I did an interview with IC at Supernova. She told me a lot of things, but I haven't got it all together yet. However, two things I can definitively clear up.
1. It is pronounced An-jy-na, like the heart condition. Yes, that is supposed to be reference to the sickness if the heart that ends his life. However, we must feel free to pronounce it however we like and not change it because IC says it's said differently.
2. To my huge surprise, Rhenlings are not bats, nor had bats ever occured to Isobelle until I mentioned them. In her mind they were mutated rats, much larger than today, and with wings. So... That's a shock to me.
I will write up a full report of the interview, which was done in bursts at breakfast, as I walked her between the Dymocks stand, the wrestling ring, the taxi, and while Ian Irvine was talking about his book to the eager crowd. Look out for the thread, coming soon when I've done enouh homework to deserve a break.
12 years ago
Mon Nov 07 2011, 07:53pm
Sidebar filling...
Oh yeah, someone was saying earlier that they thought that Hannah had a child. I never really thought to mention this, but I've always thought that Hannah's child was the young girl that they mention in TSK who Cassy thought of 'as her own child' or something like that. You remember her? She was the one that Cassy's son fell in love with, but the girl would always look at the mountains and she eventually disappeared. I'll try to find the exact quote. :)
Pg 582 TSK: "She came to the Land with my ancestors from the Red Queen's land, as a toddler. I do not know why, but it is said that the D'rekta loved her like a daughter and that Evander loved her too, though apparently not as a brother loves a sister. She went away to the mountains after his mother was taken by slavers... Others say she went to the mountains to seek her own mother."
That was really interesting about the entire journey taking less than a month! I think that if Elspeth did have a baby it would have to have some sort of odd and seemingly useless power, kind of like Lidgebaby who had extremely strong powers but only used them for his evil purposes, lol jks, for his BABY purposes. I think if the baby appeared too intelligent or had strong abilities that it could use well (like farseeking) it would just seem really fake. And I would just like to state that I will not be at all pleased if Elspeth is pregnant; it is a really overused plotline, although to be fair Carmody would have been planning this for decades and would not have realised that Twilight would have turned us all against this particular twist.
Ashlings' guildleader
12 years ago
Ashlings' guildleader
Dreamscape Artist
Yes Lilac, that is so. You should read The Dark Road to find out more about her ;)
Mystic Ward
12 years ago
Mystic Ward
Twentyfamilies Gypsy
la de da da. hello sidebar nice to see you again.
Ari had a major brainstorm and reminded me of the tweets Isobelle gave a while back when TS was still one book. The very last Tweet we got was "‘Miryum was bitten then?’ I managed to ask, at last." Really have to wonder what bit her. I'm kinda betting on a Rhenling. Maybe she has been put it statis to heal from that???
Kayt OML, I really didn't expect them to be rats. that's even more gross that giant bats. Really looking forward to the rest of your interview.
Hey guys! I am guilty of not commenting here very often, although I do like to lurk. (:
Anybody else think Maruman was from the Beforetime and kept in a cyrogenic sleep?
Ashlings' guildleader
12 years ago
Ashlings' guildleader
Dreamscape Artist
Ashalinde, would you mind sharing your calculations for how long Elf's journey took? I'm just really surprised to see that it's such a small number. I was sure I'd read something about it taking several moons to get there.
12 years ago
Tue Nov 08 2011, 08:34am
Hey Sian, here is how i worked it out, I'll spoiler it up just in case :)
I started from the day she left, (well, technically night 1 was the night of urgent lemons ;) cause my sis wanted to know if it was possible) and i went through page by page and marked when it changed from day to night/night to day, and noticed that there were no moments when she says that a couple of days had passed, its all "i went to sleep and woke up the next morning and kept walking", the only time when you dont know how long has passed is when she is unconscious, but Analivia tells her that it was only a night and a day, there was one moment when I wasnt sure, there could have been a potential extra day in chapter 29, but i dont think so, the whole journey seems to have been documented from start to finish with no days that are wasted or left out.
not sure if you wanted all of the details, i should have put down page numbers (ill do that next time i read through it) but i just did it chapter by chapter, d1= day 1 n1= night 1 etc:
urgent lemons: n1
chap 17: d1, n2 (leaves)
chap 18: d2, n3, d3
chap 19: d3 (cont.), n4 (darkmoon), d4, n5
chap 20: d5, n6, d6, n7, d7, n8, d8, n9, d9, n10
chap 21: n10 (cont.) d10, n11, d11 (arrives at skylake)
chap 22: d11 (cont.), n12, d12, n13
chap 23: n13 (cont.), d13, n14, d14
chap 24: d14 (cont.) n15, d15, n16, d16
chap 25: d16 (cont.) n17 (Dragon and Moss arrive)
Chap 26: n17 (cont.) d17
chap 27: d17 (cont.) n18, d18, n19, d19
chap 28: d19 (cont.) n20, d20 (enters the graag)
chap 29: d20 (cont.) n21, d21, n22
chap 30: n22 (cont.) d22, n23, d23
chap 31: d23 (cont.) n24, d24, n25, d25, n26 (captured by efari)
also, they mentioned that the journey to the Red land was supposed to take about 3 months? and if many moons had passed, they should have already made it, or be most of the way there, but when the ship capsized they hadnt even made it to the spit.
my sis suggested that maybe the boats have to sail around a peninsula (after following a 'u' shaped coastline) and swing around to the north, because its mentioned that the city borders a white desert, and if it did swing north then it could end up potentially joining up to the white desert where Pellmar is on the opposite side (if the desert continued north & north west anyway), in which case it wouldn't make her journey on to the red land more feasible? unsure...
as unlikely as it is, i'd love a elspeth/rushton baby because could you imagine if you put the three of them in a mindmerge (once the baby is more formed anyway and sentient) like Aras suggested in farseekers? that'd be some seriously awesome power :P lol :D which would definately help her destroy a machine (thats if she has to destroy it and not just put in a shutdown code or something), and as in Obernewtyn she couldnt get away from the Zebkhran without the help of Rushton and the others... but with the amount of times shes nearly been killed, i would very much doubt that she could be pregnant, unless her super healing powers went into super protective mode :P and she does complain quite often of being tired... lol!
okay, enough theorising :D off to bed
edit:
Oh, i forgot, they also mentioned how the journey from ober to sutrium can be done in a day, so it technically wouldnt be too unrealistic to do her journey to pellmar in 26 days, cause they travel on beforetime roads alot so that would make the journey a bit faster...
sorry, i sucked at geography :P :D
SIdebars filler
Hopefully i get spoiler right!
I think the idea of the ships being captured to stop the invasion is great! Remember they mention somewhere that the slavemasters were looking for a certain type of slave? Well maybe the quota was needed only to scour through them to find the the special ones. Four ships full of talented slaves might actually fulfill what the slavemasters are after.
Move over Swallow
There's a new man in town
(Well, two actually if you count the new buff Dameon but his heart belongs to another :( )
Ahmedri ...be still my beating heart
not really spoiler worthy
I actually finished reading a while ago but just decided to throw in my two cents worth
This book reminded me a lot of Harry Potter 7 - very long bit in the middle of just travelling with nothing happening. I understand that it was needed to represent her long journey and reflect her growth etc. but it did drag on a bit too long for my liking. I wasn't too happy that she had travelling companions that she suddenly told her absolutely everything to. Maybe I'm just to used to her secrecy that this was really unexpected. Choice of companions was also...well they did grow on me but apart from Swallow, Gavyn, Rasial and Darga who were expected the rest were slightly to newly introduced in the series.
However, I LOVED the beginning Obernewtyn bit. I miss Obernewtyn so much and it was nice to revisit everyone and have a bit of normal in Elsepth's life. Lol to urgent lemons (I have a suspicion IC reads fanfiction...)
Now to the thoerising bits:
-I think Maruman is definately the cat Meriym and he has been in cryo for a very long time and experimented on in the past which would explain his warped mind and long lifespan.
- Cassy may also be in cryo as indicated by one of Elspeth's dreams of her trying to get out. As to where? well that is still a mystery. Travelling from Sador to the white city is kinda too far and would require crossing a lot of blacklands so I don't think she is in the city. It may also explain why Swallow must be there - he has here DNA/blood to unfreeze her.
- It would also be interesting if Hannah is there as well (haha imagine the conversations. Hannah: hi Rushton I'm your great great x multiple generations grandmother. Rushton:...)
- The Eden project = the free running barud. I really like this idea, but would be unsure about how it would expand to all the other animals in the land
-the blacksword and using it to sever ties is probably needed for future purposes. Perhaps severing the tie between Dragon and Ariel that seemed to be built up. Using it somehow defeat the Destroyer is also possible
More to come later when I think of something
12 years ago
Wed Nov 09 2011, 10:22am
Skyekittie, I totally agree with you!
Okay, so I finished it last Friday but was away from internet so couldn't post this, but my last comment on the book when I was reading it was filler and now I believe the word FILLER
describes it better for me.
I wont say I disliked it but, it was frustrating reading the whole book thinking when will something overly exciting happen. I really enjoyed the cave-in scene in the Graag? because it was something exciting.
Can't wait for The Red Queen. And I was going to raise the point about Maruman and sleeping in the pod things but Skyekittie has already made it.
And just need to add: RUSHTON!!! ELSPETH HAS TO SEE HIM AGAIN :( DON'T DIE RUSHTON, I LOVE YOU AND YOUR BROODING! THE SERIES NEEDS MORE BROODING, BRING BACK RUSHTON <3
Forgot to add: I want her to be preggers... because maybe it would give Elspeth more fight to see Rushton again, and they belong together..
12 years ago
Wed Nov 09 2011, 12:56pm
Woo, finished it yesterday! Soooooo want to read The Red Queen now!
I'm going to put some of my thoughts in here, and then I'll go back and read the thread (maybe tomorrow!) and comment on all of your theories.
YAY FOR URGENT LEMONS!! I'm guessing others did from the bit I just skimmed over with people working out how long they've been travelling for, but anyone else read that and immediately think "Elspeth will get pregnant from this" ? And then they'll totally name the baby Selmar.
I really liked The Sending, much more than The Stone Key.
I like how Elspeth is connected to Rushton, so we still get those snippets (and go Maruman! Yay for keeping Rushton alive until Elf could get there!). I felt so sorry for him though. And really Elspeth, leaving the handfasting thing on your pillow is not going to come across as goodbye, it's going to come across as "This is the reason I left. I hate you now." At least Maryon was able to clear up that she left for a big purpose.
Very interested in what part Analiva, Dragon, Swallow, Gavyn/Rasial and Ahmedri are going to play. I was expecting Swallow to meet up with her on the trip, and that she'd find Dragon somewhere, but not the others. The whole Gavyn/Rasial thing is interesting, and it's good that there's a kind of conclusion to that because it had always sort of bugged me that they were like "Gavyn doesn't talk to people and just hangs around with a dog and an owl. In other news..." It's good the others are there too, because to be honest a book and a half of just Elspeth, Maruman and Gahltha travelling and maybe occasionally meeting other people could get very old very quickly!
The cover of The Red Queen looks awesome, and exciting that she definitely makes it to the city and spends some time there! Wonder why the efari or whatever they were called have Mirium in suspended animation. Either they thought she was sick or they're evil, can't decide which I think is more likely. It was interesting to be getting the answers about how the animals and possibly Cassy and Hannah survived the Great White, with the dreams about putting animals in to cryogenic freezing at the Eden facility, although of course Elspeth hasn't worked it out yet.
The dream about Merimyn coming and going on the dream trail as he pleases was interesting, and built nicely on The Dark Road (which I could only vaguely recollect and BB helpfully recapped for me, but I'm going to have to reread!) Speaking of which, Elspeth was a bit dense not understanding that if Hannah is carrying Hannah's bones then maybe there are two people called Hannah.
I'm sure I had more thoughts, but I can't think of them right now!
EDIT: Ok, I've read the first page of this thread, so some responses:
Oooh, I like Min's theory that the efari are robots, I didn't think of that! That would make sense about the idea that they're putting people in statis because they think they're sick or maybe they were doing it to everyone before the Great White and never sort of switched over to post-Great White programming. But it does beg the question about how Elf will get out, I guess Ahmedri will have to sneak in and break them all out. It'd be awesome if she could meet Jacob or young Hannah, I'd think young Hannah would be more likely but you never know!
EDIT 2: Read the second page, but to be honest this is really just responding to MK's mammoth post!
I'm with Ari, I thought 'The Sending' was about being sent away to go on her quest. I'd never really thought about it as a title (what can I say, I'm the worst theoriser ever) until I was reading the book, and that's what came to me. But before I'd finished it I did think that maybe there was going to be something sent to her, like an apparition or something, because they're often called Sendings in other books/movies etc. But since she gets them all the time, doesn't really make sense!
Totally agree Dameon is going to die, or failing that please fall in love with Dragon. Or someone! Was pretty funny when Elspeth was talking about him and Rushton fighting and her completely not getting that he's jealous of Rushton because of her.
Agree with Kaede that Elspeth was becoming a little more human at Obernewtyn, and god yes it is annoying that she thinks Atthis invented the Innle story to make beasts help her. If they needed a story to make beasts help her, why not tell them the truth or some variation of it? I mean yes, you don't want the destroyer finding out, but pretty sure beasts can keep a secret given that barely anyone can talk to them. Just face it, girl, you're going to lead them to the free running barud and that's that.
Interesting theory that they're going to use the Eden project to put the beasts in to statis so they can be woken up when the humans are gone. But I don't think that'd work, also the world wouldn't operate without beasts in it (eg birds and bees being pollenators for plants). I don't think the barud will be what the beasts think, with no humans around, but maybe they'll find a way of making everyone beastspeakers. Or something.
I guess I, unlike others, really liked how the other stories were recapped in this novel. Partly because I haven't reread them that often, and I didn't get a chance to reread TSK, but also because it helped to pull all of the pieces of information together. I found it a bit odd how reluctant Elf was to talk about her quest and the different aspects, I get that she hasn't spoken about it forever but she seemed to spend an exaggerated amount of time putting it off.
The Angina thing bugged me a little too, but I didn't get the same vibes from it as everyone else clearly did. I didn't pick up that he was depressed, I just thought he was nearly dead and only being kept alive by his connection to Miky. The bit that bugged me was I was like "Well, how come his spirit was hurt so badly when he really wasn't?" I guess your theories about the hate burning him and him becoming depressed work, but I don't know. How did he end up like this in the beginning?
I kind of agree with MK's summary of the bambambam nature of TSK and probably TRQ, but I don't want it to happen! I didn't like TSK much, and that might be why. Whereas I really loved TS, it seemed to flow much better and even though there was a lot of travelling, it didn't seem to just be "They walked somewhere. Stuff happened. They walked somewhere else. Stuff happened." I found TSK to be quite disjointed really, although I wonder if I reread it I might like it more.
So excited by the theory that Dragon can read Gadfian. But I don't quite get how, I didn't think TRQ people were descended from Gadfians? Sadorians are, and Elf theorised that the slavetraders are (but they arrived after Dragon and her mother left, didn't they?), but I thought LotRQ was just somewhere else that survived the Great White. Quite like the idea of the White Face people being Asian, though. Maybe since she was going to be Queen she was being taught lots of languages?
To be honest, I was more expecting Dameon to come up with some new ability to read Gadfian engravings as if they were braille or you were tracing your finger along the letters (because it's a carving). I don't think it'll be one of the keys, because Elspeth was asked to give it back to its rightful owner. I haven't quite worked out whose I think it is though, I was wondering about Swallow or Dameon or one of the others with her, but none of them seemed to have any affinity to it. Dragon won't have heard about it, though, will she? Might have to go check the page where she shows them, because if Dragon was still asleep then it could still be hers.
Loving the idea that it's because the barud has changed that she can go back, I always thought there'd be some way around it.
I like the idea that Ariel isn't the destroyer, but he's another key player like Dragon is. Because Elspeth was something different to a keystone, can't remember exactly what Maryon called her, so the Destroyer should be too. Right? MK was saying Matty should create beastspeaking abilities soon, but if the Destroyer is her opposite shouldn't he have the talents she doesn't? So we're looking for a healer/teknoguilder/empath/futureteller... Or maybe just Empath because that's the one she really doesn't understand [act]looks critically at Dameon[/act]
I should probably do something else with my day :P
David Attenborough:"The creature known as a Wanderer or a Wandy has strangely stopped wandering for a number of days. The said Wanderer appears to be reading something called The Sending and has done little else since acquiring the book."
Araleen:[act]Closes The Sending, grabs brownies and binoculars and immediately rushes off in search of The Red Queen.[/act]
My sidebar explains exactly what I felt when I finished The Sending, I just wanted more.
1.HP7 epic camping-I didn't find TS camping like I found the HP7 one. HP7 ne was really tedious and nothing happened, there seemed to be no reason for it to that extent. TS used the journey well to symbolises Elspeth being grown-up andneeding people. If you don't know what I'm on about there was a really good explanation of it a couple of pages back about child=want to be alone and to everything by themself vs adult=help and companionship.
2.Elspeth baby-I think it will depend on how IC writes it to whether I like it or not. I did get the sense that Elspeth could be pregnant from the tiredness and Analivia being a midwife but IC is so good at red herrings that I wouldn't count on it.
3.efari & cryogen-When I first read it I thought they were robots and I still think they could be. I agree that Elspeth and Miryum are in cryogen pods and that Maruman was a Beforetime cat. It just makes sense to me.
4.Destroyer-I used to think it was Ariel but now I think it could be Elspeth or Jes.
Elspeth because you're your own worst enemy and IC is always writing about the two halves of people like the Beforetimers capability to both create and destroy. It would also tie in with the destroyer being her equal but her opposite becuase you are your own equal but you have both good and bad in you. Seeker and destroyer both in her, if she succeeds she saves the world is saved but if she fails she destroys the world.
Jes-It says he has the killing power that Elspeth has and as her brother their powers could be similar making them equal but opposite because he has been alone presumed dead and hated misfits while Elspeth has been at Obewrnewtyn and accepted she was a misfit.
My favourite part of TS was until she left. It was so nice seeing the life she could have led and finally getting the Rushton and Elspeth we've been waiting for. I think IC will be able to tie up all the threads she needs to in TRQ. I remember reading somewhere that she won't tie up all the threads. Some will be left to speculation or to her Beforetime series. Its going to be really sad to see the series end but I think its time and that its better to end it well then keep it going just for the sake of it.
Wanderer Ward
12 years ago
Wanderer Ward
Mage
So, am in the middle of a re-read, and an interesting thought occured to me -
We're always speculating about which of the key Beforetimers might still be alive to talk to Elf, but I think I've found a way to count out the possibility that Cassandra/Kasanda/etc could be one of them.
Elspeth has numerous past-dreams about Cassy, drawn from the Mindstream. I know she's had past-dreams of/about other people, but they predominately seem to be about Cassy/from Cassy's memories.
It has been mentioned in the books a few times that when a person dies, their spirit joins the Mindstream, giving to it everything it experienced in life.
Therefore, Elf's past-dreams about Cassy are most likely her actual memories, given to the mindstream upon her death.
Further to that, I can't recall every reading of a past-dream from Hannah's point of view? I know we've had ones she's been in, but Cassy is always the main character...
So, there remains the distinct possibility that Hannah/Hannah jr/Jacob could still be around, even in stasis?
And yes, I know Cassy could still be too, but I like my theory :P
Some side bar filler
Just finished about 20 minutes ago. Prepare for some non-coherent thoughts while i mull over it some more i suppose...
Min - firstly i squeed a little bit at your dedication! And i concur with the parallel between the travelling through the mountains and the camping of HP7. It was a bit tedious at times, but once the brildane arrived it got more exciting. Though there was a bit too much repetition within the camping scenes of her trying to work things out about her quest/ there wasa part in particular (though i dont 100% remember it) about 3/4 through where something was said and then a few pages later effectively the same thing was said - i think something along the lines of either her missing Obernewtyn/people or her fear for the people of her quest, or maybe the telling of them that she could heal. I don't remmeber - i should have made notes as i read! But i remembered thinking yes i know this, you said so a few pages ago. And i concur with general frustration for her re realising that she is the beats Innle as well (that its also a part of her quest) and the Merrimyn/Maruman link - though i guess if i were in the same situation, i would have similar difficulties in fathoming things.
First thoughts (haven't read too much of what everyone else has been saying yet....
1. I really enjoyed the start of the book at Obernewtyn. The getting everything ready - the realisation that she wont be going on the Red Land expedition - how she will get there (if indeed, she does go there with Dragon within one book confuses me). I thought the sex scene was interesting - without being to graphic - i guess for the younger audiences? I did like the veiled references though of 'piercing ecstacy' etc. I laughed a little. Though it was done well, i think. Also, the spirit-dream trails sort of stuff was very interesting
2. Yay, Dragon is awake! And remembers. But now Maruman slumbers. Yay to the guardians. I was very glad for Dameon being amongst them. Though, Swallow and Dragon I expected to feature.
3. The rhenlings are so creepy - i picture these huge carniverous bat-like cats or something. I was so nervous that someone was going to not make it while Gavyn held them in paralysis. I found myself liking the development of Rasial and Gavyn - i don't remember much about them to be honest.
4. Too much of a cliffhanger. I could not believe that that was where it was left. Just there. Elspeth rising. MORE PLEASE? THANKS IC. So good though.
5. efari - i just assumed beforetimers suited up. Though the electrical zapping was odd.
More thoughts later.
Just had a thought regarding the stone 'sword'...
So it's pretty clear to everyone it isn't a weapon, but something someone mentioned in an earlier spoiler about the possibility of Dragon speaking Gadi.. I can't remember the exact quote from the book but Dragon must return to the Red Land with the Red Queens lost Scepter.. does anyone remember this?? Paired with the fact that Elspeth has to return the stone sword to its rightful owner... might the rightful owner be Dragon?? I don't really see how the sword fits.. even Elspeth herself doesn't really connect it to her quest.. its something I've been thinking about ever since she got the sword from the Earthtemple, but when Dameon (I think it was him... I have exams atm so I have banned myself from re-reading TS until im on holidays) was talking about the sword having grooves, like a key, I guess it fits better that it is somehow needed to get into the weaponmachine complex.. but it seems just as likey that Dragon needs to place it somewhere in the Red Land, in a special hole or throne or something, to solidify/prove she is the red queens daughter... Seems like something IC would do... giving Elspeth a sword with gadi written on it, hidden in the Earthtemple so everyone thinks its to do with her quest, when its actually for Dragon...Just a thought, if anyone has any opinions let me know.. its been nagging at me for a while..
Oh sidebar... how we all love you so...
I think the efari are humans, however I like the ideas about them being robots..Alot of the theories people have seem to fit pretty well but the thing that doesn't sit quite right with me is everyone assuming they are healing people. Maybe I am a little twisted but when I read TS, and even when I was thinking about all that Jacob wrote about the city, my first thoughts were bad bad bad dangerous place for Elspeth. What if (and its a big what if) the efari are humans, and are preserving their little bit of untainted city as ferociously as the farmers who survived the great white and went on to become the first council.. I know it seems pretty far fetched to say a population has been going on living since the great white and none have thought to venture outside their city... I just think there is going to be trouble there, and I dont think its going to arise because they are trying to heal Elspeth and Miryium. I just have visions of them testing Elspeth, doing experiments on other misfits they have captured and placed in stasis etc etc.. I hope I am wrong.. it just seems like the time is right for a bit of conflict/evil doings after the way the TS panned out..
Hi Obernetters
I finished the book on the 18th of October (2011 of course)
It is amazing and I absolutely cannot wait one bit for the red queen to come out.
My friend got it from a library and she kindly enough lent it to me before going any where near the finish. She was actually at the beginning and said that i introduced her to Obernewtyn (which i did because it is awesome) so I should read it.
Soo i love my friend for that and does anyone know if there will be a book after the read queen.
have fun
Ashlings' guildleader
12 years ago
Ashlings' guildleader
Dreamscape Artist
Hi Asher, welcome to Obernet! When you want to say something extra in a thread you've just posted in, it's generally a good idea to edit it instead of making a second post, if you don't, the double post monster might come a grumbling *dpm* . You can edit your post by clicking on the button in the top right corner of your post that looks like a scroll with a pencil in front of it.
It's certainly possible that the efari have harmful intentions, I think the reason we've been speaking of healing is that we think the city may be the eden project. The reasoning is that it seems quite likely that Elspeth has been placed in a cryogenic sleep (and the eden project involved cryogenics), no one new of the city before the great white (the eden project was a facility in a secret location) and the program was set up to be able to run regardless of whether there were humans around to control it (which would fit well with the efari being robots)
AnaviliaMoon, Isobelle has said the The Red Queen will be the last book in the Ober Chrons, however she will be writing a prequel trilogy called the Beforetime Chronicles and will probably write the occasional short story set in the Oberverse.
AnaliviaMoon13, not that we know off. But from what I understand the Stone Key was going to be that last one. Isobelle her self did say that she really wants it to come to a conclusion and I honestly think it will.
And that was really sweet of your friend :)
I LOVeD BB theorie on memories because if they were alive and you had dreams like that wouldn't they be called true dreams and a sevre invasion of privacy?! :S
Reading the Rushie+ Elf thing has made me reconsider how I would make the book I am writing end. It was going to be a sad event with a happy note in the second book but considering how attached I am to Elf and rushie I don't think I could do it two people I love and am writing about! <3 ~:|
As I was reading I had the Idea elf could be pregnant.
Oh and is it generally assumed that Elspeth was place in a cryogenic sleep that Rushton 'helped' her battle out of. If that is the case...why? I don't think it could be robots, consider the decay of parts and the very likely unability to be able to raplace them. I doubt that they would have factories or facilities to recreate all the parts on demand. Supplies do run out. The idea of human beings is much more plausable as food seeds can be replaced.
O_O I wonder if Elspeth disenabling the Sentinel Project will realise INES from its need to protect secrets and then Dell can delve into them! I bet that there is a latent/ subconcious link between INES and all other sophisticated computer programs. One that binds them and stops them giving our or researching things that they aren't suppose to know or putting blocks in place so that certain information can't be accessed by just anyone or happens to know how to use those machines.
Did you guys know elspeth is still under 20?! I thought she was around 25.
Just realised how much I will miss not being able to speculate on the next obernewtyn book. It will horribuble!
Ashlings' guildleader
12 years ago
Ashlings' guildleader
Dreamscape Artist
Lady DT, the situation with TSK/TS split is a little different to the TS/The Red Queen split. From what IC said at her talk, TS was pretty much finished when the decision to split it occurred, which means there shouldn't be too many extra bits to fit into the book and she has said the The Red Queen will definitely be the last book (as heartbreaking as that is).
The reason we think that she's been placed into a cryogenic sleep is because the mind stream is absent, it's never absent. Doesn't matter whether you're sleep sealed, in a coma, in someone else's mind, the mind stream is always present. The only thing I can think of that would make it disappear as a cryogenic sleep as cryo chambers are used to stave off death.
I'd been estimating that Elspeth was ~19-21 depending on when her birthday is and how you read some parts, so if's she's under 20 I guess she's 19 :P
12 years ago
Thu Nov 10 2011, 09:12pm
Starting to theorise without finishing my main 'first impressions' post, but anyway.
On the efari
My first impression, and continuing opinion, of the efari is that they are robots. I know that the last few books are all about opening horizons and discovering new peoples, but it seems a bit unlikely that the beforetimers would have survived there in such a way.
One point that no one seems to have pick up on yet is that the animals in the Eden project were supposed to be replaced every ten years. If the city is the location of the Eden project and the efari are robosts, it seems logical that they would try and 'collect' any animals (and even humans) they could get their hands on.
12 years ago
Thu Nov 10 2011, 07:33pm
Hi there everyone,
So this is my first post, I must say I have enjoyed reading all the theories and thoughts everyone has offered as it makes you rethink some of the ideas that one might have. I started reading TOC about 15 years ago (the wait between TKP and TSK nearly drove me insane lol).
I am excited that the story is nearing a conclusion, though it will be strange not having a new Obernewtyn book to look forward to, but then there is the before time chronicles and hopefully darkbane to eagerly await. I read all the books again in order before I read the sending, because I hate it when I am reading a part and I can't remember what some one is referring to, so some of my thoughts come out of the fact that I basically read all the books within a week.
Ps Sorry its kinda long...
So here are some of my thoughts and comments...
I want to say that I quite enjoyed the book, the first part of the journey before Elf meets up with her companions was a little hard to read at first, I think because I was thinking "oh no there is going to be no more Rushton..." and also because for me it is the social interactions that I really enjoy in stories. I didn't have any problems with Elf joinging up with her companions or her telling them about her quest. It makes sense to me that she would tell them if they already knew anyway. Plus it would have been terribly tedious if it was just her walking through blacklands for ages to get to where the key was,. and then onto sentinal.
I am inclined to think the Efari are people in hazmat suits or something like that as opposed to robots, and that there is a link between the memory Elf has where Hannah and Cassy are talking about the Muties, and the Efari/Pellmar. I also think that the desert that connects to Pellmar could be connected to the desert that extends inland from TLotRQ and that Elf and Dragon will be taking the inland route there.
I agree that Miryum and Elf are probably in a kind of Cryo-stasis. And I think that it is possible that Jacob might be on account of him walking toward the white city, plus it'd make sense if he was as he as a key Elf needs.I also agree with Maruman being Merimyn and that he was put in stasis and that is what messed his mind up.
I remember reading in one of the books that the Chinnon Empirew was not initially affected in the great white? And so I think the white faced lords could possibly be the descendants of them, also I feel that the characteristics used to describe the two are relativly consistant. And possibly they could have some relationship to the white city (though that idea is not as firm for me)
I think Salamander is Suresh and I first thought that after reading Elf discovering that room in Norseland with the bright silks and stuff also the book of Gadfian poetry, and the story Jokoby told about her sister loving all that kind of thing.
For me I am not convinced that Matthew is the destroyer and I don't think Dameon is going crazy (isnt the ability to create the mind-net a coercive one? and Dameon doesn't have that skill? so if he cant create the net, he wouldnt be able to hide his true feelings too well?) Also I like Dameon though I feel sorry for his unrequited love, so I don't want him to go bad I think his character is sweet and strong and it seems a little out of character for him to end up crazy, but that is just me. I lean more toward the idea that he will sacrifice himself for Elf or something like that. In regards to the destroyer I think that whoever it is does so inadvertantly to protect a loved one, and that Ariel, being the H'rayka, manipulates the situation to make it so... I think Daffyd could be the destroyer perhaps and I am beginning to find the idea that Jes could be alive an enticing one...
I think the stone sword could be the scepter that TRQ is supposed to have when she returns to the land...
I am wondering if anyone noticed the inconsitancy about Kella's knowledge of Domick's death? in TSK chapter 31 (pg767) Elf realises Kella doesn't know about Domick, but in TS Chapter 14 (pg 301) Elf thinks Kella knew and didn't come...just something I noticed lol (studied production at Uni and specialised in script supervision and continuity lol)
I hadn't really considered Eden being the free running barud, but it makes a certain kind of sense.
I also didn't have a problem with Angina dying...
I am curious to know Dragon's real name...
I am also curious about the fanfic people have been refering to about the 'urgent lemons' (having not been on the site till recently, I don't know about it, and it sounds interesting.)
Which brings me to Elf and Rushton :D ;D Yay finally!!! I love Rushton! though its totally boo about them being separated so soon. (I re-read all the Rush/Elf parts after I finished cause its just so awwwwww <3 :) ) I was sooooo annoyed that Elf left the handfasting wreath behind, stupid girl should have taken it with her! They have to reunite as far as I am concerned I want them to have a (relatively) happily ever after. It did cross my mind that Elf was pregnant as soon as she was complaining about haveing a headache and being tired and was more convinced by Ana saying she was a midwife... I didn't even think about the twilight connection, and even if it was similar I don't think that would bother me. There are always going to be parts in stories that are similar to other parts in other stories but I think as long as what is happening is consistent with the characters and the story who cares how it might be like something else... besides I simply just really like the idea of a Rushpeth baby so I want her to be knocked up. I think it is significant that Maruman was keeping Ruston alive and that seeing as Maruman doesnt have an altruistic bone in his feline body that it means Rushton has an important role to play in Elf's quest be it bringing her to the Red Land through the link, or assisting her as he did twice in Obernewtyn when she was fighting/resisting the Zebkran machine. Plus the fact that it has been pointed out on a number of occassions that he has such a wellspring of power in his mind must be for something...
And I just have to say that I love the books and I love the characters, but sometimes Elf frustrates me to tears becasue she is just sooooooooo slow to connect the dots about things :S >P<
Anyways thanks for reading my 'little' essay, I think that is all from me for now...
PPS I soooooo want TRQ now!!! what a mean place to end a book lol.
Bibli, you probably want to fix that...