tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post196182710440185674..comments2024-01-14T15:52:43.644-05:00Comments on The Thirteenth Depository - A Wheel of Time Blog: Towers of Midnight Read-Through #27: Chapter 20 - A ChoiceDominichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17610557134981958201noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-86287994012690552862012-07-09T19:04:57.173-04:002012-07-09T19:04:57.173-04:00Linda, you put to words the one thing that has bot...Linda, you put to words the one thing that has bothered me in the last two books. It was nagging me and I couldn't quite figure out what it was until you mentioned when it's one character's time to shine everyone else seem ignorant or idiotic. I remember loving Nynaeve in this chapter and then getting a little annoyed at Egwene at the end. I literally said to myself, "How did Egwene succeed in her efforts as Amyrlin and the unification just to come up so short and ignorant in this chapter in defense of Nynaeve?" Egwene so should have had Nynaeve's back in this one. <br /><br />There are a few other instances with other characters. None of them were bad, per say, but their sudden clumsiness didn't fit with their personalities. I didn't realize this was an author writing style thing.Manetherenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16136085597386765947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-61580542678595723322012-07-09T05:41:24.762-04:002012-07-09T05:41:24.762-04:00Linda, thanks for another great post.
Anonymous -...Linda, thanks for another great post.<br /><br />Anonymous - "There does seem to be a tradition or even a law that dictates that an Aes Sedai can't interfere with another". That's true. They are not allowed to interfere or even ask about another AS's actions. It is a tradition but it is stated in the series (sorry can't remember exactly which book)that for AS tradition is stronger than the Law. <br />Until AS start questioning themselves & each other, they will be leaving themselves open to manipulation by BA and distrust by everyone else. The only reason to have the tradition is so that the AS can ignore anything that brings them into disrepute. And they've got alot to ignore. <br />And Egwene needs to start making the changes rather than silently condoning the mistreatment of one of her "Daughters" by the others, even borderline participation of the bullying herself. She learnt from the WO's that the only discipline is self-discipline and she should be teaching that to the AS rather than the AS teaching her their bad habits.Mattricksternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-63588856072688131392012-07-06T11:47:02.988-04:002012-07-06T11:47:02.988-04:00"So she not only condoned its vengeful nature..."So she not only condoned its vengeful nature, but contributed to it to justify her own judgement."<br /><br />I don't think this is true. While Egwene should certainly have put her foot down and ended the test, there was nothing vengeful about her tests. Both the Two Rivers and the final Lan test were tough, but not vengeful. It is not like Egwene had no idea what Nynaeve would go through if she saw Lan in danger. Egwene herself had a conflict of interest between the Tower and the man she loved. It is a reasonable test, especially given the evidence Egwene had that Nynaeve had overcome the barriers of the AS test, and had her memories.<br /><br />As for not stopping the truly vengeful tests, the ones with the sick children (almost certainly from Barasine, Rubinde and Lelaine), there does seem to be strong tradition or maybe even law that dictates that an AS can't interfere with another's test. Which is why Saerin likely kept quiet, and why Anaiya kept quiet during Moiraine's test.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-64640834623126221422012-07-06T07:40:53.733-04:002012-07-06T07:40:53.733-04:00Good comments all. :)
Aes Sedai do have tall popp...Good comments all. :)<br /><br />Aes Sedai do have tall poppy syndrome for sure.<br /><br />Landro I considered mentioning Ellid in this post, but there area few possibilities for her sad end. Perhaps she genuinely did fail. She was very beautiful and confident, though, so a likely target for jealousy. She may also have been killed by the Black Ajah. She openly spoke of joining the Green and of having overheard a discussion of a Foretelling that the Last Battle was coming. If an Accepted who is a strong channeller has openly spoken of joining a particular Ajah, then it would be tempting for that Ajah's rivals to make her test particularly harsh...<br /><br />This test seems to bring out the worst in some of the Aes Sedai operating the ter'angreal, while it brings out the best in the candidates. It should be abandoned.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14767984732078916662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-90843187319696101712012-07-06T05:51:21.278-04:002012-07-06T05:51:21.278-04:00nothing brings out most peoples hate quite like th...nothing brings out most peoples hate quite like the double-edged sword of talent and ability. after all Ny never had to serve as an novice. that set many aes sedai against her from the start. even healing stilling and gentling was met with some scorn. i love he comment that lan (and life) are more important than being aes sedai.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-5801637644670955812012-07-06T04:32:49.361-04:002012-07-06T04:32:49.361-04:00For some reason I never picked up the jealousy asp...For some reason I never picked up the jealousy aspect. This might explain why Ellid failed her test for the shawl (NS, Ch14)<br /><br />LandroAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-59670688736086721102012-07-05T23:23:52.149-04:002012-07-05T23:23:52.149-04:00...I left out Nynaeve being a close, personal frie......I left out Nynaeve being a close, personal friend of the Amyrlin, but needing to still go her own way. And Nynaeve is now royalty, as well.t ballnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-79900512818193535502012-07-05T23:18:57.310-04:002012-07-05T23:18:57.310-04:00Heh, and by the way, that Moiraine-Nynaeve duo I j...Heh, and by the way, that Moiraine-Nynaeve duo I just mentioned above has really played out in an interesting way. Nynaeve, who resented Moiraine for many reasons, is now quite like her. <br /><br />The way Nynaeve views being an Aes Sedai -- Moiraine made similar ivory tower-like comments once (back in book 2 or 3, I think), IIRC. Her trusted advisory role with Rand; finally having "all" of Lan and completing the passing of his bond that Moiraine set in motion; the important role the two will play together with Rand. <br /><br />It's been one of the more interesting relationships in the series to me. Everyone is looking forward to Moiraine meeting up with Rand and the others again in MOL. But it's her first interaction with Nynaeve that I can't wait to see.t ballnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-41497289876391713452012-07-05T23:00:45.052-04:002012-07-05T23:00:45.052-04:00I agree that Egwene acts poorly here, as she did w...I agree that Egwene acts poorly here, as she did with Rand earlier. But I think that is fine. Like with Rand in Maradon, and at the very end of the book, it shows that this is still going to be very, very hard. They are still going to have to make very tough choices, even with all of the personal growth. <br /><br />They are still going to make mistakes. In an odd way, it reinforces what Rand learned in the Veins of Gold chapter. They get to try again, learn from their mistakes and do better next time.<br /><br />I wouldn't be surprised if we see Egwene learn from this in the final book. She will definitely need to learn some things about Rand and the Last Battle soon, and this scene with Nynaeve seems to be an opening to help Egwene see the necessity of letting Rand go to SG and break the seals, with the help of Nynaeve and Moiraine. <br /><br />We will have a scene in MOL where Egwene meets Moiraine again, surely. Moiraine was another AS who chose as Nynaeve did, using balefire at need, leaving the Tower behind, even sacrificing herself. Perhaps Nyn and Moiraine are the keys to helping Egwene and the WT seeing fit to help Rand instead of blocking his way?t ballnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-69197775312728126402012-07-05T10:22:06.541-04:002012-07-05T10:22:06.541-04:00Yeah, I think the dreamspike was already in use wh...Yeah, I think the dreamspike was already in use when Nynaeve went to Myrelle. It just covered the BT, not the area outside.Fragrant Elephanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02622569777207864974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833204375789249557.post-84619136503625472362012-07-05T08:31:04.940-04:002012-07-05T08:31:04.940-04:00I don't have my books at hand ATM and won'...I don't have my books at hand ATM and won't have for a time, but as I interpreted the meeting with Myrelle and other scenes, the rebel embassy's camp was just outside the BT, while the Dreamspike exactly covered it's area. So it shouldn't have had any effect on the rebel embassy.Voscaia Sedainoreply@blogger.com