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Ikemmu really has me thinking about different societies and governments in our own world, and so it's appropriate today to realize that although we have some issues with our politics, our country has a pretty good system in place!  Remember that while you're out there sipping a cold zzar and kicking back with your copy of Unbroken Chain.

This forum will cover:

Chapters 10-13

That's pages 111 - 162.  Looking forward to your thoughts, as always.

Jul 5, 2011 -- 3:35PM, davidgiven wrote:

Is there a way to subscribe to a forum thread without posting to it first?

Yes, by clicking the 'subscribe' button at the top of the page.

Gomez

The part of this section where Ashok has the nightmares and then flashes in and out of them even when awake was my favorite part of the book so far.  It was handled so well in the writing, and really made me feel what Ashok was experiencing, not being able to fully get a grasp on reality.  Now I have to think of a way to incorporate that in a D&D quest.  It's so much better when you're playing the game if the monsters have these unique powers that give players different experiences beyond "here's a monster, kill it."

Vedoran seems like he's going to go over to the dark side (Besheba) at some point, and I imagine Ashok is going to have to deal with him then.  Even though it seems like the Tempus society isn't a good model because of it's monotheistic nature, you still can't help but think Uwan is a pretty nice guy that doesn't have ulterior motives.  I hope it stays this way.  It makes for more interesting character development with Uwan, Ashok, and Vedoran.

I wonder when Ashok is going to let his friends know that they're going to be facing off against his father and brothers.  I also wonder what's happened that they haven't killed the scouting party from Ikemmu yet.  There's more going on here, and it may or may not involve the Bog Hag.  Either way, I'm guessing we're going to see her in action soon.

We're about halfway through, and I'm still hooked.  Hopefully the second half delivers as well! 

Reading back over this section of the book reminds me how much I like Vedoran and Ashok's relationship.  If I could have had another 20,000 words for this book, I would have given them to Vedoran.  There's so much going on inside of him, particularly:

"Part of me wonders if Vedoran would have ever been recognized for his talents and assigned to lead a mission if he hadn't happened to be hanging out with the group that Ashok got plunked into. "

This.  On the money.  Vedoran is so very aware of his current position and of the position he could have held had he chosen to bend a knee to Tempus.  It burns in him all the time, the pride, the regrets and might-have-beens.  

Another behind-the-scenes tidbit: the scene between Vedoran and Ashok in the tower after Ashok wakes up from his nightmares was one of those pivotal scenes for me as a writer trying to feel these two characters out, their similarities and differences, and how they are two aspects of one race.  The dialog in this scene probably changed a dozen times, but in the end, Ashok asks Vedoran why he never "gave in" (there's that phrase again, not in the actual dialog but so very apt--giving in, resignation, the easy path? the right path?) and accepted Tempus as his god.  Ashok is struggling with the same question, but in a lot of ways, the issue is bigger than Tempus, as far as Ashok's character is concerned, bigger than the monotheistic vs. ploytheistic question in Ikemmu.  When we get to the end of the book discussion, there's a question I'm very interested in asking the group as regards Ashok, Vedoran, and their faiths, but I'll wait until you have the entire story to ask it.

Also, while I'm thinking about it, I'm keeping track of everyone who has posted so far for the contest drawing.  So far I have Gemini_Maxwell, gomeztoo, dadocollin, davidgiven, Magicstar1, and gold_piece.  If I missed anyone, please let me know!