*thinks everyone should be ready just to amuse her*

Since no one has gone yet, and since we've at last heard from everyone involved in the re-read for last week, I'll go ahead and discuss this week's chapters.

Chapter 20 begins with one of my favorite scenes in the entire series. The interaction between Aditu and Simon allows much exposition to take place: Aditu explains to Simon (and the readers at home) all sorts of things about Witnesses, Sesu'adra, Utuk'ku and Ineluki, the Gardenborn...

Simon and Aditu kiss. This scene is important, because it reveals how different the Sithi and Mankind are: Simon spends this entire scene confused and bewildered. Simon feels insulted at more than one point. Aditu seems angry or irritated in parts of their conversation. They walk arm in arm under the stars, but they're worlds apart.

After a short passage with Josua, Strangeyeard, Vorzheva, and Geloë, Simon and Aditu are back. Another amusing and highly entertaining scene takes place. The three humans' reactions are truly priceless, and Aditu's responses are quite clever.

Do you believe Aditu is truly confused, or is she mocking again?

Geloë and Aditu share a brief exchange which indicates a connection between Geloë and Amerasu/the Sithi.

Aditu says at one point (pg 420) that the Norns 'must not have any foothold south of Nakkiga'. Why? Simon's vision of the Fire Garden indicates the Norns and Sithi fought bitterly over the lands of Osten Ard. Why must the Norns remain stuck in the far north? Is this part of the reason they are embittered?

Vorzheva and Aditu become friends. At first, Vorzheva seems cool to Aditu. I wonder what causes this friendship to form in the first place, aside from Aditu's obvious interest in Vorzheva's unborn child.

And a sentence that makes me very sad: "Even Simon, who had lived among [the Sithi] and rescued one of them, was not at all certain that he could count any of them as friends."

The theme of part-Zida'ya folk, first started with Eolair, continues in this chapter: On page 422, Aditu jests that Simon has become 'part Zida'ya' while he stayed with them. On page 423, the townfolk gossip that Simon is also part Zida'ya.

Later, on page 425, Aditu even begins wearing mortal clothing.

This chapter is a strange contrast, parts of it seemingly indicating that the Sithi and Mortal worlds are as far apart as can be, while other parts have a theme of human and Sithi blending together.

Jeremias refers to Tiamak as 'the brown man'. This is quite within his character, and it's significant that he makes that remark: unlike Simon, he hasn't seen the world.

Miriamele and Simon meet once more. She does not immediately recognize him; she barely speaks to him. She does not ask about Leleth. She goes to take a nap.

The next chapter starts from the POV of Utuk'ku. Her eyes, it states here, are colorless. I once wrote Tad about this. I wondered what it meant by 'colorless'. I assumed it didn't mean truly colorless, as in clear, so you would see into her skull. But I wondered if 'colorless' might mean white, gray, black, or silver. Tad explained to me her colorless eyes are actually a milky white, as if the melanin in her irises is so old that it has faded away.

Jiriki states that the last of the Zida'ya had left Mezu'tua long before his birth. Jenjiyana ceded the city and two others to the Dwarrows when the Navigator's Children broke from the Sithi. Which pretty much cements my belief that it was Jenjiyana who appeared at the Fire Garden on Simon's vigil night.

And here the link between Dwarrows and Niskies is finally made clear to Eolair.

Rachel gives a name to the cat. Is there any significance to this name?

Firsfron of Ronchester wrote:

Rachel gives a name to the cat. Is there any significance to this name?

Apart from this very simple one?

Firsfron of Ronchester wrote:

It is perhaps ironic that Rachel is calling the cat this, considering her own reputation.

That's exactly what I thought when I read the translation!

It's amazing time and again what you can find by doing a google search...

*rotflapmp*

I'm so happy that I took a sip from my drink before I read this - otherwise I'd need to buy a new keyboard for soaking the current one in liquid!

I hope you can get caught up soon, Neemo.

BTW, today I got my copy of The Burning Man graphic novel from the Dabel Brothers. I very much like it.

*sigh* does this mean that i'm actually going to have to legitimately participate in the reread?

slacker? me? pah!

*pokes the thread again to prove she's not a slacker*

*basks*

Yay! :)

Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers

I may be a slacker but i remembered my spoiler warnings :P (Kidding :D )

Firsfron of Ronchester wrote:

Chapter 20 begins with one of my favorite scenes in the entire series. The interaction between Aditu and Simon allows much exposition to take place: Aditu explains to Simon (and the readers at home) all sorts of things about Witnesses, Sesu'adra, Utuk'ku and Ineluki, the Gardenborn...

Yes I always like reading history in this series. too bad i never liked it in school :)

Firsfron of Ronchester wrote:

Simon and Aditu kiss. This scene is important, because it reveals how different the Sithi and Mankind are: Simon spends this entire scene confused and bewildered. Simon feels insulted at more than one point. Aditu seems angry or irritated in parts of their conversation. They walk arm in arm under the stars, but they're worlds apart.

So true. But I think she was more upset that she didn't get to ride with the rest of the Sithi. THey gave her the 'Safe' job cuz she's young. I think that's more the reason why she was irritated.

Firsfron of Ronchester wrote:

After a short passage with Josua, Strangeyeard, Vorzheva, and Geloë, Simon and Aditu are back. Another amusing and highly entertaining scene takes place. The three humans' reactions are truly priceless, and Aditu's responses are quite clever.

Do you believe Aditu is truly confused, or is she mocking again?

Geloë and Aditu share a brief exchange which indicates a connection between Geloë and Amerasu/the Sithi.

I think it might be half and half. it is said later that the prayers said over Asu'a are basically magical protections to ward away Ineluki so she might be curious.

But she doesn't name her Tinukedaya or Ryun's Own :

Firsfron of Ronchester wrote:

Aditu says at one point (pg 420) that the Norns 'must not have any foothold south of Nakkiga'. Why? Simon's vision of the Fire Garden indicates the Norns and Sithi fought bitterly over the lands of Osten Ard. Why must the Norns remain stuck in the far north? Is this part of the reason they are embittered?

As good of reason as any I suppose. But i figured that Ineluki might become more powerful the closer he gets to Asua??? Just a stab in the dark really.

Firsfron of Ronchester wrote:

Vorzheva and Aditu become friends. At first, Vorzheva seems cool to Aditu. I wonder what causes this friendship to form in the first place, aside from Aditu's obvious interest in Vorzheva's unborn child.

Doesn't it say they were both different than everybody else in the camp?

Vorzheva is the only Thrithings woman and Aditu is the only Sithi?I took Vorzheva initial reaction to be jealousy of someone she considered more beautiful, around her husband.

Firsfron of Ronchester wrote:

The theme of part-Zida'ya folk, first started with Eolair, continues in this chapter: On page 422, Aditu jests that Simon has become 'part Zida'ya' while he stayed with them. On page 423, the townfolk gossip that Simon is also part Zida'ya.

Later, on page 425, Aditu even begins wearing mortal clothing.

This chapter is a strange contrast, parts of it seemingly indicating that the Sithi and Mortal worlds are as far apart as can be, while other parts have a theme of human and Sithi blending together.

While Sithi and mortals are different, they are striving towards a common goal at the moment? Aditu says that about simon cuz of his analogy. and the townsfolk say it cuz of the Ulca/Aditu incident. It is funny though how the rumors and truth almost blend into reality :)

Firsfron of Ronchester wrote:

The next chapter starts from the POV of Utuk'ku. Her eyes, it states here, are colorless. I once wrote Tad about this. I wondered what it meant by 'colorless'. I assumed it didn't mean truly colorless, as in clear, so you would see into her skull. But I wondered if 'colorless' might mean white, gray, black, or silver. Tad explained to me her colorless eyes are actually a milky white, as if the melanin in her irises is so old that it has faded away.

Cool!!! thanks for sharing that

Firsfron of Ronchester wrote:

Rachel gives a name to the cat. Is there any significance to this name?

And we learn more obscure info from this reread!!! Thanks Ylvs.

I, too, shall post my comments later today.

*is not a slacker*

*not really*

[ February 28, 2006: Message edited by: cyan ]

Miri doesn't seem too impressed by Aditu's looks either. I can't remember her exact words, but doesn't she more or less call her a 'brazen hussey' to Simon?

This interested me (as well as irritating me as this is the sort of opinion my mum would have had) as I wondered whether this was
a) what Miri really thought or just what she'd heard other people say and hadn't really thought it through for herself,
b) was this just something she said to get a reaction from Simon so she could guage his feelings for Aditu
c) A catty response borne of either her jealousy of possible rivalry for Simon, or jealousy of Aditu's looks.

Ideas, people?