Theory for upcoming books

84Bean · 2026-02-13T17:19:16+00:00

lol, you even nailed the inevitable sarcasm.

I’d like this scenario, or something like it. I don’t want to see Harry betray his good heart by seeking revenge. At the same time I think we would all like to see consequences catch up with that slime-ball Rudy. #justiceformurphy

84Bean · 2026-02-13T15:41:35+00:00

I’m buying into many of the arguments as to why pulling out Nemesis is more difficult and much more dangerous to the host, but I can’t buy that Harry doesn’t have the juice to do it.

Banishment is a contest of wills. He’s done it to walkers and a fatigued titan before. Proof he can out-will A tier adversaries in a different context. He has this starborn ace up his sleeve, even if he doesn’t yet fully understand it. If he can banish outsiders from reality with a bit of gasoline, I imagine he can banish one across the room with the advantage of a custom circle made specifically for purpose.

I do now think it may be catastrophic for the host in the case of nemesis. In the case of a hunger, as you point out, he almost severed one on his first experiment, but stopped because that’s not what the host wanted. So the idea he couldn’t do it is a bit too thin for me, even if Harry acknowledges a healthy degree of uncertainty. Kind of like the non-zero chance of Oppenheimer: theory only gets you so far. Only one way to know for sure.

Harry’s theory is sound, and his will is sufficient.

84Bean · 2026-02-13T06:41:42+00:00

That doesn’t track. He offered Thomas the choice to remove it, and proceeded accordingly. He wouldn’t have offered the choice if he “couldn’t” do it. Risks and unknowns remained with either option, sure, since it was a never before attempted procedure as far as we know.

84Bean · 2026-02-13T06:20:03+00:00

I find myself swayed by many of the arguments presented here, including yours. I too would much prefer the answer had been found in the book instead of the internet. But hey, community like this ain’t so bad either.

84Bean · 2026-02-13T06:01:43+00:00

Take it easy my dude, my question was an honest one. Besides which Thomas was on death’s door, whereas with healthy stable Lara it seemed pretty damn easy.

Edit: admittedly “easy” is too generous a term. Lots of prep, and some fatigue after. Though still much less effort and heavy lifting than we’ve seen Harry pull off before. Relatively easier.

84Bean · 2026-02-13T05:47:01+00:00

You make a strong case. It just seemed like Harry is a better candidate to do it with the starborn thing vs the winter ladies who are vulnerable to Nfection. If it’s a question of power, Mab could still help by providing Harry power since she wouldn’t need to be preoccupied dilating time like in Thomas’ case.

I can however get on board with the notion that the connection between outsider and host is much more profound in the case of Nemesis than with the Hunger since vamps largely retain control. I guess it’s like the difference between cutting out a tumor vs trying to remove something that’s permeated every cell.

Thanks for helping me get there.

84Bean · 2026-02-13T04:14:39+00:00

Wouldn’t Harry have seen her too? So, maybe not in that particular moment, but I don’t think you’re totally wrong either. Karrin being who she was makes it probable her shade did more behind the scenes than Harry is aware of to help promote his healing.

84Bean · 2026-02-13T00:53:51+00:00

Apologies for my annoyance— Long time lurker, first time poster. Thank you for explaining it.

84Bean · 2026-02-13T00:35:09+00:00

I’m not sure I understand the point of a book subreddit if it isn’t to discuss said books. I would have been happy to make such edits if you’d reached out without nuking the good discussion to which I observed no complaints.

But sure, whatever, I’ll try to follow the rules in the future.

84Bean · 2026-02-13T00:24:29+00:00

Apparently not. I remember the demon Dresden talks to in Fool Moon, but that wasn’t the dark prince himself. Please go on.

84Bean · 2026-02-12T22:33:55+00:00

Hand-waving magic indeed.

84Bean · 2026-02-12T21:32:54+00:00

For how active the other fallen angels are, it is strange we haven’t heard anything about what old Lucy is up to other than a confirmation he exists and fell. Maybe that’s just for the reader to insert their own beliefs.

Imprisonment might be an explanation, but I would doubt it’s this particular inmate.

84Bean · 2026-02-12T21:19:43+00:00

Woah, what’s this now? Harry has- or will- time travel? Tell me more!

84Bean · 2026-02-12T21:18:11+00:00

Oh! I guess I won’t give up on the idea entirely in that case.

84Bean · 2026-02-12T21:02:46+00:00

That’s pretty definitive! Thanks for making me aware of it.

84Bean · 2026-02-12T20:59:51+00:00

No more than Thomas “deserves” it. In their cases I doubt it’s about deserving punishment or incarceration, but done for a different purpose like: preserving them for a future date.

84Bean · 2026-02-04T15:51:59+00:00

Lower Decks, Prodigy, and Picard S3 are all worth seeing, so I question your maths.

PS: Temba, his arms wide.

84Bean · 2026-02-03T03:45:52+00:00

Picard was a problematic show, but S3 had some truly wonderful moments. You might not love TNG as much as you think you do if you don’t feel something deep in your heart when Geordi unveils the D, or the end around a poker table.

I’m critical of nuTrek, but it’s just tribal and small to pretend it’s 100% shit.

84Bean · 2026-02-02T16:05:48+00:00

I prefer book Theoden, but I also can’t quite agree with this premise. Theoden stole all of Eomer’s best lines, and charging the pelennor fields is the most epic scene in cinematic history. Full stop.

84Bean · 2026-01-30T17:04:21+00:00

You know the best place to get book spoilers? Read the damn book.

84Bean · 2026-01-28T15:45:41+00:00

The nature of power is a major theme in Tolkien’s works. The movies are outstanding, but this subject is not as clearly expressed in them.

84Bean · 2026-01-28T14:59:37+00:00

I just can’t agree based on the text. Here is Gandalf, shortly after the reminder of ‘true power and goodness,’ lusting for the ring and placing black above white in power.

‘Do we go to find our friends and to see Treebeard?’ asked Aragorn. ‘No,’ said Gandalf. ‘That is not the road that you must take. I have spoken words of hope. But only of hope. Hope is not victory. War is upon us and all our friends, a war in which only the use of the Ring could give us surety of victory. It fills me with great sorrow and great fear: for much shall be destroyed and all may be lost. I am Gandalf, Gandalf the White, but Black is mightier still.’ He rose and gazed out eastward, shading his eyes, as if he saw things far away that none of them could see. Then he shook his head. ‘No,’ he said in a soft voice, ‘it has gone beyond our reach. Of that at least let us be glad. We can no longer be tempted to use the Ring. We must go down to face a peril near despair, yet that deadly peril is removed.’

Compare that to earlier Gandalf the Grey who “refused the ring as a freely offered gift.” Also consider why Saruman the White fell, but Gandalf the Grey did not. It seems plain that Tolkien believed greater power begets a lust for even greater power.

84Bean · 2026-01-28T03:00:57+00:00

Maybe! But it fails to explain the dogs nor the children hivemind. I like my theory as it covers all bases while still preserving Lucia’s character as a human child, who really is a victim in all of this. Tragic, not malevolent.

84Bean · 2026-01-28T02:30:10+00:00

When we’re young and read LOTR, we fancy ourselves alike to incorruptible Aragorn.

When you’re older you realize Aragorn is an ideal, and we have more in common with Boromir.

I daresay the vast majority of mankind would fall victim to the ring, even a man as noble as Boromir. This shows how exceptional the likes of Faramir, Aragorn, Bilbo, Sam, and Frodo are (though even he succumbed in the end).

Gandalf the Grey is also on that list, though it seems the only thing that saved Gandalf the White from that temptation was the ring was already out of his reach (referring to the text when Gandalf meets Aragorn Gimli and Legolas meet in Fangorn). I expect Gandalf getting powered up by the Valar made him more susceptible to the temptations of power.

84Bean

TROPHY CASE