A Challenge of Ice and Fire: Week 5

A Game of Thrones: Tyrion V to the end of Daenerys VII (p. 674)

My previous posts:   Week 1   Week 2   Week 3   Week 4

51. Sansa IV

Good grief, but Sansa is so clueless, poor kid. She is totally deluded about her beloved Joffrey and trusts the Queen for some reason best known to herself. She needs to wake up from her fantasy soon, because she will need to use her wits to stay alive. I am getting seriously creeped out by how Littlefinger keeps looking at her because she looks like a young Cat. I am confused as to why Jeyne Poole was saved, although her future in one of Littlefinger’s brothels makes her valuable I suppose. Cersei still strikes me as not very bright but wildly over confident of her control over the kingdom. Does she really think that having Sansa write the letters will persuade the Starks to do what she wants? It is interesting that nobody mentions Arya: perhaps they thought Jeyne was her, but there is no surprise when Sansa uses Jeyne’s name.

52. Jon VII

Now, I know it has been thousands of years since the Others were last seen, but if your horses refuse to carry something surely you might think twice about taking it with you? Especially if it makes your dogs go nuts as well. Obviously, logic like this has never been fostered by the Night’s Watch. Plus, Sam had already told them a great deal about the overall weirdness of the bodies, so I am not sure what else blind Maester Aemon could add. It was good to see Sam overcoming his fear though, and showing that he is a useful member of the Watch: go, Sam! I was seriously hoping that Jon would do for that waste of space Ser Alliser Thorne, but his friends stop him doing the deed. I have no idea what punishment Jon would be facing for this act of rashness, but I guess saving the Lord Commander from Othor probably did him some good in that regards. The scene with them fighting was really creepy, especially the attack of the detached hand: it made me wonder if he and Ghost could have survived without the fire.

  

53. Bran VI

How crazy is Lord Umber? That moment when Grey Wind bites off two if his fingers and he laughs about! While I can understand how it shows Robb as decisive and powerfully in command, it also leaves one of his allies with a major problem when it comes to wielding a weapon. The fact that this persuades the Greatjon to be Robb’s staunchest supporter is obviously some aspect of male psychology that I simply cannot understand. It is good to see Bran coming to terms with his limitations and starting to move beyond what people normally perceive, developing a deeper connection with his roots and the old magic. I have to assume that Osha and her wisdom are going to be very useful at some point, and, as Robb basically leaves Winterfell under-manned, I suspect that she may be key to Bran’s survival later on in the series. It is ominous to think that all the political positioning in the South may fatally weaken the Seven Kingdoms before the Others and their allies come over the Wall. However, I understand how Robb chooses to deal with enemies that he can see and understand rather than a supposedly mythical unseen threat.

54. Daenerys VI

The botched attempt on Daenerys’ life: is that a set up or what? Ser Jorah just happens to appear in the nick of time to stop her drinking poison after going and getting the post. Thinking back to the discussion in Chapter 32: Arya III, where Varys and Illyrio were discussing the fact that Drogo would be unwilling to act before his son is born, I am mighty suspicious. It seems like the wine seller is one of their agents and they tell Jorah about the plan so that he can stop it in time to save Daenerys, who they obviously plan to return to the throne, whilst provoking Drogo into action. Very smart and subtle, as it also makes Jorah even more trusted and necessary to Daenerys. Of course, I might be wrong, but Varys weaves plans within plans, so nothing he does is straightforward. Of course, Drogo still needs to persuade his hoard to cross the Narrow Sea, which they will not be happy about.

55. Catelyn VIII

I loved the mother-son dynamic in this chapter: it must have been difficult for Catelyn to let Robb take the lead, but it was totally necessary. It was touching to see her recognizing how grown up he has become, and how much he resembles Ned in character. It was also a relief to see that he had a good grasp of military tactics and that he could deploy his officers successfully, after a little promoting from his Mum.

56. Tyrion VII

The Mighty Tyrion leads his crew of insane clansmen down out of the mountains and towards Lord Tywin’s army. I say insane, because you have to wonder about a clan that selects the man who chooses to burn out his own eye to be their war leader: if that is not insane, then I do not know what is! He should meet up with the Greatjon: they would get along famously! Lord Tywin seems to have the same level of human understanding as his smallest son, deftly manipulating the clansmen in agreeing to fight for him. I just wish he could see past Tyrion’s disability and recognize the many talents that he has.

57. Sansa V

So, the evil Joffrey and his deplorable mother are so stupid that they read out a list of people who need to swear fealty to the throne and include Arya in it. That does kind of suggest that they have misplaced her, so admits to a huge weakness on their behalf, but they fail to keep it hidden: doh! But then, they go on to tell Ser Barristan Selmy to retire, even though the Kingsguard talk their vow for life and he does not seem to have done anything to act against them: double doh! This is a man who is supposed to still be the best sword in the kingdom, even though he is fairly aged: just the man you want to insult. I fail to see why Cersei thought this was a good idea, but I am increasingly of the opinion that she is remarkably stupid when it comes to politics and how to deal with people. Sansa finally does something useful by begging that Ned be allowed to take the Black if he makes a full confession. Joffrey seems to agree to this, but he is about as sensible as his mother.

58. Eddard XV

We have more back-story about Lyanna and her relationship to Rhaegar. He gives the winning laurel to her, instead of to his wife: that does seem to suggest that there was something going on between them. For Ned to be brooding on these scenes from his life means that they have a massive importance, which fits with the importance of bastards in his present situation. Varys comes to see Ned and gives him plenty of other things to think about. He seems to genuinely regret Ned’s circumstances, but is somewhat bemused by Ned’s stupid honesty. At least Varys is honest about one thing, it seems: that he serves the Realm, not the King. To this end, he wants stability and peace, so he encourages Ned to follow Sansa’s plan, reminding him that she will suffer if he refuses to cooperate. I am not quite sure what Varys is trying to do, and how Ned taking the Black would help, but he does seem to be a little less power-crazed than the rest of the Small Council.

59. Catelyn IX

I have sneaking regard for Walder Frey. He is politically astute and has maintained his seat through cunning rather than power of arms. Of course, his vast army of offspring is both impressive and disturbing, but he has the potential to be linked to every House in the realm by marring them all off. Although, it seems like most of the Houses are unwilling to help him out there, so Catelyn has to agree to two marriages in order to get his cooperation. However, she handles him very well, especially as he seems to be somewhat misogynistic. He also confirms that Jon Arryn had planned to send young Robert to Stannis to be fostered. The fact that we have had this repeated makes me think that it must be significant: I just cannot work out why.

60. Jon VIII

This Chapter has a pair of very powerful scenes. First, Lord Mormont gives Jon his sword Steelclaw. I am not sure if this is purely because Jon has saved his life, but it is certainly a token of how highly Mormont rates him. Having the pommel reshaped as Ghost is something really special, and I loved how everyone else was ‘in’ on the surprise. It is also nice to hear that Ser Alliser Thorne is now travelling to King’s Landing with an undead hand in a box: I hope it scares Joffrey half to death. Then we have the revelation that Maester Aemon is a Targaryen. The thought that he chose to stay at the Wall during Robert’s uprising and the murder of his young relatives says a great deal about the man, as does the fact that he refused to be King. I hope that this will make Jon realize that he is not the only person in the night’s Watch who has a life beyond the Wall that he has left behind.

61. Daenerys VII

This is a very disturbing Chapter. The casual degradation of the defeated by the Khalasar is very unpleasant to read, although I know that this is how many cultures view the defeated. For example, the Japanese during World War II were disgusted by captured Allied soldiers, because they themselves would have chosen death over surrender. Still, it is hard to see multiple rapes as an honor: it is certainly not how I would feel about it. It is good to see Daenerys asserting her values, but I am not sure if it will have any major effect on the khalasar or how they are viewed. Do we trust Mirri Maz Duur to be on the up and up in her treatment of Drogo, or is this a massive mistake on Dany’s part? 

Read Along of Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch Part 2

You can see Redhead’s Part 1 post, and the links to the other blogs taking part, here.

If you haven't read the book, or even if you have, why not join in and read along with the rest of us?

This week we have read up to the end of Chapter 6.

Now that we know a little more about Selendri and Requin, what do you think of them? I worry Locke is suddenly realizing this con might be a bit tougher than he expected.

That whole story was very gruesome, but there must be an amazingly tight bond between the two if Requin was willing to save her as he did. However, I do not sense any romance between them, so the loyalty must be based upon something else: perhaps she saved his life at one point, possibly when she was an Eye. If they are romantically involved they are a long way into their relationship, well past the gooey-eyed stage, or they are just damned good at hiding it.

Isn’t the Artificers’ Crescent just amazing?  If you could purchase anything there, what would it be?

I liked the idea of everyone stealing each other’s water through elaborate systems of pipes and waterwheels that they had to rebuild after every bad storm. I can only imagine how many of the Artificers were their trousers on back-to-front or have their 'lost' spectacles on their foreheads! I really want one of those drop mechanisms to get rid of people, but I want it outside my front door rather than in the house. I have a ‘thing’ about Girl Scouts trying to sell me cookies, OK? Can I have sharks in the pit underneath rather than just a long drop? I miss the sharks from Camorr . . .

What did you think of Salon Corbeau and the goings on that occur there? A bit crueler than a Camorri crime boss, no?

I wonder if we will return there with a little Locke-generated mischief? I do hope so, because anyone who gentles kittens for fun needs to have a nice long dance with the Sisters, or a whole barrel full of angry, ungentled tigers. That bit with Lively almost had me in tears. I am still amazed by Locke’s self-restraint when that noble confronted him: I would have been sorely tempted to punch him in the face. His total lack of understanding of the desperation of the poor souls being tortured was obnoxious. This made the Teeth Show in Camorr look very tame indeed.

The Archon might be a megalomaniacal military dictator, but he thinks he’s doing right by Tal Verrar: his ultimate goal seems to be to protect them.  What do you think he’s so afraid of?

He seems to be afraid that they will unprepared for the next enemy to sail over the horizon, although goodness knows who they are. This could be simple paranoia or he could have intelligence warning him of a possible threat. However, he could just be trying to increase his own personal power. Then again, there could very well be some other motive that is still hidden.

And who the heck is trying to kill Locke and Jean every few days?  They just almost got poisoned (again!)!

Whoever it is they seem to have plenty of money to throw around, and are pretty determined to succeed. It could be the Priori, who know that they are working for the Archon, although killing them seems a little extreme. I doubt that it is the bondsmagi or Requin, but it could be the Archon, trying to scare them into a position to be controlled more easily.

Do you really think it’s possibly for a city rat like Locke to fake his way onto a Pirate ship?

Yarr! All he has to do is act drunk, sway about a bit and scatter his dialogue with "Scurvy Dog!" and “Savvy?” It worked for Captain Jack . . . I do think that Locke will be able to bluff his way through it: who asks a captain to explain exactly how to carry out his orders, especially when he has a first mate as 'persuasive' as Jean?

Blogs Highlighting Female SF&F Authors

Thanks to Kristen over at the Fantasy Cafe, I have spent the last month being educated about female authors publishing in the Science Fiction and Fantasy genres. As a person who used to think of herself as a fan of these types of fiction, I am embarrassed to say that many of the authors mentioned were previously unknown to me: something that I want to correct as soon as possible.

One particular guest post really grabbed my attention. Ian Sales wrote about his website SF Mistressworks, which is based upon a challenge: to list and review every SF book by a female author published before the year 2000. I am proud to say that my review of Six Moon Dance by Sherri S Tepper is the latest review to be posted. I am doubly excited about this because it is the first time that one of my reviews has been published somewhere other than here on my own blog.

Of course, Ian has undertaken a huge task, so he needs as much help as possible. He asks for as many people as possible to submit titles or suitable reviews, so that they can be added to the collection. He has a FAQ page to provide guidelines.

There are also two sister sites that I should mention: they were only started last month, so they have a mountain of work to do. I am sure that any publicity or help would be gratefully received.

Daughters of Prometheus – continuing Ian’s work into the 21^st century

Fantasy Mistressworks – the equivalent of Ian’s blog, but for fantasy

Edited to add: Women in SF&F Month Resources post from Kristen

New to the Coffee Table

May is spring-cleaning season, so I should be trying to de-clutter the house, but then my local library had a book sale and I somehow ended up with a few more books. Then, to make matters worse, I discovered that there were crazy people listed on Goodreads and Librarything who were willing to send me free books, so I now have another way of adding to my already overflowing Coffee Table. Fortunately, some of my acquisitions are ebooks, but I thought you might like to know what new treasures I have to read in the near future.

All descriptions are from Goodreads.

When Copper Suns Fall by KaSonndra Leigh (Goodreads Giveaway)

In fifteen-year-old Chela Prizeon’s city, alchemy is forbidden and angels hide among the mortal. With a deadly virus ravaging the globe, Chela’s nightmarish memories compels her to experience a past riddled with gloom, and now her brother is infected.

Chela’s only hope is the Caduceans, slayers sworn to protect the last seven Light Keepers and the ancient memories they share. A group led by the sometimes elusive, sometimes infuriating boy who intrigues Chela. But can she trust this boy with the mysterious past, someone who can influence her memories?

With the Caduceans aid, Chela races to defeat her rivals, to unearth dark family secrets, desperate to find a cure…only to discover the glutovirus is far more than a simple disease.

In this haunting debut, KaSonndra Leigh offers an escape into an intriguing new world filled with celestial creatures, fascinating villainy, high-stake choices, and a secret romance, When Copper Suns Fall, is a fresh and original urban fantasy—with a dystopian twist—that will take readers on an unforgettable adventure.

Wired by Douglas E Richards (Librarything Member Giveaway)

Kira Miller is a brilliant genetic engineer who discovers how to temporarily achieve savant-like capabilities in all areas of thought and creativity. But what if this transcendent level of intelligence brings with it a ruthless megalomania?

David Desh left the special forces after his team was brutally butchered in Iran. Now he has been reactivated for one last mission: find Kira Miller, the enigmatic genius behind a bioterror plot that threatens millions. But when Desh learns that the bioterror plot is just the tip of the iceberg, he is thrust into a byzantine maze of deception and intrigue, and he becomes a key player in a deadly game he can't begin to understand. A game that is certain to have a dramatic impact on the future course of human history. . .

At the End – a post-apocalyptic novel by John Hennessy (Librarything Member Giveaway)

Night 1: 12 billion taken.

Day 1: Confusion.

Night 2: 13 billion taken.

Day 2: Panic.

Night 3: 13 billion taken.

Day 3: The fight for survival begins.

In 2048, the human population borders 39 billion after the termination of the birth control industry, and the realities of overcrowding have sunken into the minds of the world, until billions mysteriously go missing. In the wake of civilization’s collapse, a trio of teenage gamers from Washington struggle to endure. Maggy, a strong-willed intellectual, leads Darrel and Félix, two shy geeks, on an expedition down the west coast, as they try to determine the source of humanity’s downfall.

A YA post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller.

The rest of the titles all came second hand from the library sale. I have to admit that my choice of purchases was heavily influenced by Fantasy Cafe's Women in SF&F Month.

Lightwing by Tara K Harper

Kiondili Wae considered herself lucky to land a job as a research assistant on Corson Station. And not just any job, but the project of her dreams: the development of a faster-than-light ship drive. Her special talents -- powerful telepathy and an uncanny flair for manipulating electromagnetic fields -- were particularly suited to the work at hand. And if the goal was reached, the federation of alien races that peopled the greater galaxy would finally accept humanity as a full member.

But false accusations and misunderstandings plagued Kiondili from the moment of her arrival. Even the mental talents that had won her the job seemed to work against her, alienating her co-workers. Somehow she would have to show them -- that she could rise above it all, that she could fit in with the group, and most of all, that only she could make the FTL effort a success!

The Shore of Women by Pamela Sargent

Women rule the world in this suspenseful love story set in a postnuclear future. Having expelled men from their vast walled cities to a lower-class wilderness, the women in this futuristic universe dictate policy and chart the future through control of scientific and technological advances. Among their laws are the rules for reproductive engagement, an act now viewed as a means of procreation rather than an act of love. In this rigidly defined environment, a chance meeting between a woman exiled from the female world and a wilderness man triggers a series of feelings, actions, and events that ultimately threaten the fabric of the women's constricted society. Trying to evade the ever-threatening female forces and the savage wilderness men, the two lovers struggle to find a safe haven and reconcile the teachings of their upbringings with their newly awakened feelings.

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

First published in 1985, The Handmaid's Tale is a novel of such power that the reader is unable to forget its images and its forecast. With more than two million copies in print, it is Margaret Atwood's most popular and compelling novel.

Set in the near future, it describes life in what once was the United States, now called the Republic of Gilead. Reacting to social unrest, and a sharply declining birthrate, the new regime has reverted to -- even gone beyond -- the repressive tolerance of the original Puritans. Offred is a Handmaid who may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant because she is only valued as long as her ovaries are viable. Offred can remember the years before, when she lived and made love with her husband, Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now.

Funny, unexpected, horrifying, and altogether convincing, The Handmaid's Tale is at once scathing satire, dire warning, and tour de force.

The Telling by Ursula K Le Guin

Sutty, an Observer from Earth for the interstellar Ekumen, has been assigned to a new world-a world in the grips of a stern monolithic state, the Corporation. Embracing the sophisticated technology brought by other worlds and desiring to advance even faster into the future, the Akans recently outlawed the past, the old calligraphy, certain words, all ancient beliefs and ways; every citizen must now be a producer-consumer. Their state, not unlike the China of the Cultural Revolution, is one of secular terrorism. Traveling from city to small town, from loudspeakers to bleating cattle, Sutty discovers the remnants of a banned religion, a hidden culture. As she moves deeper into the countryside and the desolate mountains, she learns more about the Telling-the old faith of the Akans-and more about herself. With her intricate creation of an alien world, Ursula K. Le Guin compels us to reflect on our own recent history.

Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon

For forty years, Colony 3245.12 has been Ofelia’s home. On this planet far away in space and time from the world of her youth, she has lived and loved, weathered the death of her husband, raised her one surviving child, lovingly tended her garden, and grown placidly old. And it is here that she fully expects to finish out her days–until the shifting corporate fortunes of the Sims Bancorp Company dictates that Colony 3245.12 is to be disbanded, its residents shipped off, deep in cryo-sleep, to somewhere new and strange and not of their choosing. But while her fellow colonists grudgingly anticipate a difficult readjustment on some distant world, Ofelia savors the promise of a golden opportunity. Not starting over in the hurly-burly of a new community . . . but closing out her life in blissful solitude, in the place she has no intention of leaving. A population of one.

With everything she needs to sustain her, and her independent spirit to buoy her, Ofelia actually does start life over–for the first time on her own terms: free of the demands, the judgments, and the petty tyrannies of others. But when a reconnaissance ship returns to her idyllic domain, and its crew is mysteriously slaughtered, Ofelia realizes she is not the sole inhabitant of her paradise after all. And, when the inevitable time of first contact finally arrives, she will find her life changed yet again–in ways she could never have imagined. . . .

Read Along of Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson Part 4

The Read Along is being hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings. 


This week’s questions were supplied by Lynn. You can follow the links to everyone else’s answers here.


We read up to the end of Chapter 34.


1.       Well, we finally got our long awaited view of the Lord Ruler, firstly just a brief glimpse during the executions and then during the fight with Kelsier.  What do you now think about him and the myth’s surrounding him?  And, given his strength do you think he can be beaten?


As an individual, to be viewed from a distance, he does not seem all that extraordinary. However, the simple fact that he can Soothe an entire city is very impressive, so his mere presence is enough to subjugate most people. The fight with Kel did make him seem godlike. I particularly liked the image of him walking along with the two spears through his chest: if anything is going to make people think that you are a god, that is it! It reminded me of the scene in the film 'Van Helsing' when Dr Frankenstein plunges a long sword into Dracula, who just continues walking up to the poor doctor, forcing himself up the sword blade. Yikes! I have to assume that the Lord Ruler can be beaten, as otherwise this is going to be a thoroughly depressing book / trilogy, but I have no idea how it will happen. His choice to wear metal jewelry is interesting: what if he can use feruchemy? We have already had the hint that Vin can sort of use feruchemy metals, so perhaps he can use them both ways as well. 


2.       We seemed to suffer a number of set backs to the plans this week.  The army had already been all but destroyed and following a bit of a rethink/regroup/coming up with a Plan B things still have gone disastrously astray.  What do you think the Crew will do now??


We will either see a very quick resolution before the end of this book, or they will regroup and begin to plan for the long haul of the next two. I almost expected the great mass of skaa to rise up and overwhelm the Lord Ruler and his minions, but his fight with Kel scared them all half to death. I guess it depends if they can come up with a way to neutralize the Inquisitors: head removal seems to be effective, but how can Vin cope with so many at one?

3.       What was your reaction to Kelsier’s response to finding Marsh dead?  I can’t help feeling that there are going to be some serious economic repercussions to destroying the crystals – what sort of impact do you think this will have, not just on the nobles but on the Skaa?


I thought Kel's response was well handled. To lose a sibling is never easy, but to lose one that you have always fought with is even worse because it leaves so many things unsaid and undone. The atium may prove to be the key to destroying the Lord Ruler some how or another. He takes a huge interest in holding a giant supply of it, which means that he needs it, lots of it. Maybe he needs it to retain control, like the Pilots in Frank Herbert’s ‘Dune’ need the Spice to bend space. It would be a little bit of a let down if he broke down and died because he ran out of atium, but as long as he dies I will be quite happy.

4.       Finally, each week we learn a little bit more of the Lord Ruler’s history.  And each week it has a different impact.  This week’s snippets had the same impact – I was really interested in the excerpt when he mentions that the Darkness is not as oppressive when higher up in the mountains – do you have any more ideas about the Darkness?


Contrary to what we all thought last week, I have changed my mind about the identity of the person who wrote the diary snippets that we are reading. I no longer think that they are written by the Lord Ruler: he is not the Hero of Ages who wrote this diary. Remember that the diary ends with the Hero about to confront the Darkness: either he died or the man who became the Lord Ruler betrayed and murdered him. What if the Lord Ruler was one of the Terrismen who were acting as packmen, which would mean that he definitely could use feruchemy? This would make feruchemy his great weakness, so he hides his metal minds in plain sight and encourages the nobles to wear metal jewelry so that his is not unusual. It would also explain why he has persecuted the Keepers, as they would be the most likely to recognize his metal usage and so expose any weaknesses that it confers.

Sorry: I got a bit carried away by that stream of thought there. Anything called  ‘The Darkness’ is not going to be a happy, pleasant thing. It sounds metaphysical, but other than that I have not got a clue.

5.       (I did have another query – but it might be too much??)  I was wondering about Elend and Vin – they’ve also had their ups and downs this week but seem determined to work round them – can you see anything of a future for these two or is there too much history between the nobles and Skaa and too much difference and prejudice between the two?

I hope that they can work together. Elend seemed very excited to discover that she was a skaa, and he also risked his life to save her. He seems to have genuine concern for her, but I am not sure that he is in lurve like she is: poor Vin. I think Vin’s explosion at Kel about the gang all being part noble has made them all reconsider their attitudes to the rebellion. We can see this in their reactions to the convoy of prisoners. I like to think that even Clubs would have tried to help out.

Extra thought: What the heck is a Kandra???? We know that Lord Renoux is one and House Venture has one called TenSoon, but it suggests that it can impersonate or animate corpses:

Elend still wasn’t used to the creature’s most recent body, which had once belonged to a servant in the Hasting household.

This would make them perfect spies, but who, what, why, how?????