clumsybutterflies

[clumsybutterflies]

It ended up taking me less than a month, while working and having a toddler and doing some Christmas prep, so I'm pretty impressed with myself.

Admittedly, the laundry situation was dire towards the end, and cleaning took a back seat, too. But sometimes you have to be a Tiamak or Strangyeard rather than Rachel the Dragon...

Left: what just arrived in the mail and what I want to read right now

Right: what I should and want to read first to properly appreciate it

[clumsybutterflies]

There's a character in The Navigator's Children who is knighted and wants to be addressed as Sir Lady so-and-so (not saying who because spoilers.)

I will NEVER not fuck with women using a traditionally masculine title. Tell me more about that girl that's also a prince.

[clumsybutterflies]

This quote, though. This is at the heart of everything. Of the books, of course - this is why I love them - but also of the fandom, such as it is. Especially those of us who hang out at "Smarch", but also every Tad-fan I meet in another context, it's always... "of course. You are such a kind, good-hearted person, someone I could be friends with. Of course you love his books."

Doctor Morgenes once told me something very wise—'Make your home in your head, Simon," he said. But I came to see in the last year that there's even more to it than that. Making a home in your head is a good start, but you must also make a home in your heart for the people you love."

- Tad Williams, The Navigator's Children

[clumsybutterflies]

Doctor Morgenes once told me something very wise—'Make your home in your head, Simon," he said. But I came to see in the last year that there's even more to it than that. Making a home in your head is a good start, but you must also make a home in your heart for the people you love."

- Tad Williams, The Navigator's Children

[clumsybutterflies]

More detailed thoughts later, maybe. For now, just:

I loved it. I just felt so comfortable in the book, if that makes sense. Battles and threats of destruction and all, I still always felt I could trust Tad.

Even the characters that I didn't care for in the first book or two have grown on me, so I was happy to spend time with everyone.

And I'm just so fond of reunion scenes, especially "but I thought you were dead!" reunion scenes, so this felt tailor-made for me on that level!

Yes, I can see things I would have done differently, and questions I would have liked answers to, but overall I loved it!

(And I'm so, so glad that my brain seems to have recovered somewhat from the constant exhaustion of the past years, my thoughts felt clearer and my memory better than they have in a long time. At the same time, I feel sad that this happened only now, and not at a time when I could have done some Scrollbearer work for the book... But oh well.)

Two chapters in I'm already screaming internally.

I kind of foresaw one thing, but the other not at all!

Spoilers under the cut!

Munshazou was one of my theories for the Red Thing, but I don't know if I ever wrote it down, so I can't prove it.

And I know I made crackpot theories about relatives of Pryrates, but I don't think his mother was among them. But oh, what a parallel to Unver and Vorzheva!

But! Geloë! What!?

I mean, I'm pleased to see her! But wow!

First Leleth and now Lillia, nice little parallel there as well.

And: ending one book with Miri presumed dead, one book with Simon presumed dead, and one with Lillia supposedly possessed and doomed - excellent!

[clumsybutterflies]

Ah yes, I see Jarnulf went to Sir Deornoth's school of "being a bit TOO much in love with your Prince".

[clumsybutterflies]

"Most people, I think, wish only to live their lives in a little comfort, and free from fear," said Tiamak. "Although to be fair, many want something more of life-I ached to see more of the world than I could from my my hut in Village Grove. But there are a number of men in this world-and women, I suppose- who only want to take everything for themselves, or to deny things to others. Aedonites would say they were corrupted by the Devil. Or it could simply be that they have some hole in their spirit that nothing can fill, but still they keep trying to shove more in. Sadly, I think there will always be such creatures among us."

"But how can we keep such folk from having the power to harm others?"

"That, not even the wisest counselor could tell you."

- Tad Williams, The Navigator's Children

[clumsybutterflies]

Two chapters in I'm already screaming internally.

I kind of foresaw one thing, but the other not at all!

Spoilers under the cut!

Munshazou was one of my theories for the Red Thing, but I don't know if I ever wrote it down, so I can't prove it.

And I know I made crackpot theories about relatives of Pryrates, but I don't think his mother was among them. But oh, what a parallel to Unver and Vorzheva!

But! Geloë! What!?

I mean, I'm pleased to see her! But wow!

First Leleth and now Lillia, nice little parallel there as well.

And: ending one book with Miri presumed dead, one book with Simon presumed dead, and one with Lillia supposedly possessed and doomed - excellent!

[clumsybutterflies]

I have finished The Witchwood Crown at last.

Only two more monsters and two normal-sized books to go.

Might skip The Heart of What Was Lost, as I've read it more often and it is depressing...

Left: what just arrived in the mail and what I want to read right now

Right: what I should and want to read first to properly appreciate it

[clumsybutterflies]

Left: what just arrived in the mail and what I want to read right now

Right: what I should and want to read first to properly appreciate it

[clumsybutterflies]

"I have faith that learning will always frighten stupidity, and that stupidity often strike back, sometimes murderously."

Tad Williams, The Witchwood Crown

Huh. Depressingly relevant these days.

[clumsybutterflies]

More than four years now since you left us, Cyan, and still you are always with us. Especially when we get together like we did yesterday. In our thoughts, in the stories we tell, in our clothes and the other little things you left us. But also in every stitch I knit or sew, in the way I clean mushrooms or heat rice, and especially, especially in the way we say goodbye as we all leave for home.

Thank you for the friendship and the good times.

[clumsybutterflies]

I have more photos on my camera, and video, which is probably not very good, but I hope it will at least be intelligible.

Will have to wait for laptop time to post those, though, and I'm not sure when that'll happen.

The plan for tonight.

[clumsybutterflies]

Oops. Blurry.

The plan for tonight.

[clumsybutterflies]

The plan for tonight.

[clumsybutterflies]

Travelling light sure isn't easy when going to a Tad Williams reading/signing.

[clumsybutterflies]

In my twenties: I want to meet Binabik and Qantaqa!

In my thirties: I want to meet Rachel the Dragon (specifically, have her come visit and clean my home.)