Gentleman Bastards discussion
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The Republic of Thieves
Book #3
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The Republic of Thieves Read Along Part II
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1) If so I doubt it will be during this book. That visitation seemed reminded me more of the throwaway "the bondsmagi might be able to cure this poison" or of the whispering channel that told Locke his true name. I suspect it will come back, but Lynch's is more likely setting up something that comes much later.2) The whole bit about "we know by signs and portents who we should choose" pretty much guaranteed Locke would get it (even without knowing from book 2 that he's a priest of the 13th). This is "the kid who burned down the Narrows" and who was given to Chains because "he steals too much." Talent doesn't even begin to describe it. He's lucky to have survived this long. Sabetha is obviously a hard worker, but she just hasn't been at the eye of so many flashy huricanes of thievery gone horribly-but-survivably wrong. It isn't really fair, but these decisions aren't made based on fairness.
3) Whenever you have ridiculously powerful wizards in a fantasy world of mostly non-wizards I feel it is a critical piece of world-building to either explain why they aren't in charge or show that they are. This was a solid and satisfying explanation - a bit reminiscent of the Earthdawn RPG's, but there are only so many possible answers to the underlying question after all.
4) I expect these flashbacks will be fun. They're certainly giving us a more complete picture of where stuff that was just assumed in the first book came from.
5) The Deep Roots party's primary problem is that they're so befuddled and gullible. They have seemingly no idea how dirty politics work, which is strange given that they're supposedly veterans of these contests and that Patience describes those contests as ones where anything but kidnapping and murder are fair play. I hope Lynch gives us a better explanation for this - such as that the magi muddle the brains of the party leadership to ensure that they're all just chess pieces in the hands of expert tools like Locke. Because while it was fun to watch Locke expose a thousand security flaws, there was sort of a fridge moment later where I was slightly annoyed that the whole situation seemed deliberately manufactured to show off the Bastards' cool skills.
6) I really sympathize with Sabetha. Yes, she tends to be a bit of a smart alec, but that's the dynamic of all the Bastards, so it's unfair to hold that against her (although a serious relationship conversation might not be the best place for it). Locke is rather an uncomfortably well-written adolescent boy - needy, prone to emotional hyperbole, and more self-absorbed than he realizes. He is sincere, and I think Sabetha recognizes that, but he's also got a lot of growing up to do before he understands how relationships work.
I hadn't really considered that Lynch would be foreshadowing into the next book (or further along) with the dead and distressed Bug scene. But since you point out some of his past foreshadowing, it is totally plausible. I recently reread Book 2 and there were references to their stage time too!I too was both amused but also a little befuddled with the simplicity with which the kickoff party was brought to a lurching halt. I mean, if that is all it takes to derail them, even temporarily, then why would the opposing party need the expert skills of Sabetha? Anyone with enough coin, or someone in the correct records department, could have pulled that off, right?
Eric - loved your answer to #3!! After reading the bit about the Bondsmagi I was like "Ohh... so that's why!" :)
Katey wrote: "Eric - loved your answer to #3!! After reading the bit about the Bondsmagi I was like "Ohh... so that's why!" :)"The short version is that in order to explain why wizards don't rule everything, at least one of the following must be true:
- Magic has a price or risk.
- Magic is not predictable.
- Magic is not powerful enough to seize and maintain power.
I could go on a fair bit about exactly what each of these mean, but any magic system that is powerful, follows predictable rules, and does not come at a serious cost (or risk) to the wizard should probably admit that the magically endowed are going to be in charge of things. I've probably spent waaaay too much time thinking about the social and political implications of magic being real...
This week we covered Chapter 3 through Interlude ‘Bastards Abroad’.
Spoilers lurk below!
1. Blood And Breath And Water: Patience tells Locke that the ritual to save him is serious business. She wasn't kidding... What did you make of this scene, and do you think any of it might (perhaps literally) come back to haunt Locke?
2. Orphan's Moon: Back to the childhood of the Gentlemen Bastards, and here we get another ritual, this one in service to the Nameless Thirteenth. It looks as though it might be Locke vs. Sabetha, round two - but this time Locke seems to be a little slow on that uptake... Who do you think deserves to be given the final oath? Locke or Sabetha?
3. Across The Amathel: This chapter takes a breather for quite a bit of Eldren history, while Locke starts recovering. What do you think of the history lesson, and Patience's ominous speculation regarding the Eldren? Is this something you'd like to know more about?
4. Striking Sparks: The gang's off to Espara, after a bad summer and a pretty thorough dressing-down from Chains, and we finally get to the source of the book's title - they're bound for the stage! What are your thoughts on this latest 'challenge' and the reasons for it?
5. The Five-Year Game: Starting Position: The election gets underway with a party (as you do) and before it's even over, the Deep Roots party has problems - and not just thanks to Sabetha. What do you make of Nikoros and his unfortunate habit?
6. Bastards Abroad: The gang arrives in Espara, and already they've got problems (nicely mirroring the Five Year Game!)... This aside, we've also seen some more of what seems to be eating at Sabetha. Do you sympathise with her, or is Locke right to be frustrated with her?