Dragaera

Sethra Lavode vs. Enchantress of Dzur Mountain

David Dyer-Bennet dd-b at dd-b.net
Tue Aug 13 18:29:21 PDT 2002

Matt Jennings <attjen at gwu.edu> writes:

> Hello All,
> 
> This is also my first message to this group, and I wanted to see what everyone 
> thinks of skzb's naming of part two of Viscount. (check out dreamcafe's weblog 
> if you haven't heard)

Welcome to the group!

> Originally it had been said (rumored?) that the titles would be
> 
> The Paths of the Dead
> The Enchantress of Dzur Mountain
> The Lord of Castle Black
> 
> So what do you all think of the new title "Sethra Lavode", and what 
> speculation do you have for the "variety of reasons" skzb refers too (which he 
> might correct or confuse if we come close to the mark)?

I like the old title better.  The three titles have a very nice
parallel structure.  Of course I don't know the reasons for the
change; possibly there's an artistic reason I don't know about why
it's a much better title.

But I'm suspecting some kind of commercial reason.  Which is fine; if
it actually matters significantly commercially, that's a valid reason
for that kind of title change.  There are certainly levels of changes
that I think one should resist pressure for, but this title change is
very minor; I just have a personal preference for the old title.

> My thoughts,
> 
> - This would make a trio of "name" books for skzb.  Taltos, Agyar, Sethra 
> Lavode.  We all should know (from Brokedown Palace, Sun Moon & Stars) what 
> "taltos" means (even if you haven't heard of the Anne Rice book).  Agyar if 
> you've read it should be obvious, and Sethra is a ancient long dead mythical 
> figure... who eats little... etc etc...
> 
> - I actually like the original titles in that they were all "place" related, 
> and wonder what the shift from "place" to "person" might mean as far as story 
> goes...

In fact two of them were people referred to by their place
associations.  
-- 
David Dyer-Bennet, dd-b at dd-b.net  /  New TMDA anti-spam in test
 John Dyer-Bennet 1915-2002 Memorial Site http://john.dyer-bennet.net
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