The Mad Ship thread!

I sense that you'll have few quibbles about the explanation given Pam concerning Wizardwood :) I would say more, but I don't want to spoil anything.
 
Erfael said:
Yes, there is, but since you are asking that question, it's my suspicion you haven't gotten far enough to get the reasons why it makes sense.
Click to expand...

On the other hand, maybe I'm just dense. :)

No one in Reyn's family believes that a dragon is calling to him from the log. That makes me wonder -- how can the people who build the Liveships from the Wizardwood not know what's inside the wood?
 
Aha! At about page 470, baby dragon falls out of log. I keep thinking "Not the Mama! Not the Mama!" (Old TV shows never quite die, do they?)

I'm just a tad upset with the Khuprus family, but I'm hoping Reyn will redeem them.

I'm close to the end. The ball has ended, Davad's coach has crashed, Bingtown is on fire, and is Serilla a devious sort or what? She could give Kennit a run for his money.

Isn't it funny how communication plays such an important part in fiction? Misunderstandings abound, the plot thickens. :)
 
I called it Kennit's place because I didn't want to give too much away. I actually thought something was shifting very powerfully within him....until the island. I believe he is such a frightening character because he is so unpredictable; he isn't operating on all four cylinders and he has no real connection to other human beings. His relationship with Etta is fascinating. As for the dragon/wizardwood connection, you'll have an even better understanding of it very soon.
 
Kennet just won't allow his good side to prevail, will he? He's SO shortsighted, but I guess a devastating childhood experience will warp us. It's sad, because he has all the tools to be a good person, including good friends who can help him. He continues to do good in spite of himself.

So Wizardwood logs are dragon eggs and the Khuprus family has been allowing the baby dragons to die?

And the Liveships aren't really alive?

I almost finished the book last night but I've had a cold and I was just too tired.
 
Finished Mad Ship. I'm very satisfied with how everything held together, plot-wise.

On to Ship of Destiny. I'm glad to see that Tintaglia (a play on Tintagel?) will help Reyn and Selden escape the Crowned Rooster room, and then help Malta. I'm hoping the Satrap will pee his pants at his first sight of a dragon. A good dunk in the river (when it's running white) is just what he needs.

Keffira and Malta are stronger than they thought, aren't they? That's so good to see, especially considering how they started out.

'bout time to learn more of Amber's story. I'm a-quiver with anticipation, but it's gonna be hard to stay out of the Ship of Destiny thread.
 
Hmm...I suppose that thread should say "After Ship of Destiny" or something like that. You could always start a new one called, "Starting Ship of Destiny"
Honestly, Auntie Pam, you can't go to the exisiting thread until you've completely finished the book. It will truly RUIN everything for you. I asked questions about things that happened at the very end, so be patient and keep going on here, or start a new thread.

I will tell you, I'll be impressed if you can actually get through the Ronica/Serilla storyline in this one. It bored the heck out of me, and I ended up skimming it. This book will go quickly for you, I think.
 
The political stuff does kinda drag on the story, doesn't it? Whenever the characters talk about Bingtown and Jamaillia City, New Traders and Old Traders -- there's too much exposition.

They're always explaining to each other, the history and the connection and what each side is doing.

Yeah, I might end up skimming those parts too. :)
 
Well, from the last few posts you all reminded me that this one was my favorite of the series. Right in the middle, but it still had some of the best moments. It's also when you start to understand the characters a bit more, like finally realizing Kennit really isn't the hero he's starting to be seen as.

I agree 100% that the politics were a bit dragged out... cutting back on them would have probably brought the books down to PERFECT length. But that's a lot easier than it sounds, how could she just leave it all out? I think some serious, painstaking editing is what would have been required, and I can forgive Robin for that.

Often the politics can be the most exciting part of a story, but I found with Liveship the politics were made up of talk..there wasn't enough action/threat of action behind it all.

It's funny, all the Farseer books are VERY distinct in my memory, and I remember what happened in what voume. But with Liveship it's all a bit of a blur to me. I hope with the new series she returns to a tighter writing style.
 
You're right -- there's a lot of political talk going on, but not much action.

I hate to say it, but I wouldn't mind a POV from some minor characters, the other Old Traders in particular. What do they think of Serilla and Ronica? It would help to know how they're viewed by others. Right now there's too much going on off-stage.

I hope she writes an Elderlings story some day. They're fascinating.
 
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