Dragons & Jetpacks discussion

Hi All! Has anybody been reading this month's book yet? I'm only at chapter 6, but I thought I would try to kick things off with a few thoughts I've had so far. Nothing really deep or anything :)

1. I was a little apprehensive about starting this story - I'm usually not very into Tolkien-derived high fantasy stuff, but this seems pretty down to earth. We don't seem likely to meet any elves or faeries or anything :D In fact, looking at the map in the beginning of the book, I can't help but notice that the landscape bears a striking resemblance to Europe, with some features altered. Maybe this is an alternate Earth or something like that?

2. Is that a Skyrim reference in Chapter 3? The "arrow to the knee" bit? Man, I really feel old when literature starts referencing video games :D

3. Really interested in the mystery surrounding Bast. In chapter 3, Kote seems to "program" him with information...and then there's a suggestion in chapter 5 that Bast is not mortal.

4. The vast majority of the reviews I read for this book described Kvothe as being arrogant, but I haven't been getting that at all thus far. Just the opposite actually, he seems fairly humble and down-to-earth. I'm guessing this will be the flashback character arc, as we watch him develop.

5. Very intrigued by the last bit of chapter 5 -- could the relationship between Kote and Bast actually be a romantic one? That would be a really cool break from expectations/stereotypes of heroic fantasy.

6. There are some intriguing suggestions of worldbuilding so far (mentions of war, economic matters)...I hope that gets fleshed out soon. It seems like the author is following the "show, don't tell" rule, but I think a bit of "infodump" would be a good thing at this point.

I have just started this month's book also, I am only on chapter 6 but I am really intrigued by the set up so far. Bast has really interested me too. He clearly isn't human or mortal, it is implied he needs to avoid the iron rods that the blacksmith will be making for people to protect themselves against "demons" and he says to Kote "you people" implying they are not the same race.

I also immediately thought of skyrim with the arrow in the knee reference but I looked it up and this book was published in 2007 and skyrim didn't come out until 2011 so my guess is happy coincidence.

I agree about the info dump, there has been some world-building but I like to know a lot about this new world I'm reading about very quickly but maybe I am just impatient.

He doesn't seem arrogant to me, maybe overconfident in his abilities or reckless perhaps but not arrogant but since this book is setting up to be flashbacks telling his story maybe he was (/will be) arrogant in the remainder of the book.

I'm hooked so far and don't want to put it down, should be a great read!

it is implied he needs to avoid the iron rods that the blacksmith will be making for people to protect themselves

ooh, I didn't notice that! Good catch.

I'm on chapter six. I was apprehensive too, mostly because i'm used to reading Young Adult, and its just recently that i started reading sci fi, fantasy, so the perspective of the story seemed interesting. like its not entirely inside Kote's head, but we get little snip its of his feelings. i'm used to being told everything that the character is feeling.
Everything is a mystery at this point, which i LOVE. i do wish i knew a little bit more of information though, soon i think.
As for Bast, wow, i didnt catch any of that. I'm so unobservant. :)
I'm definitely feeling the Bast/Kote lover relationship, which i like. we'll see how that progresses, even if its in my imagination.

I was also just thinking that isn't the "i tell you thrice and done" a fae thing? which Kote tells Bast so that he'll remember/do it, so maybe Bast is a fae? I could be mixing up my fantasy knowledge tho.

Haha, I'm not the only one who saw the 'arrow to the knee' bit and thought of Skyrim! I know that this book came first though =)

I get the feeling that Bast is some sort of subservient being, I'm guessing not a demon from the way they scoffed at that idea, but something similar. Maybe Kote has 'summoned' him, or maybe he created him? Either way it seems that Kote is his 'Master', and he knows all about his real identity.

I too have only read up to Chapter 6, but am enjoying it so far! Although it's a thick book, and the font in my edition is tiny, it doesn't seem too heavy going at the moment - which is what I wanted really, since I'm currently reading another epic fantasy at the same time.

Rinn, my copy has really tiny text too, but somehow that actually makes it easier to read as it is pretty crisp.

My first impressions of this book was feeling impressed as the book had me hooked by the prologue alone. Recently I have had to read a number of pages/chapters of books to get into a story, this one feels like an old friend even though I haven't read it before :)

I quite like that there isn't an infodump, because while I really want to know more, I am not totally confused.

Finally got this from the library, looking forward to starting it. Curse you, waiting list!!!

Ok, late to the party, but I've started and gotten through the first five chapters. I'm enjoying so far. The world has potential, and I'm enjoying the main characters.

The number three has been referenced several times, which is, among other things, from old Celtic tradition, as is the bit about cold iron.

I'm enjoying this book, and will be plowing ahead as time permits.

Glad you've finally gotten hold of a copy, Wayland! =D

The general consensus so far seems to be that we've really enjoyed it, so it'll be interesting to see if you feel the same.