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Wahad posted:Chapter 14: Daylight Huh, I’d forgotten all about Dorath reappearing in this book. I thought that he was only in Taran Wanderer. For that matter, I’d forgotten that Medwyn told the animals to help against Annuvin. I wondered what the hell the wolves suddenly showed up.
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# ? May 3, 2024 04:34 |
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# ? May 18, 2024 18:22 |
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Chapter 15: The River of Icequote:UNDER THE SUDDEN OUTPOURING of golden light, the Huntsmen shouted in alarm and a wave of fear rippled along the marching column as they faltered and fell back into the protection of a deep gorge. Instantly Taran realized how closely he had come to leading the Commot horsemen into a fatal trap, but a cry of joy sprang from his lips. Good old Doli. quote:After a further show of reluctance, which deceived no one, except perhaps Doli himself, the crimson-haired dwarf consented to do as Taran had asked. Doli wrinkled his eyes shut, took a deep breath, as though making ready to plunge into icy water, and flickered out of sight. Had it not been for a stifled sound of irritable grumbling, Taran would not have believed Doli to be there at all. Only the faint click of pebbles stirred by unseen feet told Taran that the dwarf had moved from the tunnel toward the enemy lines. Hullo! quote:"YOU HAVE AN ODD WAY of welcoming people," Eilonwy went on, as Taran, his heart too full to speak, stared speechless at her. "You might at least say something." As the prophecy foretold! And our party is back together in full strength. All the better to tackle the most dangerous part ahead; Annuvin itself.
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# ? May 4, 2024 20:47 |
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Good old Doli!
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# ? May 4, 2024 21:17 |
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Genghis Cohen posted:Eh, he got his throat torn out by a wolf. I think the details of the description are occluded in line with the YA audience of the books. Most violence in them seems to be portrayed that way, people bloodlessly expire like an early 20th century swashbuckling movie. But it's definitely not a lovely way to go. Given his threats to Eilonwy were something rather past the PG line themselves, I think a nice brutal throat tearing was terribly appropriate really even for YA fiction.
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# ? May 5, 2024 03:35 |
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MadDogMike posted:Given his threats to Eilonwy were something rather past the PG line themselves, I think a nice brutal throat tearing was terribly appropriate really even for YA fiction.
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# ? May 5, 2024 09:15 |
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This whole situation would be a lot simpler if Glew were a giant.
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# ? May 5, 2024 16:47 |
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Darthemed posted:This whole situation would be a lot simpler if Glew were a giant. Just send Glew to fend off/hopefully get swarmed to death by the Cauldron-Born. Everyone wins.
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# ? May 6, 2024 06:35 |
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Mintymenman posted:The Kestrel/Westmark books are delightful and Time Cat keeps getting reprinted for a reason. Also, just going to drop this here: Catching up on the thread, and wanted to say thanks to everyone for the recommendations about Alexander's other work. Looking forward to starting the Westmark series. Also, that Youtube link is fantastic.
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# ? May 6, 2024 15:32 |
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Chapter 16: The Enchanterquote:LIKE A WEARY CHILD, the old man hunched over the bookstrewn table, his head upon his arm. Across his bony shoulders he had flung a cloak; the fire still flickered in the hearth, but the chill of this winter sank into him more deeply than any other he could remember. At his feet, Hen Wen stirred restlessly and whimpered in a high, plaintive voice. Dallben, who was neither altogether asleep nor awake, reached down a frail hand and gently scratched her ear. The pig would not be calmed. Her pink snout twitched, she snorted and muttered unhappily and tried to hide her head in the folds of his robe. The enchanter at last roused himself. Hey, Dallben does know magic! How about that.
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# ? May 8, 2024 16:28 |
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Wahad posted:Chapter 16: The Enchanter Probably my favourite chapter in the entire series . The guy who effortlessly sacked the capital of Prydain and killed the High King shows up with his crew to raze a tiny farm in the middle of nowhere, encounters a real wizard with a real divine artifact in his care and just gets erased from existence in three sentences. Yes, it's a cheap way of dealing with a villain who vastly outstrips the heroes in power and who they could never defeat in a fair fight, but it's no less awesome to see it go down.
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# ? May 8, 2024 17:03 |
nine-gear crow posted:Probably my favourite chapter in the entire series . The guy who effortlessly sacked the capital of Prydain and killed the High King shows up with his crew to raze a tiny farm in the middle of nowhere, encounters a real wizard with a real divine artifact in his care and just gets erased from existence in three sentences. It doesn't feel cheap because its the exact kind of dumb poo poo you expect Pryderi to do. I also interpreted the "cannot kill" line less as Dallben not having the power to do so and more that Dallben being vehemently opposed to it. It's the contrast between the real power Dallben has vs Pryderi's shallow power based solely on violence.
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# ? May 9, 2024 14:24 |
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Chapter 17: The Snowstormquote:THE FAIR FOLK WARRIORS, all save Doli, had turned back at the line of treeless crags marking the westernmost edge of the Hills of Bran-Galedd, for beyond that point the land lay under the sway of Arawn Death-Lord. For some days now the companions had toiled painfully through a wilderness of stone, where not even moss or lichen flourished. The sky was gray, and the few thin clouds no more than shreds of darker gray. It was as though an evil mist had seeped from the stronghold of Annuvin, stifling all living things and leaving only this rocky waste. Good old Doli. Also, it's a little harrowing to see what effect the realm of Annuvin has on the Fair Folk. No wonder Gwystyl was so miserable all the time, having parked as close to the borders as he was. quote:Fflewddur was first to sight the gwythaints. In the distance, above a shallow ravine three black-winged shapes soared and circled. Gained a powerful (though not so much at the moment) sorceress, lost a harp. Is that an even trade?
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# ? May 11, 2024 18:37 |
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Lotta good moments in this chapter. I had forgotten about Fflewddur burning his harp - personal sacrifices like that always get me.
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# ? May 11, 2024 19:27 |
“Since the day she threw me in her dungeon, I’ve noticed something unfriendly about her” is a great line (one among many).
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# ? May 12, 2024 15:09 |
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TheGreatEvilKing posted:I also interpreted the "cannot kill" line less as Dallben not having the power to do so and more that Dallben being vehemently opposed to it. It's the contrast between the real power Dallben has vs Pryderi's shallow power based solely on violence. I figured it was just the usual rules-lawyering where Dallben's like "Yeah *I* can't kill you but if I set some fires and then die.... "
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# ? May 12, 2024 15:28 |
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Wahad posted:Chapter 17: The Snowstorm Flewddur sacrificing his harp was probably the bit that got to me most as a kid. As the harp has appeared in all 5 books, along with its spell that makes the strings break whenever Flewddur lies, it’s almost a character in its own right. It’s a beautifully written bit, with details like the fire it made lasting all night, and only the magical unbreakable string being left by morning.
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# ? May 12, 2024 22:49 |
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Hemp Knight posted:Flewddur sacrificing his harp was probably the bit that got to me most as a kid. As the harp has appeared in all 5 books, along with its spell that makes the strings break whenever Flewddur lies, it’s almost a character in its own right. It’s a beautifully written bit, with details like the fire it made lasting all night, and only the magical unbreakable string being left by morning. Yeah, that was surprisingly gut-wrenching when I first read it, and I was already less than cheery from Coll going down earlier. Though of course it ain't over yet.
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# ? May 14, 2024 07:30 |
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The harp burning through the night playing a final song is proper myth n' legend stuff, that is how you write magic.
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# ? May 14, 2024 10:50 |
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# ? May 18, 2024 18:22 |
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Chapter 18: Mount Dragonquote:AS DOLI HAD FORETOLD Llassar had led the warriors to shelter in a cave and had saved them from the full fury of the snowstorm. The companions now made ready to continue their journey. The sharp crags that were their last obstacle lay not far distant. The crest of Mount Dragon loomed dark and forbidding. With the help of Taran's healing potions and Eilonwy's care, Achren had regained consciousness. Fflewddur was still reluctant to come within fewer than three paces of the black-robed Queen, but Gurgi had finally taken enough courage to open his wallet and offer food to the half-starved woman--- although the creature's face wrinkled uneasily and he held out the morsels at arm's length, as if fearful of being bitten. Achren, however, ate sparingly; Glew, for his part, lost no time in snatching up what remained, popping it into his mouth and glancing about to see whether more might be forthcoming. Achren's fever had left her weakened in body, yet her face had lost none of its haughtiness; and after Taran had briefly recounted what had brought the companions so close to Annuvin it was with ill-disguised scorn that she answered him. Well, at least the gang has a way in. Maybe. quote:ANOTHER DAY'S TRAVEL brought the companions across a harsh, uneven valley that lay within the shadow of Mount Dragon itself. The summit had been well named, for Taran saw its peak was in the rough shape of a monstrous, crested head with gaping jaws, and on either side the lower slopes spread like outflung wings. The great blocks and shafts of stone that rose to form its jagged bulk were dark, mottled with patches ofdull red. Before this last barrier, poised as though to swoop downward and crush them, the companions fearfully halted. Achren strode to the head of the waiting column and beckoned them onward. Did we really make it this far, only to fall now?
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# ? May 15, 2024 16:39 |