[Aras]

hmm... cadvan as a babbit... :p

anyway, i somehow think cadvan would refuse to fight maerad, and then her steam would blow off... i mean, why would she want to fight a unmoving object...?

anyway i dont like to think of cadvan being injured on maerad's account... *pushes horrible, bad thoughts to back of mind*

[Kristin]

I think it's clear that Maerad has more innate power than Cadvan, but Cadvan controls his power and knows how to use it much better. I think it would be an interesting fight if it happened/happens ... I agree with Aras though; that Cadvan would most likely refuse to fight Maerad, and vice versa. But you never know what's gonna happen.

I enjoyed The Gift more than The Riddle. But they were both fantastic! :)

[owleye]

yup its hard to decide there both so good

[alison]

Fwiw - since authors are no good as readers of their own works - I think that the books are (so far anyway) getting better as they go along. I suspect The Crow is my favourite. No doubt others will disagree... From my point of view I think the writing is getting better as I learn how to write this stuff, and the complexities are playing out...and also, with the following two books, nobody can accuse me of ripping off Tolkien ;) since I pay my all my dues in The Gift...(but I've already said what I think about the difference between being "derivative" and "influenced")...

[Kristin]

Fwiw - since authors are no good as readers of their own works - I think that the books are (so far anyway) getting better as they go along. I suspect The Crow is my favourite. No doubt others will disagree... From my point of view I think the writing is getting better as I learn how to write this stuff, and the complexities are playing out...and also, with the following two books, nobody can accuse me of ripping off Tolkien ;) since I pay my all my dues in The Gift...(but I've already said what I think about the difference between being "derivative" and "influenced")...

Just about every fantasy writer is compared to Tolkien at some stage. It's ridiculous and everyone who's read your books can see monstrous differences. I think people that don't know what else to say just say it reminds them of Tolkien.

[alison]

Yes - no elves, hobbits, dwarfs or ents in sight! Not even a magic ring! But to be fair (which sometimes I like to be :) ) there are legit comparisons. The whole translation conceit was stolen from Tolkien, as are the appendices, though I've updated them to contemporary academica. And my approach to the writing is taken from his wonderful essay, On Fairy Stories, where he talks about the realness of bread and stone and stars that can then underline the realness of the marvellous. And there are little tributes sewn into the text: probably the most obvious is the Bard Tulkan, who wrote that marvellous poem about Ardina and Ardhor: which eagle eyed Tolkien geeks will of course recognise as having the same rhyming and metrical patterns as the song of Beren and Luthien in The Fellowship of the Ring...

But I think what most peeves me about this is that there are many other influences in The Gift as well, equally as important, and because I've been upfront about the Tolkien stuff most of the Tolkien-ripoff people only mention that...!

Ok, end of author whinge...because actually, it's not as if it really matters... ;)

[Becks]

Its good to have a whinge once in a while.... :D

I didnt really like the lord of the rings books.......

[emerald_dragyn]

What an interesting thread!

I've had the Gift Vs Riddle debate often in my head, but I end up just throwing my hands in the air and admitting that I can't choose! They're so amazing!

I also found the Cadvan vs. Maerad debate interesting.... I think Cadvan would never, ever actually ATTACK Maerad, but defend himself. If they did fight it would be close though. While Maerad is stronger, with a different kind of power, Cadvan knows far more and wouldn't be ruled by his emotions.... I think that Maerad would win eventually from sheer strength. Take note though, I maintain that Cadvan wouldn't fight her, he's too sweet ;)

Emerald :) :) :)

[arcangelle]

okay i agree that they would refuse to fight each other with their magery BUT :eek: wat if it was just an ordinary fist fight, who would win then???? :p

[arcangelle]

oh and i prefer the riddle because there was a lot more going on, there was more action in the gift but in the riddle there was just more new places and new people and i always love to see how authors can evvolve their stories so that its not just all the same kinda people and places throughout the series... :p