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2009-10 To Ride Hell's Chasm - Plot development to the halfpoint, spoilers welcome
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I'm at about p. 400 now. I will say, when the Crown Prince was introduced I thought, I really hope he doesn't turn out to be a Prince Humperdinck.
Ah! Thank you. A hole in my reading. Must fill - someday.
Ron wrote: "I'm at about p. 400 now. I will say, when the Crown Prince was introduced I thought, I really hope he doesn't turn out to be a Prince Humperdinck."I only saw the movie The Princess Bride, and that was way back - and whatever character prince Humperdinck had, I've forgotten. I trust at this point the Crown Prince in my story did not let you down - but for the rest of us, it would help to know what sort of pitfall you were worried about.
Also I'm presuming you are referencing the Crown Prince of Devall, and not Prince Kailen?
Yes, I am referring to Devall; if I've been reading right, he is called the "Crown Prince" consistently while Kailen is referred to as "the heir apparent"; I hope I have this right. "Devall" just seemed to me to echo "devil", sort of like Cruella DeVille.As for Humperdinck, here's a mishmash from wikipedia:
"Prince Humperdinck is the villain of William Goldman's 1973 comic adventure novel, The Princess Bride. The heroine, Buttercup, is forcibly engaged to marry Humperdinck, the heir to the throne of Florin. The prince plans to marry Buttercup, ostensibly so he can inherit the throne from his senile father and sire an heir. He has hidden plans, however; he hires the criminals Vizzini, Íñigo Montoya, and Fezzik to kidnap and kill her, hoping to implicate the rival nation of Guilder in her death so he can start a war. When this fails he decides to marry her then suffocate her on their wedding night, once again implicating Guilder."
So at this point I would say No, Devall has not let me down.
Ron wrote: "Yes, I am referring to Devall; if I've been reading right, he is called the "Crown Prince" consistently while Kailen is referred to as "the heir apparent"; I hope I have this right. "Devall" just ..."I thought you meant Devall, was just making certain. Not every reader references characters with your precision. And thanks for the definition - I'd completely forgotten Humperdinck's plotting, with regard to that story - quite other bits had stuck in my memory.
For Devall and even, the other characters, I placed some very significant clues in the opening chapters. Many won't see them, except on a re-read. New readers to my work often miss out, thinking that certain points of description are meaningless.
Case in point: in the very early scene, when Mykkael passes through the crowd at the town well, he takes note that nothing but sun warms his sword hilt, and the only flash of ruby light seen is the reflection in the women's glass earrings...in hindsight, all the layers were in plain view.
In light of this, how did the half-point twists strike you on first encounter?
I don't see a thread for "I finished, whew!" so I'll just say that my wife finished. Whew! Back to our regularly scheduled (well, sometime between 6 & 8 or so) dinner. She loved it.
Jim wrote: "I don't see a thread for "I finished, whew!" so I'll just say that my wife finished. Whew! Back to our regularly scheduled (well, sometime between 6 & 8 or so) dinner. She loved it."Jim, I created a thread for the finish/with spoilers, but it's rotated to the bottom - I'll put a note in it to bring it back to the top so you can go full bore with what you encountered - that's really neat to hear your wife enjoyed the book, too!
Thanks! I got steak & baked potato for dinner last night. Feast after the famine, although considering the state of my belly these days, a bit of famine isn't a bad thing.
I'm in chapter twenty-three now and the pace is starting to pickup. It's getting harder and harder to put this book down. :)While I'm not extremely connected to any of the characters, I am more invested in them and care about them. Especially, Jussoud and Vensic. I'm not sure about Mykkael yet because of his tendancy to be lethal to people within arm's reach. I'm just not feeling the regret or remorse yet, I suppose.
Janny wrote: "For Devall and even, the other characters, I placed some very significant clues in the opening chapters. Many won't see them, except on a re-read." After I finish this chapter (23), I'll go back and re-read the first chapter. I tried to read it slowly, but very rarely have uninterrupted quiet time in which to read. Lunch will be perfect for that. :)
Jon wrote: "Janny wrote: "For Devall and even, the other characters, I placed some very significant clues in the opening chapters. Many won't see them, except on a re-read." After I finish this chapter (23)..."
I do not ever write the same book, twice.
Each one is different in thrust and focus.
Mykkael is the warrior, honest in his profession. Later in the book, you will get the insights to his job, seen through his character, as to how he regards his responsibility.
The flinch factor, for him, falls into a different spectrum.
I have portrayed many angles, throughout my career, with regard to death and fighting. This book is not shaded the same way as the War of Light and Shadow, and this hero is also very different than the one portrayed in The Master of Whitestorm, who is a driven man pushed to the thinnest edge.
Sometimes it throws the reader, that each book holds a different set of angles and philosophy. Part of the fascination is to look at life from different, or opposing angles.
The pace henceforward will not relent - due warning - but pick up relentlessly, from here...people have reported being late to work, let's see how you fare, Jon - enjoy the ride - grin.
Jim wrote: "Thanks! I got steak & baked potato for dinner last night. Feast after the famine, although considering the state of my belly these days, a bit of famine isn't a bad thing."Ah, good, I can stop feeling guilty!!!
The notes sent from readers who finish this title - very often tell me what they missed - or mangled - everything from burned meals, to work, to missed train stops...did my job, they let me hear it. ;)
Before I let her read another of your books, I'm stocking up on pizza!;-)
Jim wrote: "Before I let her read another of your books, I'm stocking up on pizza!;-)"
Well, Jim, if she digs into the series, you'll need a whopping lot of pizza! (cut and run, with a grin!)
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Jennifer wrote: "Oh Wow!!! I couldn't wait to get to the halfway point to join this thread, but wanted to follow everyone's advice to take it slow. What a ride! I love the way the story keeps building."It's t..."
Thank you, how very nice to see you enjoying the whirlwind as it winds, Jennifer. For clue for Devall - watch his hands.
Avoid this topic if you have not progressed to that point.