The book dialog game

[pdurrant]

OK, this is from a fantasy novel (or connected collection of short stories, depending on how you look at it) from 1971.

The girl was beautiful, and rich, and inordinately proud.

"No!" she continually insisted, discarding suitor after suitor. "I wish to be loved for myself, for what I am!"

"As you wish, so be it," said the traveller, who had just come in the guise of a pilgrim to one of the jousts organized that this lady might view her potential husbands. Twenty-one men had died in the lists that afternoon, and she had thrown her glove in the champion's face and gone to supper.

The next time there were jousts announced, no challenger came, and the girl pulled a face and demanded that more heralds go forth. Her father summoned a hundred heralds. The news went abroad. And personable young men said in every city, "Fight for a stuck-up shrew like her? Ho-ho! I've better ways to pass my time, and so've my friends!"

[pdurrant]

OK, we'll see how you do if I give the main character a few more words.

"I don't understand!" complained Bernard.

"No matter. If you did understand the nature of chaos, men being what they are, you would certainly be conceited enough to wish to exploit it. This in fact is what those vain enchanters do: turn the forces of chaos to their own advantage. But, logically, to control chaos with reason is to impose lasting order on it. This implies in turn that sooner or later chaos will reign no longer."

Bernard's face exhibited sudden comprehension. "I see!" he exclaimed. "In other words, these magicians or whatever necessarily destroy what they most desire to preserve, by imposing rational control on it."

"You get the point exactly," said the one in black.

[poohbear_nc]

Totally clueless here ... afraid I don't read much fantasy these days.

[pdurrant]

I'm not sure that more quotes will help. Umm... It's an eponymous book, although the main character has many names but only one nature.

Indeed, taking bits from both quotes, you should be able to work out the usual name for the main character, and thus the title of the book.

And if you haven't read it, I do recommend it. Alas, not in an ebook edition yet.

[The Terminator]

Her?











.

[pdurrant]

It seems that no-one knows this one. I'm surprised. It's rather a classic of fantasy, and I thought the "As you wish, so be it" and mention of the traveller, one in black, and order & chaos would be enough.

Spoiler:

It's The Traveller in Black by John Brunner. It's worth finding a copy.

Would someone else like to take a turn?

[HomeInMyShoes]

^I had to look it up. Does cheating count for winning?

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

^I had to look it up. Does cheating count for winning?

Since no-one else has stepped forward, why don't you give us a puzzle this time?

[HomeInMyShoes]

Woohoo, cheater win. Reminds me of some of the lessons I've learned in some of the folktales I've read. It's okay to steal if you're a really good thief. Okay, maybe cross that one off the list to read to my son.

Anyway. On to a clue. Hmmmm...probably my favourite line from the book:

Originally Posted by guessTheBook

“I understand what you're saying, and your comments are valuable, but I'm gonna ignore your advice.”

[pdurrant]

I don't know it from that.

[Daithi]

Sorry, this one isn't ringing any bells with me either.

[HomeInMyShoes]

This is probably going to need some hints or more quotes.

Originally Posted by guessTheBook

D'you know, he eats three boiled chickens smothered with dumplings everyday for breakfast, lunch and supper?

[HomeInMyShoes]

No guesses. Another quote or maybe a hint. Well, we'll go obvious...

Originally Posted by guessTheBook

Boggis, Bunce, and Bean
One short, one fat, one lean
These horrible crooks, so different in looks
Were none the less equally mean

[pdurrant]

It seems I can't have read this one.

[anjirlly]

I thought the first quote might have been referring to a Dilbert collection, but that doesn't work for the subsequent quotes.