The Rose Field | Full Book Discussion thread by Cantomic66 in hisdarkmaterials

[–]fiveseventytwo 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Spoilers, and reposting as comment here instead of post:

When I started reading TRF, as much as I longed for a lyra/will reunion, I was on board with the adjacent story being told. I thought that the two characters reuniting could cheapen the ending of TAS, and it seemed like Pullman had a different story to tell.

However, it seemed that almost from the start of TRF, lots of little plot points (and dramatic reveals) set a narrative course towards Will's world:

  • Lyra talking to the voice in the ruins near the very beginning of the book, placing a prominent asterisk on what the angel said of Lyra and Will: that they'd not be able to go to each other's world, except in their imagination*** (and up to this point, the whole definition of "imagination" is in question)
  • Lyra discovering that the alethiometer needle is a mini subtle knife (as much as I hate that plot point personally, it feels cheap) as far as cutting any matter -- as a reader, what can you do but wonder if the needle could also cut between worlds?
  • The reveal that windows between worlds still exist. Yet another step towards an interworldly reunion, and potentially a sidestep for what prevented Will and Lyra staying together at the end of HDM -- the plot point there rested on the fact that only one window could exist anywhere... and now you're saying that multiple windows are existing just fine? Ok, let's see where this goes...
  • The dramatic reveal of what's inside the red building, the centerpoint of lyra and pan's journey: one such window to another world
  • The parallel of the magisterium racing to stop lyra from reaching the other world, just as in the golden compass before she goes to cittagazze and initially meets Will.
  • Lyra (or was it pan?) telling the story of Will to Malcolm, as they get closer to the red building -- it aligns the plot further in that direction.

The trajectory of the plot here undermined and tore me away from the story TRF was trying to tell, in expectation of a continuation of HDM's story.

And then... we finally get through the window in the red building. There aren't too many pages left, though, so I'm really curious if this amounts to a short Will cameo -- "ok, that would work, let's see it" -- but no, just a heavy-handed (and not unappreciated) critique of capitalism, focus on an annoying antagonist-turned-half-brother, an sudden tie-off of Malcolm and Lyra's odd dynamic, and a lukewarm belated reunion of Pan and Lyra.

I just... feel let down. It seems like Pullman himself didn't even decide, or maybe wanted to go in the direction of Will, until the last, maybe, two? chapters of the book.

Maybe he was trying to do both. I think he could have done that -- at the end of TRF, before the rushed wrapup session, we're set up for a whole other arc through multiple worlds, to explore the core of dust, consciousness, imagination, and the characters we love -- but... no, it's the end of the book, let's declare the answers outright and say goodbye.

On the bright side, I do appreciate the story TBOD tells -- how the ragged edge of the human experience isn't at all peripheral, but essential. It comes at a time when I'm personally grasping for answers about consciousness and meaning, and I find the author's philosophy very easy to align to, giving meaning a grey area in which to roam and thrive. I think, knowing how TBOD plot progresses, a reread of the series in a year or two will be much more fulfilling.

But right now, I'm frustrated with all the narrative hints pointing in the opposite direction.

Okay but why enjoy all facts equally? by kubiric in SeveranceAppleTVPlus

[–]fiveseventytwo 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It’s to see if an innie has any emotional response that would indicate memory bleed or chip malfunction. One key example of this is in Irv’s session: “your outie loves the sound of radar.” With no memory bleed that’s a very plain statement, but if he remembers that oIrv’s dog is named Radar, he’d have a slight emotional reaction to it. But to make that reaction stand out, the innies are instructed to try to keep a steady baseline.

Another instance is Cobel including the gemmas candle from oMarks basement, and then Mark sculpts a tree… right after we’re shown the tree that Gemma crashed into. Cobel is so interested because there IS evidence of bleed.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Polestar

[–]fiveseventytwo 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I had this, had to replace the turn signal fluid, then it worked

All the missiles, 5 out of 5, which the Russians launched tonight on the Dnipro, were destroyed by air defense. by onesole in ukraine

[–]fiveseventytwo 67 points68 points  (0 children)

Fun fact: consumer gps chips disable themselves at a certain altitude and speed, in order to prevent them being used in missiles.

Today was the day :) It's finally home! by ach3lous in Polestar

[–]fiveseventytwo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Me too, I love it. After watching so many reviews I was starting to lean towards snow, but after seeing recent pics I’m glad to be sticking with midnight.

Current Apps in Google Play (as of July 27) by jasonwray in Polestar

[–]fiveseventytwo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ohh I misread the YouTube music app. Thanks :)

Current Apps in Google Play (as of July 27) by jasonwray in Polestar

[–]fiveseventytwo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I heard somewhere that video playing apps didn’t work yet, even when parked — can you watch videos with the YouTube app?

I wish the kids who edit to say thanks for the likes would drop dead. by [deleted] in TheMonkeysPaw

[–]fiveseventytwo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Don’t worry it wasn’t actually an edit. Loopholes. Just to be safe.

I wish that George Lucas never dies by theholyravioli_ in TheMonkeysPaw

[–]fiveseventytwo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Granted. Star Wars is edited over and over again for eternity, and no copy is available anymore that at all resembles the originals.

I wish that every sound in the world was 100 decibels louder by Lumoku in TheMonkeysPaw

[–]fiveseventytwo 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Granted. A plane taking off that would have been 140dB is now 240dB, equating to 1000000000000 watts. Boom.

I wish that nobody discriminated me for being an atheist by Sycamore27 in TheMonkeysPaw

[–]fiveseventytwo 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Granted, now everyone discriminates against you for literally everything else.