have to agree about The Patriotists. I just wanted them both to effing die by about half way through the way the one in Drene did.

To a certain extent, even though he was needed, Triban Gnol.....he was just a loathesome little a-hole...but then I don't think that was about not liking to read those POVs but rather that his character is dispicable.

[Gem Windcaster]

Characters like Triban Gnol - I can't even bring myself to waste energy on hating them. Pathetic creeps.

[LordRake420]

Heboric or the other ganoes sister not the adjunct

[Grimjust Bearegular]

Bottle;197039 said:

It could have been written a lot more movingly and a lot sadder. It's almost unclear what happens exactly in the last few lines. We only get two lines of thought going through Trull's head once the knife plunged into him. It's all just badly written. I wasn't moved by the scene at all, and Trull was my favourite character.

I just didn't enjoy the way it was written.

I completely disagree..I bawled like a little girl at the end.

Characters I hate for various reasons:

Triban Gnol
Sirryn Kanar
Kallor
Korbolo Dom
Pormqual
Mallick Rel
Bidithal
Felisin
The Errant
Feather Witch
Menandore
CG
Hannan Mosag
Clip
the Patriotists
Liberty Consign
All Forkrul Assail and KCCM (they scare the shit out of me)
the Pannion Seer
Beak's parents
Laseen
Taralack Veed
Whoever killed and cut off Toc's face
Smiles

and probably many more..

[Gem Windcaster]

Smiles is kinda annoying, but not necessarily more annoying that any other malazan soldier - and I forgive her - because of her sister. Poor thing. ( I wonder what will happen if Smiles happen to get that Bugg is actually Mael?)

[Battalion]

Can't believe no one hates Kruppe!
I HATE KRUPPE.
Every time I read his passages, I feel like tearing the pages from the books for waisting valuable seconds from my life.
However, read them I must, for SE seems firmly set on making him the saviour of the known universe and basically fncking with my happiness.
I forgive him (SE, not Kruppe) because his books are the best books I've ever read, but the long, drawn out dream-things are more like nightmares.

Also hated Redmask - what was the point?
Also hated/hate Silverfox.
Hate Hedge (the ghost, liked him when he was alive).

Folks I miss: Kulp, Hairlock, Baudin, Mappo.

[Grimjust Bearegular]

Gem Windcaster;198070 said:

Smiles is kinda annoying, but not necessarily more annoying that any other malazan soldier - and I forgive her - because of her sister. Poor thing. ( I wonder what will happen if Smiles happen to get that Bugg is actually Mael?)

she'll probably kill him and gods know what will happen then...