Death Gate reread continues

[sholio]

Continuing the Death Gate Cycle reread with book 2, Elven Star, aka Oh NOW I Remember Why I Forgot About This Book.

Not really any spoilers for the series beyond Book 2 this time.


Well ... that was a book. Although things picked up considerably once Haplo arrived and picked up his cargo of bickering humans, elves, and dwarves. I had forgotten all about that (I think perhaps because of how much I hated Haplo at this point in the series when I read it the first time; my reaction was basically "oh no, not HIM again"). This time around, I was greatly enjoying Haplo's growing attitude of FML towards everything to do with his life on this planet, while also being a selfish asshole, because Evil Minion, of course. I particularly loved that bit where they ask him to officiate a human-elf wedding and his brain short-circuits. I AM HERE TO SOW CHAOS, NOT TO OFFICIATE YOUR STUPID WEDDING, YOU PUNY SUBJECT RACES, WTF. Also some neat bits of Patryn cultural backstory in that scene; I love that their wedding ceremony is actually more of a friendship bonding ceremony and it's completely unisex. And I loved that interaction with Zifnab in which he pointed out that the only person who matters to Haplo, is Haplo. Plus, everything with the dog continues to be excellent.

I had assumed that a certain plot development in a later book was a retcon and was surprised to see it foreshadowed here. (Redacted for future book spoilers.)

Unfortunately I found the majority of this book either kind of dull due to not caring that much about this particular batch of characters, or flat-out irritating. Way too much bickering lovers, and I wanted to drown Zifnab in a bucket at first, though he had some entertaining moments. The group kind of grew on me by the end ... just in time to move on to another book.

The worldbuilding is still pretty cool. I'm also enjoying how we're getting a general outsider's-eye view of the Sartan and the Patryns in these early books.

All in all this one was pretty forgettable aside from a few fun moments.

Next up: FIRE SEA and I can't wait. :D

Comments

[yhlee]

Most of what I remember of this one, assuming memory isn't playing tricks on me, is the music piece in the back of the book? I memorized parts of it and still have some of it even today. :p But plot, forget it, I have no memory anymore of what happened.

[sholio]

Haha, yeah, I didn't actually remember any part of that book except something vaguely about ruins. And now I can see why. Though it had some fun parts towards the end.

[monanotlisa]

he only person who matters to Haplo, is Haplo

...I fear that's why I liked him. But man, the Deathgate Cycle was convoluted so I can't claim I remember all, or even a lot.

Looking forward to you recommending a re-read or not. :)

[sholio]

Heh, I don't think I would have liked him at all if that had actually been true. It's what he was trying to be, though, at that point in the book. Not precisely inaccurate, just not the whole story.

Since you said this has no spoilers for future books...

[rachelmanija]

I like Haplo! I assume he will start grudgingly caring about people at some point, but TBH he had me at "born on prison planet, fought his way out, smiled at death because at least he was free, now put-upon agent of chaos along with his faithful dog."

I sadly did not like any of the new characters either, though they also grew on me as things got more and more desperate. And yeah, that was at around the point they were all madly piling into the airship. Fizban was monumentally more annoying than he was in Dragonlance, though, and he also irritated me in Dragonlance.

I did love that the beasts of burden are giant spiders who are prone to getting their feelings hurt, and also flying squirrels. Also the bit where everyone is all, "What is this weird crumbly substance we're walking on?" and the dwarf says, "It's called dirt."

Re: Since you said this has no spoilers for future books...

[sholio]

Fizban was monumentally more annoying than he was in Dragonlance, though, and he also irritated me in Dragonlance.

Okay, I'm glad it's not me, because I didn't want to be too cruel, but OH LORDIE he was so annoying in this. I think one of the biggest problems is that he jarred because he didn't fit. Between the fourth-wall-breaking and the fact that he doesn't appear to fit into the Sartan-Patryn-mensch character-race schema, he just doesn't fit the tone AT ALL. I don't remember off the top of my head if he was the same way in Dragonlance (appears to have somehow portaled from our world into theirs, and is never explained) but it was so painfully suspension-of-disblief-breaking here.

Anyway, the worldbuilding is still neat, though. I think of all the worlds, Arianus (the air world) is probably the most developed - I will lay odds that it was an RPG campaign setting for the authors at one point and they built a story around it - but I love how each of the worlds has its own unique ecosystem and quirks.

I really disliked Haplo in the first two books. I'm glad you like him though! I can't say more without getting into spoilers; we can talk more about him after you've read the next book.