The Fires of Heaven Read Along Part VIII

[Susan]

Everyone, please be welcome to the 8th week of The Fires of Heaven read along. This week, our awesome commenter Eivind came up with the questions. We covered Chapters 45-49 this week. Catch us here or the blogosphere: http://dabofdarkness.com/2013/09/29/t...

1. Seems like Mat has made himself the unwilling hero of the day, now with his personal army. What's in the future for him? Will he ever come to terms with his fate?

2. Three books later, and we're back in Cairhien. How did Rand handle the nobles? Who do you think he means to put on the Sun Throne?

3. With two nations and the Aiel behind him, Rand should be more than a match for anyone. Who is next?

4. This moodiness and snapping from Elayne and Nynaeve, is it from the pressure of hiding or something else? Maybe some of the female audience can chime in…

5. Looks like Nynaeve sparked quite the mess by having both Galad and Masema look for a boat. Was this at all avoidable?

6. Who do you think could take Galad on in a swordfight?

[T.J.]

I doubt Matt will ever come to terms with his fate, he's always going to be a reluctant participant. Saying that, so is Rand, and everyone else. It's seems that only the evil ones are acting, the rest are reacting. Except maybe Rand is pushing things along.
I think it's obvious who is going to get the Sun Throne; only one of Rand's entourage is noble born.
I think Jordan did a wonderful job, when he talked about the Tairens standing in front of the Cairhiens. In one sentence, he told the reader exactly what had been going on since Rand sent the Tairen nobles to the city.
The moodiness and snappy arguments of the women is annoying. Jordan always does this. His women are two dimensional. I really wouldn't want to live in Randland. Every women is a conniving, man-hating, control-freak. That, and the constant descriptions of what people are wearing, are the my two bugbears about Jordan.
Nynaeve causing a problem getting the two folks to search for a ship wasn't her fault. As Uno said, Masema usually forgets what he was doing, so asking Galad to look made sense. Though it was a good way of putting another nail in Nynaeve's confidence. No wonder she burst into tears and was doubting herself; she's had a bad run, poor woman. That whole section is probably the best 'female character' writing that Jordan has done. It's the only bit that rings true.
Sword fight with Galad? I'd shoot him. lol. Do a Indiana Jones.

[Susan]

T.J. wrote: "I doubt Matt will ever come to terms with his fate, he's always going to be a reluctant participant. Saying that, so is Rand, and everyone else. It's seems that only the evil ones are acting, the r..."

Yes, it looks like the Two Rivers folks are still in reaction mode. Even Elayne is this way too. Moiraine seems to be able to move things along at times, and perhaps Siuan. Though they might simply say the Wheel willed it.

Yes, my man, who loves this series, also says the women are two dimensional, and often those two dimensions are described in what they are wearing (the front and the back). I have to simply turn my brain off for those sections.

Haha! Why not? Yes, I would shoot Galad too. No honor pushes me to have an honest sword fight with him.