Daniel Shellenbarger > Recent Status Updates

In case somebody actually is paying attention to the book order, yes, I did skip one. Not because I didn't want to read it but because the library's only copy of the ebook is checked out right now...

It's nice to have a fast read on deck while chipping away at the 'ol fantasy epics

This is a weird book. It's fantasy but also clearly meant to be set in the distant future of our world (or a parallel version thereof) as there are many echoes of real things amidst the fantastic. It kind of reminds of me of Vance's Dying Earth or Hughes' Henghis Hapthorn books (setting-wise) though with much more of a nuclear post-apocalyptic feel.

Considering that Lawrence wholly copies the idea of a forest with pools that are portals to other worlds from C.S. Lewis, it's at least good of him to have an in-book book about said forest written by a person named C. Lewis.

"'Neither does Frodo,' said Gandalf, unexpectedly supporting Pippin." for the first and LAST time.

Just got to the part where the scouts are coming back after the Council of Elrond and they mention not finding Radagast at home; I do wonder whatever happened to Radagast. He shows up, sets things in motion, then POOF, never heard from again. I mean, it wouldn't surprise me if Saruman did him in, but it's weird that it never comes up.

'I do not know if I can do anything to help you; but I will whisper this in your ears. Someone said that intelligence would be needed in the party. He was right. I think I shall come with you.' You just know that Gandalf knows full well that Pippin said it, but there's no way he's going to admit to agreeing with Pippin.

there's a lot of this book that I've forgotten or only half-remember, probably because at the time I read the first half of the book in a feverish rush and then some of the later events left me devastated and overshadowed a lot of really good stuff. Taking this at a more sedate pace has made it much more enjoyable, though I'm still not looking forward to Kaladin's reunion with the crazy dude formerly known as Moash.

Hmmm... 42% to go and it's due in two days...

Something that's really struck me during this reading is how the hobbits grow as characters. Many fantasy novels simply have something horrible and life-changingly traumatic happen and then the characters basically deal with it, but Tolkien uses a sort of creeping loss of innocence, things are unsettling, then alarming, then terrifying, and then horrific, and the hobbits gradually grow in response.