On Wed, 14 Apr 2004, Damien Sullivan wrote: > On Tue, Apr 13, 2004 at 10:26:02PM -0700, Philip Hart wrote: > > spoilers for _TEoDM_ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > again, spoilers for the Pirodessey or the end of the Paarfiad or ... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 7. I didn't understand why the Necromancer couldn't function with a God on > > the world. Plus she managed ok in a similar situation at the end of > > _Issola_. > > As said, the God was apparently blocking necromancy (or her necromancy), vs. > the presence of any random god. "As long as that god is in the world I am > completely helpless." Ok, god X says so is the universal solvent - but in _Issola_ the N was better at gates (=necromancy?) than Verra (or, presumably, the other gods) and Trinagore didn't seem to have a lot of chops outside witchcraft. On that point, it's odd that V hadn't taken him out a long time ago. > And I kind of feel that something was missing from the book as well, I'm > afraid. Good enough read, and I probably won't return the hardcover to wait > for paperback, but enh. _Paths_ was pretty strong, but the latter two books > have a certain "going through the motions" feel. I thought that _TPotD_ was the weakest volume - a lot of slow setup, a lot of travel back and forth - while the latter volumes picked up the pace and interest. Anyway, not up to the high standards of the early Paarfiad (I think that and the earlier "Vladiad" are my coinages to whoever asked upthread - but I'm rather ashamed of "Pirodessey". I've tried to think of something snappy based on the Divina Commedia without success.) > Possibly also had a thing for Tazendra himself. That seemed clear enough to me. An interesting instance of the overall theme of the trilogy - I appreciated the subtle treatment. > I was disappointed Sethra or the Necromancer didn't resurrect the > recently dead folk lying around the cave. I think we heard of a > resurrection happening somewhere, earlier in the book. (Just noticed the lack of a chapter listing.) I believe that was a near-death occurence. Ok, that's pg 388 of _TLoCB_ - heart stopped, little brain activity. > Pel becoming Prime Minister was a nice moment. Was a PM even mentioned in > _Orca_? Pel would see to it that the PM wasn't mentioned. You remind me of another point or quibble I wanted to make about _TEoDM_ - at the beginning of the book we see Zerika laboring more or less unaided on a complex building project and sensitive negotiations. She should have a large staff at this point. Call that point #Taltos.