Flights of Fantasy discussion

I am currently surrounded by annoyedbysprenspren.

;)

Thanks for saving my eyes, Paolo! :) When I checked his site before it took me to this page: http://brandonsanderson.com/books/the.... The image pops up, but I can't zoom. This other page is much better.

Emily- hilarious!

Jackie wrote: "I like Shallan's sketches, but I wish they were bigger in the ebook."

I know how you feel!

I'm also confused by the whole spren thing but probably it'll all come to something in the end... well probably...

Emily - hah, good one!

Jackie - no problem!

All I can think of is HEY! LISTEN!

Any other Zelda fans out there...

Hahaha that is exactly what I´m reminded of. Syl = Navi = Tinkerbell.

I was reading Howl's Castle during lunch, and I think I saw some spren chasing Sophie.....

Jackie wrote: "I like Shallan's sketches, but I wish they were bigger in the ebook. I would like to read the writing without straining my eyes."

I'm not sure what ereader you have, but for many brands, you double tap on the pic to open it in zoom mode. Pinch and pull two fingers to zoom out and in. One finger to scroll around the pic. Tap X to exit zoom mode.

I´m on chapter 12.

"Wit raised an eyebrow."

I think this is like the 4th character to have this reaction to something.

Having said that, Dalinar looks like a cool character. Looking forward to knowing more about him.

Chapter 13 - (view spoiler)[Wow, that chasmfiend fight scene was really cool. Had a very videogame-y feel to it, all the way to the claiming of the loot-like gemheart. Also a good way to have exposition on Elhokar´s personality and importance. (hide spoiler)]

Jackie wrote: "Although, I do disagree with Becky's Jim Dale comments :P "

Pfft!

Ok! Just finished part 1 and to the Interludes. (16%/page 166). I am really just letting myself take my time with this one and just read it when I feel like it. I am sure knowing Sanderson that it will capture me at some point and I wont' be able to drop it until it's over.

So far that hasn't really happened. I am enjoying it, but I'm not completely hooked.

For me it really clicked about halfway through. There is a lot of build up, especially with Kaladin.

The first time I read this I gave it five stars but for some reason NOTHING is coming back to me.

I finally picked this up again and I almost feel like I never had a break... uh, anyway...

I've started Part 3 now -

Axies (tattooed man in Interlude 5) - no idea who he is, no idea how he fits in (if he fits in) but I like him.

Szeth - okay... I know what I said before but he sort got me when (view spoiler)[ he wouldn't kill any soldiers he didn't have to. And although the idea of a "noble" assassin isn't anything new I am curious to see where Sanderson takes it. (hide spoiler)]

Shallan - still annoys me for some reason but I like (view spoiler)[ the creepy turn her drawings have taken. (hide spoiler)]

Jasnah - I like the king's sister. And I have to give credit to Sanderson (who is religious himself) for not only writing an atheist into his book - but one who is believable and not shown as a bad person (despite rumors) or as an idiot. I find myself hoping though that she will not find religion later in the series.

Okay. Maybe I'm a little late in wondering this but… what do the Parshendi even want with gemhearts? I'm thinking it has to be more than the wealth. But no idea what… I'm leaning towards that they are "protecting" something from the Alethi. But I really don't remember.

Alright - I'm nearing the end of Part 3

And I've gotten to Jasnah (view spoiler)[ killing the thieves in front of Shallan. And I have to disagree with Shallan. Even though I don't completely agree with Jasnah either. But - the men *would* have attacked them. They had done so before and they would do so again. And Jasnah's actions although not "noble" (I don't believe she did it for any other reason to prove a point) saved their next victim. So- it might not have been "right" but it wasn't "wrong" either. (hide spoiler)]

Shallan on the other hand is (view spoiler)[ is just a thief however she tried to explain it. I'm not saying I don't understand - I do. But she's lying to herself if she thinks she's on the side of "right". (hide spoiler)]

Kaladin - this was actually the one thing in the book that I definitely remembered. And I love his (view spoiler)[ "resurrection". (hide spoiler)]

* on a side note - I gave up last night and switched to ebook - the book was killing me - and I'm going a little faster now.

Nienna wrote: "Okay. Maybe I'm a little late in wondering this but… what do the Parshendi even want with gemhearts? I'm thinking it has to be more than the wealth. But no idea what… I'm leaning towards that they ..."

The reason the Parshendi want jemhearts (not a big spoiler) (view spoiler)[is that they have soulcasters as well and need them to create food. They have no outside supply lines, so if they don't get them, they'll starve. (hide spoiler)]

Luke wrote: "Nienna wrote: "Okay. Maybe I'm a little late in wondering this but… what do the Parshendi even want with gemhearts? I'm thinking it has to be more than the wealth. But no idea what… I'm leaning tow..."

I read that in the very next chapter I was on. I may have read it before then and didn't catch though I don't remember.

The parshman/parshendi intrigue me. I hope we learn more about them in the next book.

Slight spoiler from the pre-released WoR chapters (not really a spoiler, but if you want to go into that book knowing nothing, avoid this)(view spoiler)[There's actually a Parshendi interlude in the first part of WoR. It gives you a ton more info about them. (hide spoiler)]

Wow, that spoiler free review of WOR on 17th shard has got me even more hyped up - didn't think it was possible! 10 heartbeats!

Luke wrote: "Slight spoiler from the pre-released WoR chapters (not really a spoiler, but if you want to go into that book knowing nothing, avoid this)[spoilers removed]"

That chapter was amazing. So much more for us to learn....

Eon wrote: "Wow, that spoiler free review of WOR on 17th shard has got me even more hyped up - didn't think it was possible! 10 heartbeats!"

Oh I know. I can barely contain myself. Btw, your letter is safely tucked inside my copy of Alloy of Law which will accompany me to the signing.

Wow. Being in this buddy read is like being the 8th grader at the prom.

Heh, just my thoughts. I didn´t realize this was actually a re-read for many.

I´m on chapter 18, things are picking up. I´ll try to get some reading in during my lunch break.

I'm just so slow...

Chris wrote: "Wow. Being in this buddy read is like being the 8th grader at the prom."

Hey now, be nice. We're not THAT bad lol.

Hahaha - and like we didn't all feel a bit like that during Malazan. ;)

Luke wrote: "Eon wrote: "Wow, that spoiler free review of WOR on 17th shard has got me even more hyped up - didn't think it was possible! 10 heartbeats!"

Oh I know. I can barely contain myself. Btw, your lette..."

Wooohooo!!!!!

Emily wrote: "Hahaha - and like we didn't all feel a bit like that during Malazan. ;)"

Says the one that finished it in two days...

False! It took me longer than that! At least like 5.

Haha..

Ready for DHG?

I do have it from the library, but no way do I try to read both of these at once!

I hear that...

Chris wrote: "Haha..

Ready for DHG?"

YES

*eager face*

DHG... Deadhouse Gates? Right? Ready whenever. :)

Nienna wrote: "DHG... Deadhouse Gates? Right? Ready whenever. :)"

O_O


:-D

That reminds me. I need to see if I can find DHG on audio.

Paolo wrote: "Heh, just my thoughts. I didn´t realize this was actually a re-read for many.

I´m on chapter 18, things are picking up. I´ll try to get some reading in during my lunch break."

We seem to be reading at the same pace. I'm on 18 as well. Really enjoying the world and character building and I really like the action scenes. Although, I'm still having a hard time imagining the whole bridge thing. Not the running sequences, but the snapping it into place.


Tracey, thank you for the tip!! It worked. :) I had tried that before with my old ereader and for some reason it never worked.

The bridge thing is fucking insane. It´s like the worst kind of slavery ever, but with enemies shooting arrows at you. The extra detail of the whole thing not making any sense at all (from the bridgemen´s POV) makes it even crazier.

Though I agree, the actual placing of the bridge over a gap is hard to visualize.

Yeah, I'm unclear about the mechanics (weight, leverage, etc.) of the bridge thing.

Maybe there's a huge weight behind the slaves which counterbalances the weight of the bridge so they can stand at the edge of the cliff? Ok, that'd be stupid, but I'm not sure I have any other idea how it would work.

I've been really geeking out over gap distance, load distribution, bridge construction and so on. No good ideas yet.

Paolo wrote: "The bridge thing is fucking insane. It´s like the worst kind of slavery ever, but with enemies shooting arrows at you. The extra detail of the whole thing not making any sense at all (from the brid..."

Just like some of you I also don't realize how the bridge thing physically works! I suppose the bridges must be way longer than the chasms to make sure they fit when positioning them so to counterbalance the weight when it is hanging off the cliff. What concerns me most is actually how do they get it up and back on shoulders when they have to go back?

Moreover I was wondering whether Sanderson got first the idea of the Shattered Plains or of the bridgemen. Do any of you know?

Anyway I'm on chapter 18 as well! :)

I preordered WOR from BOMC2. It'll be a slower delivery but cheaper price and the book club edition will match my TWOK.

Have not heard of the before. Just had a quick look and seems pretty cool.

Yay! Glad I'm not the only one geeking over the bridge thing. :)

I'm really glad there are pictures in the book because some of the animals described I wouldn't have been able to imagine. For example, (view spoiler)[ the chulls and axehounds. I think what threw me off with the chulls is that one was described as bleating and I can't imagine a crustacean bleating. But, I should say that the animals in this book sort of remind me of the ones in Mistborn, so I see the relation and what was talked about earlier in the thread regarding cosmere. (hide spoiler)]

For those who are reading for the first time-
(view spoiler)[ What does everyone make of the beginning passages? In the first part we have what I originally thought were experiments done on the dying and then the second part seems to be an ongoing conversation. (hide spoiler)]

Beginning of Ch. 19-
(view spoiler)[ I'm really interested in Dalinar and his "visions". It intrigues me that he has a gap in his memory of his first wife. Just wondering if the visions and lack of memory are all related. Must read on! (hide spoiler)]

Davide wrote: "Moreover I was wondering whether Sanderson got first the idea of the Shattered Plains or of the bridgemen. Do any of you know?"

He talks about this on one of his blog entries, not sure which one. But he was trying to make sieges more interesting and just brainstorming ways to do it.

This is a reread for me but honestly I have forgotten so much it's almost like reading it for the first time. I do remember a few big moments though.

As for the bridge gap thing… you know I never thought about it. But I guess I picture the chasms thin but deep more than wide gaping holes. But… if that were the case why can't the army just go around them…?

No idea. But now it's going to bug me…

My re-reads are always like reading it for the first time again lol. I generally remember all the primary plot points, but my memory isn't very good after about 6 months.