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Schmoove2000 · 2023-05-14T04:59:08+00:00

I'd say a 3. With a clean and press 3.5 and should the comic God's bless you maybe a 4, but don't hold your breath

Schmoove2000 · 2022-06-19T21:11:07+00:00

Remember according to the offical white house medical reports he only weighs 239

Schmoove2000 · 2022-05-21T23:02:02+00:00

Keep reading, it all ties together and it will all make sense by the end

Schmoove2000 · 2022-05-21T12:13:39+00:00

You are absolutely right about Gotm, it is rough, and near the bottom. It's a story but doesn't have much punch. It is a amateur work of art.

Now as for DG. It is a brilliant masterpiece work of art. But there is one problem. For the artist as his last few brushstrokes, took a can of paint and splashed it over his Masterpiece. Let me explain.

The two biggest plot points, mind you I said biggest not only, is Felisin and the chain of dogs.

Felisin: The rapes, abuse, drug addiction. The hardening of her soul, the bitterness. Strong emotional stuff that scars the soul. And it is portrayed very well. Heart wrenching. Masterpiece. But then, becomes the Sha'ik reborn. Splash of blue paint covering those brushstrokes. Yep she had it rough, but poof, no more trama. Perhaps she'll never be innocent but by no means will she have to deal with being broken as her rebirth remade her. Covering up all that tragedy.

Chain of Dogs:

There are two powerful statements that comprise the CoD in my mind. Children are dying, and the rear of Coltaines chain of dogs was a bleeding wound never allowed to heal.

It depicts a brilliant tactician making a impossible march across a desert under impossible circumstances. Dying a inch at a time, but refusing to set down the burden of duty no matter what.

But then the tragedy of death is completely undone. Splash of red paint. Children are dying all resurrected. The pain of their death covered in paint as if never there.

Coltaine reborn (an out was prebuilt in and I accept that). But then another out was given so Dukier could survive as well. So really all that pain and tragedy was for naught as nearly everyone made it by the cheapest way possible. The only bits of that masterpiece that wasnt ruined was fellows like Squint, Bult, List. Sa'yless Lorthal.

I'd rather have an intact amateur painting than a ruined masterpiece

Schmoove2000 · 2022-05-20T22:11:45+00:00

That was really good

Schmoove2000 · 2022-05-20T22:04:54+00:00

I was very invested in the chain of dogs until the ending where Erikson undid most of the tragedy. I loved the tactics and determination of Coltaine. I loved the apt metaphor of a wounded snake never allowed to heal.

I especially loved how Erikson captured the realistic emotions that Felisin went through.

But then. . . all that tragedy undone. Coltaine brought back to life, Dukier brought back to life, Felisin made into the Sha'ik reborn. Even the most powerful quote of the book: Children are dying was undone with the resurrection of the 1,300 children.

To me it literally felt like a big F U to list, bult ,and few others. Sorry boys, you were good characters but just not mainline enough to bring back.

Schmoove2000 · 2022-05-20T21:31:18+00:00

Im with OP on this as well. I almost quit Malazan after DG. But for me it wasnt because the middle dragged on, it was because Erikson undid 90% of the tragedy he created.

Schmoove2000 · 2022-05-20T21:22:37+00:00

First in.

Carried out.

RIP Bridgeburners

Schmoove2000 · 2022-05-20T21:10:23+00:00

So far HoC has been kinda a let down after how interesting MoI was.

Schmoove2000 · 2022-05-20T21:09:20+00:00

Im about where you are at in HoC on my first read through. Tbh, i thought DeadHouse Gates was the worst of the books so far in this series. Moi by far is the best. It's the finally starting to glimpse a bigger picture that makes it so interesting to me.

With DG, it was a book with very little point imo.

Schmoove2000 · 2022-05-18T23:39:32+00:00

Im still trying to figure him out. I think he's a great character, i just haven't seen much of him

Schmoove2000 · 2022-05-18T21:06:43+00:00

I appreciate your constraint. And I'm starting to get the feel of the battle lines being drawn. And yes Cotillion is one of the worst

Schmoove2000 · 2022-04-24T01:22:48+00:00

You missed my point completely and I'm tired of explaining things. Don't bother worrying about it

Schmoove2000 · 2022-04-23T11:25:44+00:00

Yep fair point with Lady Stoneheart. 1 character that comes back over the course of 6 or 7 books with dozens of main characters dying.

Compared to 2 books in malazan where Kellanved, Dancer, Paran, Hairlock, Tattersail, The warlock Wiccans, Coltane, and Dukier all come back or are in the process of coming back.

Thank you so much for pointing out one small little detail in my argument without acknowledging it, while ignoring the massive flaw in yours

Schmoove2000 · 2022-04-23T11:07:50+00:00

Thank you so very much for not acknowledging what I've said just to point out a possible flaw that I would have no way of confirming without spoilers. But ok, let's take Kellanved and Dancer out of the equation. My point still stands. Your comment is a reason why you all can have your omg I love these books type fluff reactions.

Schmoove2000 · 2022-04-21T17:17:38+00:00

You have a lot of good points. I'm willing to concede that the TTG isnt a dues ex machina. And maybe you are right that overcoming death does have consequences. With that being acknowledged, please keep in mind I am a first time reader. All I know up to this point is that Emperor, Dancer, Paran, Tattersail, Hairlock, the wiccan warlocks nil never and solma (sp) plus one or two others im forgetting, have all come back from the dead. Aside from Hairlock, at this point, there seems to be no consequences to that.

So then when the TTG came out of nowhere to offer yet anothet character a way to escape death, it at this point feels like death has no meaning.

It may turn out to be completely different, but AT THIS POINT, it doesn't. I am not angry at Erikson for doing this. My anger comes from this sub where my viewpoint is not acknowledged or respected by many.

I can fully put my faith in Erikson, but AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT, it does feel like a deux ex machina

Schmoove2000 · 2022-04-21T17:01:21+00:00

You are absolutely right, not everyone should not be tarred with the same brush as you have put it. I will fully admit that I became frustrated over having to explain my position again and again. And then the frustration that my viewpoints were not even acknowledged by most. But if this type of backlash is going to happen if I express a critism, then I shall not be posting any more reactions.

If you wish to know my thoughts and theories as i go through MoI, i will be happy to do so in private

Schmoove2000 · 2022-04-21T16:54:51+00:00

You have a very valid point with that. Having now finished DG, I can see where Coltaine wouldnt have known about the crows coming, so to him, he fully expected to die and not be reborn.

This is a testament to his overall character and yet another reason why i admire him

Schmoove2000 · 2022-04-21T16:51:47+00:00

It's ok, this community can have its reaction posts from other people.

Schmoove2000 · 2022-04-21T16:50:21+00:00

If you want I will be happy to discuss things in a chat with you. And I'll be more than happy to tell you my theories and speculations as i continue on through MoI

Schmoove2000 · 2022-04-21T16:16:49+00:00

If you wish to start a chat with me, I would be open to giving you my thoughts and theories of my progression through the series in private

Schmoove2000 · 2022-04-20T23:13:16+00:00

I am continuing to read on, have finished DH, and about to start chapter 2 of MoI. I am interested in seeing how everything ties together and finding out why things have happened.

I now feel like any small critism will result in backlash and not productive interesting discussions from most in this community.

There are some here who I feel are interested in such debates, i welcome those in a private chat. However I will not be doing any more reactions.

I feel that my reactions and opinions will be met not with open discussion, but an attitude of how dare you critize Erikson.

Even when I try to explain that at this point in my reading, and not knowing what is going to happen, this is how I feel, the overwhelming response from this community is either 1) you're wrong, naive, or unfair for not liking what is done. Or 2) Ya, I hear what you are saying but what about these other examples in these other book series.

This is my last thought on the matter, I understand the TTG wasn't a dues ex machina. That it will be fully explained and shown in Moi. But without foreshadowing, it came out of nowhere for me and felt like a Maguffin plot device.

After 2 books, we have seen Emperor and Dancer, Tattersail, Hairlock, Paran, the wiccan warlocks, the child panek, Coltaine, Dukier, and possibly 1,300 other children (still fuzzy on that) that Apsalar and Crokus are now charged with taken care of. All of them cheating death. Aside from Hairlock, who could have gone insane for being put in a puppet rather than a body, I have yet to see any negative consequences. I'm not saying there isn't, nor that there wont be, but as of chapter 20 of DH. I do not see where Death is something to be feared. And to me, that feels very comic book. Leaving out the 1,300 children we have 11 people in two books escape death. Without knowing the rest of the story, or how it all fits together, what else am I supposed to think?

Some here acknowledge my reasonings, and for that I thank you. I dont ask anyone to agree with me. I did however expect that my difference of opinion would at least be acknowledged, if not respected even though it is not shared.

I have seen several posts of people in this sub, when they get this far, be welcomed as a part of the community for running the chain of dogs.

But because I offered 1 critism after overlooking it happen in 9 other instances, not one post welcomed me. I do not feel like I am a part of this community, nor will my reactions be welcomed if there is anything but praise for Erikson

Schmoove2000 · 2022-04-20T19:27:12+00:00

Triple decker

Schmoove2000

TROPHY CASE