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Patrick Rothfuss
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Stories we'd like to read in the Future.
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You're right, Sophie. :)(Kvothe to Penthe) "There is an herb called silphium. I chew it every day, and it keeps me from putting a baby in a woman."
If only our own world could come up with such an effective male contraceptive.
I'm writing my comment more in reference to the middle of this thread, with some thoughts on the auri/kvothe relationship, as well as what books I'd hope to see after this trilogy. with regards to auri: I can understand where both amber and brandt are coming from. I have always felt that kvothe felt a subconscious attraction to her because she is so similar to himself when he was in Tarbean. I received very much of a wild animal vibe from both characters, albeit different wild animals entirely. I think he feels this natural pull towards her, but I think at this time, any romantic relationship isn't possible. I have also always seen their encounters as "tea parties" where kvothe is playing along or indulging her, although I don't see a therapist/patient aspect to it. I think her mental/emotional state is fragile, kvothe can sense that, and he follows rituals in order to earn her trust. however, I think he is trying to care for her because he subconsciously sees himself within her, and doesn't want anyone fending for themselves. he has also certainly grown to love her, but I see it as a platonic love. I agree with amber that her innocent/childlike surface is really observance and awareness, but I think romance is not a priority for her, or even a real possibility. I feel as if she is perhaps too aware of the world to pay attention to love, almost as if she has developed beyond it.
as for future stories: it's been established that this trilogy will take place over the course of three days. I am of the belief that the conclusion of the third book will be the conclusion of chronicler's story, that the frame story will end, and we will be left with kote. I think that the following series will follow him reawakening kvothe within himself, reigniting his quest, and tying up all (or most) of these loose ends.
if that isn't the case, I'd love a series based in the fae, with perhaps bast as the protagonist, although I don't see him leaving the 4C to reenter the fae for an entire series.
I'm re-reading the first book right now and I'm paying very close attention to the part introducing "THE woman," which is probably referring to Denna but some people think is referring to Auri (because Denna was introduced earlier in the book, and I do think that's really odd).I don't get a romantic vibe from Kvothe and Auri right now, but once more about her is revealed, maybe I could see it going that way. Right now she's like a wild animal (which is, interestingly, the way Kvothe describes "THE woman"), acting on instinct and fear, and she'd have to become more of a person before I can see them in a relationship.
that's an interesting idea. I haven't read the first book in a bit, but doesn't he talk about "the woman" and describe her physically as denna, with the brown hair and what not? then again, I haven't read that bit critically and it's possible pat wrote that bit with his clever, "you think this is what I'm talking about, but I'm really just leading you down the wrong path so I can blow your mind later" type of writing he's so good at haha.
I'm not sure, I'm not to the part where we actually "meet" Denna again. He specifically says a bunch of stuff about "even the idea of her" being like a wild animal that could be startled into flight if you make any sudden movements (paraphrasing because I don't have the book on hand). And then he says that in order to introduce THE woman, first he has to talk about what brings him across the river to Imre.Then we have the story of him crossing the river to get a loan from Devi (interesting, but I doubt she's THE woman), then buying a lute, and he goes to practice the lute in the hidden courtyard in Mains, where he first encounters signs of Auri. So, you could make a fairly convincing case for Auri being the one he's talking about.
It's just interesting to me that he says all that stuff about her being a wild animal and how you can't startle her or she'll run away. This could apply to Denna, since he's constantly scared if he shows too much interest in her she'll leave, but it could also, more literally, apply to Auri.
Mod
ooh I had forgotten the layout of those chapters, very interesting!
Further along in my re-read: Although we meet both Devi and Auri before we get back around to Denna, he does say that the Eolian is where she's "waiting in the wings," so he must be talking about Denna. Still, I can't reconcile that with the fact that we have already met Denna, on the road to the University. Why do this big thing of introducing her now, and not then?
that's true, it'd make a lot more sense to introduce her before they're on the road together for the first time, rather than sort of reintroducing her, but treating it as if it's the first time.
Mod
On the road to Imre, Denna's a chance encounter, another somewhat memorable face among the multitudes. Not one he expects to ever see again. In fact, he says, at the time, that he knew he never would.
Then the Eolian. A huge artistic gamble that pays off, and then pays off with Denna?! So we feel all the but wait and who is she that he did. She's not just the love interest she's special and mysterious and maybe even sinister.
When folks adamantly assert Kvothe's unreliable, it's stuff like this that makes me agree wholeheartedly. He's not lying, but he's telling a story.
Denna, like so many other things, is revealed slowly. New revelations reframe the previous ones. I think I'm rambling, now.
thistlepong wrote: "In fact, he says, at the time, that he knew he never would."That just makes it weirder to me. He KNEW he would never see her again, and then he did? I don't quite believe there are two Dennas, but I can see where the theory comes from.
On the other hand, part of the story Kvothe is telling involves the idea that things don't always happen "the way they do in stories." In a story, when someone says they KNOW they'll never see someone again, they're right. So maybe this is a further subversion of tropes.
Mod
I have never seen anyone else from that class. I have never seen that individual again. I never expect to. I never expected to.
Telling the story as a linear progressive narrative, I knew I'd never see that individual again. If the story were about hir, I'd emphasize that because it enhances the later scene.
But yah, it's also potentially confusing.
Though I love Auri, I can't get behind the idea of a romance between her and Kvothe. Their interactions speak of a different kind of love to me. Plus I still can't let go of the idea that she is Lyra, brokenhearted over Lanre."If your name is getting too heavy, you should have Kvothe give you a new one."
Mod
I agree, that doesn't necessarily have to boil down to a physical relationship, and the more I think about it, the more I think I would prefer it to go otherwise despite my dislike of his other possibilities.
I really enjoy the idea of exploring other facets of love, especially between the opposite sex.
I thought that Auri was a character thrown into the books rather last minute at the editor's suggestion? I could be wrong. But if so, I can't imagine her being such a hugely important character in being The Woman with Kvothe. KWIM?https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Where it is mentioned.
Still think Auri is princess Ariel. That's why Elodin was surprised about the name, due to them being so similar.
Mod
"I thought that Auri was a character thrown into the books rather last minute at the editor's suggestion? I could be wrong. But if so, I can't imagine her being such a hugely important character in being The Woman with Kvothe. KWIM?"In one of Pat's Q&As he is asked (I'll paraphrase) "are there any elements of the story you introduced at the last minute, and if so which is your favorite?" - he names Auri. I don't remember him saying anything about an editor's suggestion but he does say the story was completely structured before Auri made an appearance in his mind.
Also, I've never read an Auri passage and thought "this girl is sexy" - Kote never describes her in those terms, or in any way that would show a sexual interest. Contrast that with Denna, who is often the target of a longing so physical that it feels like another person in the room.
To be honest, Auri is portrayed as childish for so much of the story that it almost feels dirty to type "sexual interest" when talking about her. From Kote's eyes, their relationship seems more like guardian/ward than anything else, so I feel very Woody Allen writing about this. Auri is fascinating, don't get me wrong, but she is not seen as a sensual woman the way Denna is.
Mod
'I've got a few things that will be happening before doors of stone:
1 - A novella (about 22,000 words) that centers around Bast. It's coming out in the Rouges anthology later this year.
2 - I'm also working on another novella centering around Auri. I meant for it to be a short story, but it became a lot more than that, and right now it's creeping up on 25,000 words.
3 - A short novel (short for me) set in Modeg. It tells the origin stories of one of the other legendary figures in my world: Laniel young-again. (That's probably going to be about 100-120 thousand words or so.)
Mod
So far, it's up to 28,000 words. Mary Robinette Kowal, Vi Hart, and probably Brett Hiorns have read it. IF you donate to Worldbuilders with an amount ending in $0.33 you were enetered into a lottery for a chance to alpha/beta read it, too. The working title, early on, was "The Weight of Her Desire."
It's in third person, but both Pat's and Vi Hart's comments (in a Google Hangout last week) suggest it's tied a bit to her mental state. While I don't really agreee with RJ that Kvothe has all the power in the relationship or that she needs his protection, I continue to figure she's not the object of his romantic affections.
Rothfussians
Books mentioned in this topic
The Thing Beneath the Bed (other topics)The Crying of Lot 49 (other topics)
I could have sworn he mentioned chewing a contraceptive root.