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Arkhaedun
Senior Scribe
869 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Feb 2007 : 16:13:50
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Well met!
This thread is the Classic Book Club thread for discussing the Halls of Stormweather short story, "Song of Chaos," by Richard Lee Byers.
Please discuss herein.
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 07 Mar 2007 : 21:50:52
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Just finished "Song of Chaos," and I have to say it was a very interesting piece, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. As a man that has a teenage daughter, and as a man that has sisters, I can definately attest to the antagonistic "authenticity" of Shamur and Tazi's relationship.
One of the things that I find ironic is that even though I had read the Erevas Cale books before this one, the impression that I got from Shamur actually didn't spoil this story at all. In fact, it reinforced what she is trying to project. Sure, I picked up that she must have had a somewhat shady past from some of the thigns she says to Cale, but not the whole depth of what her actual secret was.
I also liked the idea of a piece of music being sort of an "artifact spell" that would more or less create a region of chaos in Faerun. I like quirky magical effects like this, as they really help to underscore the fantasy nature of the Realms, even while we are getting a very "down to earth" depiction of a mother and a daughter not quite getting along.
I also liked the moment near the end, before Shamur's "mask" goes back into place, where she lets Tazi know that she is proud of her one last time before she has to go back to the disapproving, scandalized mother.
Another solid RLB performance in this story. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31701 Posts |
Posted - 07 Mar 2007 : 23:03:57
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I particularly enjoyed this story... mostly because of the "musical element" within. Plus, we learn a little about the musical scene, which is always something I'm interested in learning more about, in Sembia.
I also enjoyed the "evil" composer -- especially since "evil" bards aren't something we've seen a lot of in the Realmslore since 2e.
For me, the musical composition of the evil composer's works in "Song of Chaos" demonstrates what perversely-inspired music can do to both people and their surroundings -- especially when the music itself is infused with magic.
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 07 Mar 2007 : 23:08:19
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Oddly enough Sage, I DID think of you when I read this story . . . 
I kind of like the idea of an evil bard as well, especially one powerful enough to compose something along the lines of what was described in the story. |
Edited by - KnightErrantJR on 07 Mar 2007 23:09:45 |
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turox
Learned Scribe
USA
145 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2007 : 00:23:26
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Opens scroll blindfolded. So I have not heard of this. What book would I get/look in to find this story?
EDIT: Never mind I had the titles mixed up, thought the title of the book was Chaos and the other the title of the story but I eventually found it on o-love.net
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Turox Antas Dragonslayer -
"People will believe anything they want to believe, or fear to believe."
Wizard's First Rule: Chapter 36, Page #397, US Hard Cover (revealed by Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander).
Explanation by Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander: "People are stupid; given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything. Because people are stupid, they will believe a lie because they want to believe it's true, or because they are afraid it might be true. People’s heads are full of knowledge, facts, and beliefs, and most of it is false, yet they think it all true. People are stupid; they can only rarely tell the difference between a lie and the truth, and yet they are confident they can, and so are all the easier to fool."
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Edited by - turox on 08 Mar 2007 00:26:23 |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2007 : 02:04:15
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quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
Just finished "Song of Chaos," and I have to say it was a very interesting piece, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. As a man that has a teenage daughter, and as a man that has sisters, I can definately attest to the antagonistic "authenticity" of Shamur and Tazi's relationship.
As a woman, so can I. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2007 : 14:06:38
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| I'm glad you guys enjoyed it. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2007 : 17:18:00
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| I like the idea of dark magic being affected by music. And it was a nice change from the norm, too. Instead of fighting some BBEG, they were fighting evil magic from a dead guy, cast by ignorant folks. A nice variation from the norm. |
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The Halls of Stormweather: "Song of Chaos"
