Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

I'm reading this mainly because I want to read anything by Rothfuss while I impatiently await the release of The Doors of Stone, but also for a the topic of a "between the numbers book". This isn't really a novel, just a short story at only 59 pages, but it's about the enigmatic character Bast, who is definitely more than he appears to be.

I'm looking forward to delving back into the world of Temerant and learning more secrets about its magic and characters.

I didn't know about this one but now I want to read it! I don't know why I've never seen it in bookstores.

I don't think it has been published on its own at this point in time. It's part of the collected anthology of short stories "Rogues" (can't link it right now, I'm using the mobile app) edited by George R. R. Martin. I got the anthology from the library so I'll probably read some of the other short stories while I have it checked out as well.

Ah ok that makes sense. Thanks. I'll try to look for the anthology.

Just finished this one. Here are my thoughts, but be warned the spoiler tags are more for people who have not read The Name of the Wind or The Wise Man's Fear more than for this story itself.

So, first off, Rothfuss' writing is always subtle, hinting and teasing, and I think it benefits from having a long, slow build over the course of a novel. Slow Regard was written in a similar fashion with the writing building and alluding to more just on the next page. I love this about his writing and it draws me in every time. He does it again here, but I don't think it worked as well because there just wasn't enough time to let his writing simmer. At only 59 pages, this is more like a couple chapters from one of his other books.

That said, I still really enjoyed it and it brings a lot of insight into the character of Bast. Right away, I think it clears up the issue of whether or not Bast is (view spoiler)[good or bad. Throughout the Kingkiller chonicle, it's made clear that Bast cares for and respects Kvothe, but it's often hinted at that he has ulterior motives. It's left a little ambiguous as to whether or not he has some kind of nefarious plan or scheme in the works. The Lightning Tree defines his morality as ultimately good, albeit a little chaotic and mischievous as well. (hide spoiler)]

It also reveals quite a bit about how Fae magic works. Bast reveals that (view spoiler)[Fae enjoy places where earth, fire, air and water all come together. The titular tree it located beside a waystone, a stream, at the top of an open hill and had been struck by lightning setting it on fire. Bast likes the tree because all four elements are present there. (hide spoiler)] This is an interesting revelation and one I will be looking for more closely in the kingkiller novels. I'd be curious to go back and reread the kingkiller novels to see if there are any locations or significant events that occur (view spoiler)[ when all four elements, or some number of them, come together. Off the top of my head, I believe the incident with the dracus combined at least 3 outright; it's been a long while since I read the books, but there is a waystone, the campfire, and I believe it was raining. All taking place on a hilltop open to the air, if I recall correctly. I'm interested to see if there are more cases of intense magic, or possibly the Chandrian where this is the case. I can't remember the circumstances, but the wedding the Chandrian crashed may have had those elements present as well. Either way, the combination of those four things will be a very significant way of foreshadowing or hinting at important locations in the coming book. (hide spoiler)]

Overall, I really enjoyed this addition to the Kingkiller Chronicle lore, but I wish there was more!

Peter wrote: "I don't think it has been published on its own at this point in time. It's part of the collected anthology of short stories "Rogues" (can't link it right now, I'm using the mobile app) edited by Ge..."

I'm reading Rogues, it contains very good stories! I don't know if you can see it here, but I'm writing one-sentence review of every short stories I read.

I'm really interested in your analyses under the last spoiler tag. I'm planning to re-read The Wise Man's Fear this autumn, I'm going to pay attention to these elements!

I'm browsing through Rogues as well. I don't think I'll read every story, but I'll read at least a few of them.

I really want to get my hands on Unfettered, mainly to read the other short story from Rothfuss - "How Old Nan Came to Be". I think that is the only thing he has written in the setting of Temerant I haven't read yet.

I really like how even though this story and The Slow Regard of Silent Things are not outwardly about Kvothe or his story, they fill in small gaps, expand our understanding, and hint at things to come. I think it's absolutely genius.

Sophie - I'm a little rusty on my Kingkiller Chronicle theories and speculation, but there are a lot of websites that list them and I really enjoyed reading through them after I finished the books. I have to reread the first two books, but probably won't get to them this year. I'm not too worried as word is The Doors or Stone won't be released until sometime in 2017 anyway.

This is speculation on my part but I think (view spoiler)[the minor characters Rothfuss has chosen to develop further through short stories will have a larger role or some greater significance to the story than what meets the eye.

My prediction is that Auri is a Namer. Even more powerful than Elodin, the Master Namer. He can see true names, but I think he still has to try, or make a conscious effort to open his mind to them. I think Auri just sees true names. I think that's why she seems loopy. Imagine if you saw and related to things in a completely different way than everyone else. The best comparison I can think of would be if you saw everything in Infrared vision all the time, but no one else did. That's how I think Auri sees the world, but that she sees true names or the true nature of things. I also think Auri knows more about Kvothe.

Now, there are a lot of theories that speculate Kvothe changed his true name, hence why he is "Kote" at the inn, and that he changed his true name to hide his identity or because of his guilt over starting whatever conflict is going on in the frame story. These are good, but what if Auri changed his name? She could change his name because she knows something about him and wants to protect him. This ties in with Slow Regard, in which Auri alludes to knowing about some danger or significant event Kvothe is heading towards. She is also very fragile and particular about things and I can see her viewing certain uses of power as a sort of betrayal, so she may also change his name because she feels he somehow misused his power. This would come to explain a little bit of the melancholy demeanour of Kote; he doesn't seem to NOT want his power, just that he can't use it. Strongest evidence for this is when he tried to get into his chest but isn't able to. He seems to want to, just that he can't, so I don't buy into the fact that he willingly chose to alter his true name himself.

As far as Bast goes - I don't think he is Kvothe's son as a lot of theories suggest. But I do think he may be Felurian's son. I think the ongoing war in the background of the frame story is also taking place in the Fae realm as well. I think Bast has come to try and help Kvothe get his power back because Bast wants or needs Kvothe to help fix things, or Felurian is in danger and needs Kvothe's help. He may also have been assigned to Kvothe as a sort of protector or bodyguard, because he seems to recognize Fae creatures better than Kvothe does, and again, from the frame story it would appear there are some dangerous Fae creatures seeking out Kvothe. (hide spoiler)]

I'm really interested to read the story about Old Nan to see if she might be a character who may play a role in The Doors of Stone as well. I'm interested in your thoughts or theories as well, so let me know what you think too!