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Originally Posted by RosemaryKirstein
Grey Ram, I think that part of the issue here is that the book is a series, and I'm not spelling out all the details of how everything works in the first volume. Some things will be developed more fully further down the line, in subsequent books, and my plan is to use the opportunities that arise in the natural course of the overall plot to explore or reveal the justifications behind the world-building background and social setup. In fact, the core of the actual story is Rowan herself learning these things.
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Just to be clear, I don't want everything spelled out and I certainly can wait until Rowan figures things out instead of knowing them beforehand. Actually I like this approach, and I think it's one of the merits of the plot.
What I would like to know is more of what Rowan already knows, not the *why* (which I will find out in due time), simply the *what*, like:
. This is an interesting world, if the map at the beginning is the known world, well it seems kinda small, and they already know it is round. So for example why can't they go west of the wolf river? Would it be that inconvenient to mention what physical barriers have limited the exploration of the world?.
. There is a mention of a Duke, but otherwise, I have no idea of he social structure. Is it governed by Dukes? some other civil authority? Is it anarchy for the most part? I know it's not the wizards that govern because it is said of The Crags that "its politics depend on the wizard's decisions".
. What is the place of the wizards in the society?, I mean, they keeep to themselves and so on, but what do they do when they are not at war? Do they build things (for whom)? extract natural resources? torture the peasants for their amusement? spend the whole time in their keeps studying?
. Same goes for the steerswomen; I don't think that their whole interaction with the people is to answer trivial questions or the day's news. I see that they are very well respected, althought not exactly revered, but I don't see the source of that respect in their actions.
... and I could go on. Basically, I'm dropped along Rowan and I'm supposed to follow her and understand what she's doing, but I'm an alien from another world! that would still be fine if I were allowed to investigate this world and find about how it is. But I can't, I'm stuck at Rowan's side and the only information I have is what she receives, not even what she already knows unless she comunicates it to someone else.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RosemaryKirstein
As the saying goes: your mileage may vary. If you can't engage without more explication up front, well, possibly I'm just not the author for you.
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I would say that you gave up too soon
. Why not recommend the second book, which I am reading now?
As you can see, I don't consider this book unworthy of my time, or otherwise I would not have taken the time to read it and comment; as a matter of fact I find it interesting but at the same time I'm somewhat disappointed by what wasn't there. And one last thing, I still cringe at all that passed from the time Rowan, Will and Bel met the soldiers up to the explosion of the keep (torture? speaking in tongues to maintain secrecy, really?) and I should have liked the book a whole lot better if things have gone differently then.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RosemaryKirstein
Thanks for giving my book your attention.
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I appreciate the time you took for responding, it's the first time I talk to an author
