[Dragaera] DZUR SPOILER--serious one

[Philip Hart]

On Fri, 11 Aug 2006, Gorelick Ken wrote:

> 1
> 2
> 3
> 4
> 5
> 6
> 7
> 8
> 9
> A
> B
> C
> D
> E
> F
> 10
> 11

I like this, but suspect that Dragaerans use base 17.


> So, I am a Vladdict. I admit it. Maybe I need to enter a 17 step
> program. Nonetheless, I found myself disappointed by Cawti. She has
> gone from being Vlad's SUPERIOR in the area where he considers
> himself to be a pro, to a complete nobody.

Not clear to me she was a better assassin.

> Far from the consummate Jhereg assassin, and even far from the
> Socialist revolutionary, she is now a housewife.

Do we know that?  I rather thought she was trying to be a force
for major change against overwhelming odds and failing, nothing
to be ashamed of.  Vlad has spent the last several years hiding,
getting Savn brainfried, and losing a finger.

For that matter being a single parent is nothing to sneeze at.


> Her entire role in this book was to create the situation that Vlad
> needed to solve.

It's the Vladiad, not the Cawtiad.  He bears the burden of fate.

> Vlad has grown in maturity and power [...]

See above.  And we really have no way of knowing what Cawti's
character development has been like.


Kind of funny - the book is designed in part to show us a slew
of beloved old characters but not to allow us to get comfortable
with them because everything's focussed on the final confrontation.
The only extended pause in the novel (well, except for Vlad walking
to and fro) is dominated by descriptions of food.

[Insert something about Dragaeran nobility and intensity here, with
discussion of the effect on the Vladiad.]