March Fantasy Read - NO SPOILERS - The Riddle-Master of Hed

A reminder for the next fantasy read so you can order or reserve or pull it off a shelf.

The Riddle-Master of Hed by Patricia A. McKillip

I'll create a spoiler thread around the first. (I said the FIRST, maggie!) :)

I'm looking forward to this as I really enjoyed The Forgotten Beasts of Eld.

I have it waiting on my nightstand. I peeked, but haven't started it yet. Trying to read January's pick so I'll be all caught up by the time this one rolls around. :)

Also, I don't know if it's changed already, but this is simplyjessiey2 - I've changed my screen name to oracleofcrows. On some places here, it isn't changed up yet.

Edit
Nope, not changed yet, but keep an eye out for it.

Been on m y wishlist fro a long time. Will be difficult for me to get hold of a copy, as I haven't seen it around, and I don't think it's available as an ebook anywhere. Will see what happens between now and March.

I have all 3 books of the trilogy in an omnibus edition, and am going to try to read the whole thing. This is just the excuse I needed!

Won't be reading this one ahead of time as I don't have it, though the author is definitely one I expect to discover when the opportunity arises :)

I've got the trilogy omnibus as well. Perfect time to dig into it.

I'm feeling thick-headed. It's only the first riddle but can someone help me understand it?

Kern of Hed is being chased by an unnamed Thing. The Thing calls his name over and over. Kern runs into a house with seven rooms and seven doors, into the innermost (7th) room and locks the door. The Thing follows, opening each door and calling out his name each time, but stops outside the 7th door. Kern grows impatient waiting for the Thing to open the final door and finally opens it himself. The Thing is gone. Kern is left wondering what it was that was calling out to him.

Answer: Kern didn't open the door.

I don't get it.

sandragon, I think it's fair to say that Morgon will have to choose whether to run like Kern from the mysterious riddles that seem to pursue him, or turn and face them, maybe even pursue them. Answer the unanswered riddle.

>7 sandragon: I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't get that riddle. I read it a few times over and finally gave up. I think Jim53's explanation is pretty good. :)

While Morgon's angst is a little annoying at times, overall I'm enjoying the story.

I HATED the first chapter. Nearly quit it there.

Yeah. I know what you mean about the first chapter. I didn't like the squabbling either and wondered what I was getting into. But it grew on me after that.

I like the idea of the relationship between the ruler and her/his land. It's sort of utopian. She uses the personalities of the rulers to help describe the lands they rule, and vice versa. I think it's a very effective device. I'd like to see her do more with it, but I guess that's not her primary focus.

8 - Thanks, Jim. My head is still trying to wrap around the riddle stating one thing and the answer stating the complete opposite, but I can see where your explanation would fit in there as well. Maybe it'll become more clear to me as I read more of the story. It's taken me a while, but I am starting to get into it more; reading for an hour helped rather than trying to read in 15 min clumps. For me the story is a slow paced, thoughtful one and reading in short bursts does it no justice. I do still feel distanced from the characters though. I feel no connection with any of them.

I like the idea of a relationship between ruler and land as well. And a land-ruler (prince) who is also a farmer. These are keeping me interested in McKillip's world and reading more.

I'm stuck in the first chapter. Page 13 to be exact. I keep falling asleep every time I pick up the book to read. Looking forward to things picking up after Chp 1.

It's a riddle, but not as we know it, Captain.

In Morgon's world, a riddle is a question with a story answer that teaches a lesson; not (as it is for us) a question with a (usually) silly answer. Hence an entire seat of learning dedicated to riddle mastery.