Dragaera

Paarfi's account vs... (major spoilers for Sethra Lavode)

Gaertk at aol.com Gaertk at aol.com
Sat May 15 12:33:14 PDT 2004

In a message dated 5/14/2004 9:28:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time, zarkon at illrepute.org writes:

> 
> On Fri, 14 May 2004, Philip Hart wrote:
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> @> Here I don't follow you at all.  We know Vlad's account is 
> @> wrong from internal evidence (beheading != permanently 
> @> killing)...
> 
> Bull. If Vlad says "Sethra Lavode says X and Y", I believe him. 
> The beheading thing is almost certainly a problem with the book's 
> pre-series squirreliness... err.. I mean, a typo. Or a pronoun 
> gender problem. Yeah, that's it.

The beheading thing is an official Mistake, and does not appear in
the omnibus.

> Also, in the "Paarfi is a big liar" vein, there's the speech 
> patterns.

"In the interests of accuracy it must be admitted that one aspect
of our author's depiction of these events is not, in fact, strictly
in accordance with the actual practice of the times.  The mode of 
speech employed by those at court, and by Khaavrem and his friends 
as well, in casual discussion or when leading up to speeches 
actually recorded in history, does not represent, so far as can be 
determined, any actual mode of speech, past or present."

> @> > And Paarfi has nothing to gain by rocking the boat, and 
> @> > everything to lose. More on this in a second.
> @>
> @> Controversy sells (current affairs) books.  Sometimes I think 
> @> little else does.
> 
> It seems to be considered a historical work, even given the 
> lifespans of the people involved ("Historical Romance").

You've never read any Historical Romances, have you?  Dumas 
invented his hero whole, and you doubt Paarfi would twist a scene 
to his advantage?

> Plus, this is super-conservative, stability-obsessed Dragaera. 
> It's OK for individuals to be flamboyant and wierd, but not for 
> them to say things which challenge the basic assumptions on which 
> their culture is based (the Cycle, etc.).

What "dangerous" things is Paarfi saying?  Note that FHYA was 
published after laws were passed to protect cross-breeds.


--KG