Like Konrad, I'll be posting a series of detailed notes, which I'll
mark with [DbS] in the subject (DbS = Distracted by Shadows,
naturally).
In this post, I've pulled out some of the ones I think are the most
interesting. Later, I'll post the full thing separately; one big hope
is that it will speed up textev searches, but that also means it is
probably too tedious for most people to want to read it straight.
- tky
1992 Tor mmpb
cover art: {I scribbled "wing looks funny (gap?)". I don't remember for sure
what "gap?" means, but I note today that the wings kind of blend in with
some leaves, which I may have earlier mistaken as part of the wings.}
** ppxiii-xvi. [Paarfi's] Preface
pxiv: "for far away" {typo: "far far away"?} Mistress Fornell's poem,
"Return to Me, My City", stanza 93: quiet Tiassa, Yendi, gallant Lavode;
** p1. [start of] Book One
** pp3-16. ch1
pp4-5: [describe Khaavren] {physiognomy: poetic license, deluded author,
truth? Cosmetic surgery or body sculpting? Are shapeshifters common?}
{Do his clothes indicate level of: tech, economy, commerce?}
p5: kerosene lamps {fossil fuel reserve?}
p5: making up his mind to wait patiently {Khaavren impatient, Paarfi verbose!}
p8: [describe Aerich]; very tall for his House; vambraces
p9: Aerich: knife, not sword; sword = honor must never touch the ground
p10: Aerich: graceful & sudden
p15: Aerich of Pel: Yendi <-- only House not identifiable by face or clothing
p16: Khaavren of Aerich: admires coolness, mystery, I will find you out;
any mistrust vanished, and never returned as long as they knew each other
{"knew" = acquainted with, not "understand and trust", right?}
** pp17-24. ch2
p17: the jump across the Lonely Ridge in the Kanefthali Mountains {Orca?}
pp21-22: conversation resumes. Hrivaan: coming darkness,
Phoenix = rebirth & decay; every Phoenix emperor, except Zerika I
(founder of Empire), grew decadent, practiced evil arts,
neglected Empire, until Cycle turned and Dragon arrived. 18 = 17+1 =
1st Phoenix after a complete Cycle = especially bad
{17+1 reasoning is interesting: why not expect #17 to be the worst?}
p24: fauna: antelope, tsmalmoth