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dr_mitch
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- dr_mitch
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Comments
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I need to revisit the "unstuck in time" notion, but we're moving into looking ahead/spoiler territory for me to properly give my thoughts. I've made a note... The torturers just carrying out orders is an excellent point.
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Okay...the characters in Mouseguard are anthropomorphic mice, patrolling their territories, dealing with threats. They have some technology, but it's not advanced. One place the game plays absolutely fair is in the environment being a genuine threa…
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Hmm... A hack of Mouseguard to work with Mesklinites would fit rather well.
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@RichardAbbott I agree- it's very far indeed from conclusive. Just a maybe, and who knows how correct our solar system formations are (or for that matter are in the universe of the New Sun). And that's some interesting insight on Pluto and Charon. …
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Discussion of the next four chapters: https://www.ttrpbc.com/discussion/223/shadow-of-the-torturer-chapters-nine-to-twelve
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And that brief synopsis misses out lots of fascinating things. For me there's: * The brothel, where the women imitate the high-ranking nobility who presumably form a part of the Autarch's harem, mentioned in an earlier chapter. * The feast of St.Ca…
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I enjoyed these chapters. There was a lot of mood, some philosophy, some tantalising hints about Severian's path and character, and about the world. And not so much plot, which was perhaps exposed by the nature of the slow read, but I'm personally f…
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I've also read what was written for the planned sequel. I can see why he turned to the First Age rather than the Fourth. He was sort of in a corner...if the end of the Third Age is where the magic is fading, the Fourth Age is where it has now faded,…
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I think of myself as someone who likes hard science fiction, but I'm not entirely sure. When it comes to Mission of Gravity, I did like the fact that the whole book isn't about plot or character- it's about physics! It's a change...but it's going to…
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There was nobody except Barlennan and to a minor extent Dondragmer from whom I got any sense of personality, sorry! It's a flaw in a lot of older science fiction, that. Or maybe a feature. I still liked Barlennan though.
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The serial novel structure does explain some of the repetitive nature of things. So I'm not too surprised. I think there is a parallel between writing serial novels and tabletop roleplaying campaigns which go on for a large number of sessions, with…
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There were a few moments when I got a little bored- when there was another landscape problem to be overcome with advice from the humans and ingenuity. I liked Barleman when he was talking to other cultures.
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When I read older SF, part of me just filters out most of the older descriptions of technology. Though I can't help but smile a bit at slide rules being mentioned. It doesn't bother me unless the technology is in focus. When it's in focus, it's kin…
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I now have mine too! Thanks for doing this Mr. Miller. It's an absolute delight! Silmarillion for 2020?
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Good idea. I'll try to remember to do that next time, and hope someone else does the times I forget.
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On the picture... Yes! One of the small and fun puzzles with how things are described. And the fact the Moon is now forested is wonderful. And yes... I still need to post my thoughts.
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11: A Mission of Gravity (Hal Clement) A novel piece of 1950s science fiction concerning a rapidly spinning extremely dense planet with exceptionally high gravity at the poles, and much less extreme gravity (by a factor of hundreds) at the equator. …
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I think "culture ran on its own inertia rather than having a real vitality left" is exactly on point. I also think the mish mash from ancient languages is deliberate, and a way of showing the long past all blends into one, half-forgotten.
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> @Apocryphal said: > Hey, someone read a book I recommended and liked it! Yep, Somerled was definitely because of your recommendation. :)
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On my list of things I plan to read.... :)
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I've been slow in keeping this up to date. So here goes... 8: Somerled- Hammer of the Norse (Kathleen McPhee) A short and journalistic account of Somerled, King of the Isles (the islands off the west coast of Scotland, more or less). And it's a com…
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Yes, the term "clients" makes me shudder. And the torturers' professionalism and detachment, the way Severian has taken all this on board as the right way to behave. I read an interview with Gene Wolfe where he mentioned part of the boo…
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Oho- it will be great to have you on board!
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In the Citadel I love the idea of the Guilds. And maybe some of them are obsolete or confused over their original functions. I have to wonder for example what the Witches do, and why they're associated to the Torturers.
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There has to be something in Plato's theory of forms for an RPG magic system. Coming soon...clash bowley's "Plato was right." :)
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Yes, Severian doesn't remain a torturer, and there are no graphic torture scenes that I recall. Though the flayed foot scene wasn't something I remembered and also made me uncomfortable. Good call on the towers perhaps being parked rockets. The w…
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Not to mention *What Ho World!* Which despite the name isn't an Apocalypse World hack.
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Welcome!
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It begins! https://ttrpbc.com/discussion/210/shadow-of-the-torturer-chapters-one-to-four
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Some thoughts... * The book is presented as a memoir, and presents the world as if the reader is familiar with it, though not with all aspects. Sometimes this throws me for a loop. For instance, the animals are referred to as if they are present da…