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Discussion on The Dragonbone Chair *possible spoilers*
#1 - 31st Mar 2003 17:55:00
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Just write your thoughts, opinions and whatever on this thread. 
Memory, Sorrow and Thorn." The first volume of three, The Dragonbone Chair introduces readers to the land of Osten Ard, its history and mysteries, and the major players in the conflict that threatens to unleash an ancient evil upon the inhabitants, both human and nonhuman, of Osten Ard. Peopled by a memorable and intriguing cast of characters, The Dragonbone Chair, at 783 pages, still ends earlier than the reader would like. Thankfully, the epic entire is already complete, so no one will have to wait agonised for Stone of Farewell, the second volume of "Memory, Sorrow and Thorn," to be written, published and distributed. Part of the joy of reading backlist fantasy is that one can sidestep the year or more wait between installments in series.
Simon (named "Seoman" by his mother) is an orphan boy raised by the Mistress of Chambermaids in the royal keep of the Hayholt. Easily distracted from his scullion chores, Simon lives a life of relative freedom that all the same chafes. The Prester John, Osten Ard's king, who slew a dragon in his youth, is drawing to the end of his life. He has kept to his rooms for three years, but is once again emerging to name his successor. There is bad blood between his two sons, Elias and Josua, to do with the death of Elias' wife. Josua lost a hand, but Elias lost a wife, his daughter a mother, and he can never forgive his younger brother the circumstances. It is Elias, the more martial and straightforward of the brothers, whom King John will name to succeed him on the throne made from the bones of the dragon John long ago slew.
The Hayholt is abustle with activity at John's reemergence, and Simon manages to have himself named apprentice to Dr. Morgenes, the Hayholt's resident magician-of-sorts. The work Dr. Morgenes gives Simon is less in the way of magic, as Simon hopes, and more in the way of still more cleaning and of agonizing lessons in reading and writing. Simon despairs of ever getting anything truly interesting out of his life. But King John's death brings more of interest than Simon would ever have wished for. Elias is named king, but the seat of power seems to rest more on the head of Elias' shadowy and sinister advisor Pryrates. Josua disappears shortly after John's death. When Simon stumbles across the prince in a dungeon deep below the Hayholt, he takes his first step on a journey that will take him far from the safety of the Hayholt's walls. He will encounter dark magic, lose his mentor, gain friends among humans and among others, and will get his first taste of youthful love along the way. He must find two ancient swords, siblings to King John's "Thorn," to try to stop the ancient evil that has waited for patient centuries to return to rule - and destroy - Osten Ard.
The Dragonbone Chair hardly telegraphs what will happen as "Memory, Sorrow and Thorn" continues. It is like the tip of an iceberg, with so much as yet unseen waiting to be revealed. Simon is likable, very human in his moments of confusion and begrudgement. The characters who surround him, and the complexity of Osten Ard itself, have brought The Dragonbone Chair the acclaim it richly deserves.
Edited by: soldierblue2 at: 4/1/03 1:53:29 pm
Memory, Sorrow and Thorn." The first volume of three, The Dragonbone Chair introduces readers to the land of Osten Ard, its history and mysteries, and the major players in the conflict that threatens to unleash an ancient evil upon the inhabitants, both human and nonhuman, of Osten Ard. Peopled by a memorable and intriguing cast of characters, The Dragonbone Chair, at 783 pages, still ends earlier than the reader would like. Thankfully, the epic entire is already complete, so no one will have to wait agonised for Stone of Farewell, the second volume of "Memory, Sorrow and Thorn," to be written, published and distributed. Part of the joy of reading backlist fantasy is that one can sidestep the year or more wait between installments in series.
Simon (named "Seoman" by his mother) is an orphan boy raised by the Mistress of Chambermaids in the royal keep of the Hayholt. Easily distracted from his scullion chores, Simon lives a life of relative freedom that all the same chafes. The Prester John, Osten Ard's king, who slew a dragon in his youth, is drawing to the end of his life. He has kept to his rooms for three years, but is once again emerging to name his successor. There is bad blood between his two sons, Elias and Josua, to do with the death of Elias' wife. Josua lost a hand, but Elias lost a wife, his daughter a mother, and he can never forgive his younger brother the circumstances. It is Elias, the more martial and straightforward of the brothers, whom King John will name to succeed him on the throne made from the bones of the dragon John long ago slew.
The Hayholt is abustle with activity at John's reemergence, and Simon manages to have himself named apprentice to Dr. Morgenes, the Hayholt's resident magician-of-sorts. The work Dr. Morgenes gives Simon is less in the way of magic, as Simon hopes, and more in the way of still more cleaning and of agonizing lessons in reading and writing. Simon despairs of ever getting anything truly interesting out of his life. But King John's death brings more of interest than Simon would ever have wished for. Elias is named king, but the seat of power seems to rest more on the head of Elias' shadowy and sinister advisor Pryrates. Josua disappears shortly after John's death. When Simon stumbles across the prince in a dungeon deep below the Hayholt, he takes his first step on a journey that will take him far from the safety of the Hayholt's walls. He will encounter dark magic, lose his mentor, gain friends among humans and among others, and will get his first taste of youthful love along the way. He must find two ancient swords, siblings to King John's "Thorn," to try to stop the ancient evil that has waited for patient centuries to return to rule - and destroy - Osten Ard.
The Dragonbone Chair hardly telegraphs what will happen as "Memory, Sorrow and Thorn" continues. It is like the tip of an iceberg, with so much as yet unseen waiting to be revealed. Simon is likable, very human in his moments of confusion and begrudgement. The characters who surround him, and the complexity of Osten Ard itself, have brought The Dragonbone Chair the acclaim it richly deserves.
Edited by: soldierblue2 at: 4/1/03 1:53:29 pm
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okay - this book I have read so here goes
When I first read this series i loved it an dit is one I go back to everyt so often when i want an engaging read that takes unexpected twists and turns.
Soldiers already filled in the basic plot so i will concentrate more on what i liked about this book.
1. The world building that tad williams has done is suburb you really feel that you are in Osrten Ard and that it is as real and complex as this one
2. Simon isnt portrayed as the hero with evrything comming easoily to him he makes wrong decisions - I loved the shades of grey
3. the chracters in this world are at once like the ones we are fimiliar with from other books yet also completly different.
The first book sets up the story but to really appereciate and understant the whole entirity you really need to read the other threee books they will blow you away
When I first read this series i loved it an dit is one I go back to everyt so often when i want an engaging read that takes unexpected twists and turns.
Soldiers already filled in the basic plot so i will concentrate more on what i liked about this book.
1. The world building that tad williams has done is suburb you really feel that you are in Osrten Ard and that it is as real and complex as this one
2. Simon isnt portrayed as the hero with evrything comming easoily to him he makes wrong decisions - I loved the shades of grey
3. the chracters in this world are at once like the ones we are fimiliar with from other books yet also completly different.
The first book sets up the story but to really appereciate and understant the whole entirity you really need to read the other threee books they will blow you away
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