The Robin Hobb Collection discussion
Book 14 - Fool's Assassin
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Fool's Assassin > Part 2: Chapter 6 - 10
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Alex wrote: "Interesting that we got a POV from Bee instead of Fitz. Did this happen in the other books?"No. And I kind of hope it doesn't happen again/often. I want the book to be about Fitz and not switch over to being about his daughter. I'm fine with it being a one-off or an occasional thing, but I don't want it to be more than that.
Speaking of missing Night Eyes, the other thing I want from this book besides the Fool is him to finally bond a new animal. Based on the US cover maybe a stag?
Alex wrote: "The stag on the cover could just be because that's Fitz's symbol, but we'll see. "Oh right. Totally forgot about that.
Alex wrote: "Right in the feels. "
God I hate that phrase. Another sign I'm getting old. lol.
Rob wrote: "So probably forgot some observations from the weekend. I'm up to chapter 8 now.It seems obvious that Fitz's daughter is the next White Prophet.
This part seems a bit slow. I'm not sure if it's t..."
I'm not quite as far as you yet but white prophet was my initial thought also. The audio book is really good. I'm not reading any more comments till I've done more of this section and then I'll be better able to make comments on the pacing. At the moment it's slow but I don't mind that so far. I'm only up to where Kettricken has seen the baby.
The narration has grown on me, but I still prefer reading I think.Glad you're enjoying it at least.
Ok I'm up to Ch 8 - so still not peeking too much. The pace is slower - it just doesn't bother me. The baby's birth and people's reaction - Chade's interference and Fitz returning to confront him etc - still adds plenty of dramatic tension to keep me happy so far
I was never bored during that part, but it was more noticeable. Of course it happened during a crazy weekend where I was listening to bits at a time.
Ok finished this part now. So Bee can see multiple futures like the Fool. So that strongly suggests she's a white prophet. What does that mean for the Fool? There can only be one white prophet? And far from being immune to skill, she is especially sensitive. She can hear all of fitz thoughts as well as the thoughts of other skill users. And speaking of feels (for want of a better word) two moments that got me ie when Bee connects with Fitz when she becomes fascinated with his drawing. And then Molly's death. :(
I actually enjoyed her POV. Maybe she could have her own trilogy down the track.
David Sven wrote: "And speaking of feels (for want of a better word) "How about feelings, emotions, or you know you mention which particular feelings you feel. Like love, hate, empathy, sadness, etc.
And It took me to nearly 3/4 of the book to like Bee's POVs, but I did come around on it.
I like Bee's POV - she's wonderfully Fitzy. In fact, she feels very much like the child of Fitz and the Fool would be... I particularly like how Hobb is able to write her as a precocious genius, yet still, at the same time, a naive little girl.On the emotional side of things, I think this may be heading into 'book that made me cry more than any other' territory. I was pretty emotional over the 'madness', and a little over Bee, and then Molly dying, and then everything that happens after where everything just reminds them of Molly.
As for Bee: it appears Hobb felt that Fitz just wasn't damn melancholy enough, so she needed a POV even more melancholy and over-intellectualising. Not as clinically depressive as Fitz, perhaps, but more melancholy - at least Fitz puts on a brave face.
It's interesting how where Tawny Man subtly completely undermined Farseer, now Fitz himself is overtly undermining the earlier books, on grounds not just of foolishness but also of truth...
Regarding nothing happening: for me, Hobb is doing a fine job of creating exciting incident without actually having any sort of plot (so far). We know that stuff is going to go down - and there's enough personal drama spiced up with other incidents (eg Chade's fall) to, in my opinion, make it a gripping read, without us having to go helter-skelter through an actual classical plot.
This very much reminds me of mid-00's 'golden age' american TV drama. This feels very much like a fantasy equivalent of Deadwood or The Wire: long, complicated, plotless personal drama with plot elements in the background, with the plot gradually coming to the fore and making things explode at the end of each season. This book would make a terrible film, but it would actually make a pretty good TV show.
Wastrel wrote: "As for Bee: it appears Hobb felt that Fitz just wasn't damn melancholy enough, so she needed a POV even more melancholy and over-intellectualising"Rofl.
Rob wrote: "David Sven wrote: "And speaking of feels (for want of a better word) "How about feelings, emotions, or you know you mention which particular feelings you feel. Like love, hate, empathy, sadness, ..."
Teary? In a happy for Fitz way.
Rob wrote: " In fact, she feels very much like the child of Fitz and the Fool would be.."
That's a good point. Maybe Fitz' connection to the Fool has affected him physically. So on top of having skilled and witted sperm, he has Foolish sperm.
Mod
ch6 had so much insistence on pale and tiny, and even a direct comparison to the fool. so that confirmed a suspicion i had in the earlier chapters. and seeing all of you talk about it to, it must be so.
btw, david, it was mentioned that there is one white prophet per generation, i don't think it necessarily was said anywhere else that the old one had to be dead.
i actually liked the chapter from Bee's pov. i think it did two things: it set me up to like this child. before she was always described as a bit of simpleton, seeing it all through her eyes made clear what a clever little thing she really is, plus it gave us more clues as to the different future paths she can see, as david mentioned above.
secondly, it explains why she avoids her dad's eyes and touch. i'm sure we all suspected the skill to be at the cause of this because it only happened with Fitz and Nettle, but hearing it from her thoughts made clear what an enormous impact their thoughts have on her.
i was also intrigued by the intro of chapter 10 which is signed by 'Bee Farseer'. in case there is any doubht: this girl will do big things and own up to her name too!
Mod
I loved that little section. I'm guessing she has been picking up a lot of cues from her father. It might actually be the only time she senses Fitz as happy, satisfied and complete - thinking about Nighteyes.
Mod
Yes those were really well written. I also felt really sorry for Fitz, he finally has the little daughter he dreamed of for so long, and he is present while she's growing up - but that daughter doesn't really want anything to do with him. A bit like Nettle really. I was sad to see that Nettle really hasn't warmed up to him much, she accepts him as the companion who makes her mother happy, but still very little more than that. I had high hopes after The Tawny Man that they would have a deeper relationship than that.
At least, Molly being dead (however sad that is) will set Bee and Fitz up for a decent relationship i guess?
Mod
that's the perfect way to describe it i think. she definitely feels like that and it's amazingly done.
there are so many parallels between bee and the fool. remember how shocked fitz was when he discovered that the fool was so much more than 'a fool'?
so far, it also seems like this will be another book that will get to me. the first trilogy is still the most emotional one for me, the other series even if they were good too, never got me to that point.
but this one seems to head into that direction.
The other little tidbit I forgot to mention as an aside during Ch10 - Shepherd Lin(who rescues Bee from the other children) and his dog, Daisy - Wit-bonded?
Mod
Beginning of chapter 7 - I'm desperate for the Fool to turn up. The baby was a bit of a surprise - I take it she's the new White Prophet! I'm a bit sad about that really as I sort of just want the story to be about Fitz and the Fool, but I'll see how that goes.
Em wrote: "Beginning of chapter 7 - I'm desperate for the Fool to turn up. The baby was a bit of a surprise - I take it she's the new White Prophet! I'm a bit sad about that really as I sort of just want the ..."You've got a long wait!!
Little that's kind of spoilery, maybe remove the chapter number?
Rob wrote: "Little that's kind of spoilery, maybe remove the chapter number?"BOO! it was not, but I have done so ;-)
Haha, sort of glad I missed that or I may have been up all night trying to get there.
Rob is the spoiler police. I'm still in jail from countless infringements.
Ok, I'd better watch it! Molly just died, that didn't upset me at all actually but poor Fitz's reaction did. I just hope it brings him and Bee closer. Good point from Wastrel above - Bee does seem like the kind of child Fitz and the Fool would have had. Hearing things from her POV gives me a better understanding of how things would have been for the Fool as a child, spending so much time on his own, with his own thoughts.
David Sven wrote: "Rob is the spoiler police. I'm still in jail from countless infringements."And you're never seeing parole!
Em wrote: "Ok, I'd better watch it! Molly just died, that didn't upset me at all actually but poor Fitz's reaction did. I just hope it brings him and Bee closer. Good point from Wastrel above - Bee does see..."
I was so relived when Molly died. Her presence kind of lobotomized Fitz. His lack of caution in the first chapter nearly made me tear my hair out. Strangers in his house and a young female messenger waiting in his study, and he doesn't follow up on either until it's too late! Aggh! Where are his assassins skills?
I see what you mean about Bee,Maybe she is Fitz and Fools child, through some kind of freaky osmosis from the whole being in one another body malarky in Fools Fate. If they get through the three books alive, the fool would make a super mum for Bee! ;-)
I've never been a Molly fan but I think Fitz needed time with her. I hated the ending of Fool's Fate though, broke my heart. I'm just surprised that it's been this long, what is he now 60? I'm worried he's not going to have much time with the Fool. That made me smile - Fool being a mum to Bee:D
I thought he was 53 when she was born and she's what 7/8/9 now? I'd like him to have at least 50 years with the Fool!
Ah yeah. I was thinking more of the start of the book. Didn't add the 9 years.
The whole age thing really bugged me. Chade must be over 100. Fitz was 47 at the start, and I think he was 60 by the end ( with the body and vitality of a man of 35! due to the skill healing)Why oh why did they have to leave it so long. I want Fitz to have at least 50 years with the fool too!
Oh right, the book does move through time quickly doesn't it.Chade has got to be at least 100 if not older surely, still fighting fit as well:)
LittleRed wrote: "The whole age thing really bugged me. Chade must be over 100. Fitz was 47 at the start, and I think he was 60 by the end (with the body and vitality of a man of 35! due to the skill healing)."Considering the skill healing, this hasn't bugged me too much. (Am I correct in remembering that Chade has also been Skill healed more than once?) It may not bother me be because I'm reading the Rain Wilds series concurrently and seeing a subtle connections between the "silver stuff", Skill, and the Elderlings' extended lifespan.
As Fitz is ageing more slowly (or not at all) because of his healing and the Fool has a long life span, I don't think an extended period together is out of the question!
Lindsey wrote: "LittleRed wrote: "The whole age thing really bugged me. Chade must be over 100. Fitz was 47 at the start, and I think he was 60 by the end (with the body and vitality of a man of 35! due to the ski..."'As Fitz is ageing more slowly (or not at all) because of his healing and the Fool has a long life span, I don't think an extended period together is out of the question!'
This all depends on whatever that punctured poision pouch inside the Fools body was. We don't know what a skill healing can do about that! I read the Rainwilds and really enjoyed them. I know that the silver, and time spent with dragons extends the life span of Elderlings...I think a visit to Kelsingra should be on the 'quest' itinerary for Fitz and the fool! They may need extra help to fix the damaged to fool.
It seems obvious that Fitz's daughter is the next White Prophet.
This part seems a bit slow. I'm not sure if it's the writing, the narration or both. I don't think I like the narration. Not because he's bad per say but it's distracting. I'll be curious for David's opinion on it.
Right now I just want the fool to finally show up.