Lois’s answer to “Psst... more Cazaril, PLEASE?!? Most amazing and endearing character I've found in literature so f…” > Likes and Comments
39 likes · Like
How true. There have been times when I really regretted a longed for sequel because the character could not produce another story.
THANK YOU for answering my post. I'm glad you mentioned the theology - I spent 7 years in Catholic seminary, and a year as a Benedictine monk. Must be part of my attraction to this series. ;^)
Caz could show up in other people's stories, couldn't he?
I like the idea of current peoples living on the remains of the past, like the Rokari-built Zangre or Audar's destruction of the Hallow King. That they were suggested by Moorish castles in Spain and Charlemagne's massacre of Verden adds power. I suppose the real difficulty is the further details about the gods and their interactions with each other that would have to be figured out. I love these books.
I'd be REALLY interested in a roknari main character, maybe for the Father's book. One of my favorite parts of the chalion books (and bujold's work in general!) is the tendency to invert the genre conventions of who gets to be a main character - Curse of Chalion written by anyone else would've been about the adventures of the brave teidez, not the weary wounded veteran. Paladin of souls would've been about the dy gura brothers' swashbuckling, not the middle aged woman's battle with despair. And written by anybody else, they'dve been trite nonsense instead of the gems they are. A roknari main character would center the experiences of a cultural and possibly religious outsider, which would have fascinating plot and character possibilities given the theological backdrop.
One enticing element of the Chalion series is that a side, yet pivotal, problem is always left hanging. As a reader, I want to solve the Quadrene's lack of faith in the Bastard or to make sure Ingrey, Ijada, and Fara shed their spirit animals at death so they can join their gods.
I think that's one of Pratchett's strengths. He gets to play around with multiple characters & update their story as inspiration strikes him. Plus, it gives long time readers a thrill when one makes a cameo in one of the other novels. :)
My son and I were talking about the 5GU (Five Gods Universe) while he was here for Christmas, and we were speculating about how neat it would be to see how the Five Gods were interpreted by a non-European-analogue culture (Aztec, say, or Chinese).
I think Paladin lends itself nicely to a sequel and there are great secondary characters that could become primary in the next book that would still keep Ista and Caz in the sphere of the story.
It seems to me that Caz has run his course in a most fulfilling manner and could only become a bit part player in any further Challion tale. The one I would really like to see more of is "bitter-sweet Ista" with her blossoming love displacing the bitterness and her new found "talent" finding interesting employment.
Agree that Cazaril himself has nowhere much to go, unless you apply the LMB patented 'what's the worst thing that can happen to this character'. Which I won't, though I can think of a few things, partly because I don't want any of them to happen to him. But like Lauren I'd love to see something with some other characters a few years ahead so we can check-in on how Caz, Ista, Iselle etc are getting on. Maybe Foix & Liss as Theophania suggested, or someone else. Anything actually...
I really hope that someday you will be inspired to take on one of the other gods and add another book to this series.
I am looking forward to a book centered around the Mother deity''s story. Project away as much as you will.
@Chris At least in the letter dy Ferrej received at the beginning of Paladin, we found out that Caz and Betriz had a little boy....
Although it was almost 6 years ago now and I'm coming in late, I like K's reference to Pratchett in this context. The late lamented Pterry created plenty of characters and introduced new ones whenever he felt like it, but still managed to bring characters back and give us updates on them now and then. I don't really need a new story to feature Old Character X in large letters, but it would be nice for X to have a walk-on part and a few lines, for old times' sake. With the Pen & Des novellas, in particular, it becomes a recurring sadness that so many characters appear briefly in one novella and are never seen again. However, I suppose an author's creative process is a matter of inspiration, and we have to be grateful for whatever it gives us.
back to top
date
newest »
newest »
How true. There have been times when I really regretted a longed for sequel because the character could not produce another story.
THANK YOU for answering my post. I'm glad you mentioned the theology - I spent 7 years in Catholic seminary, and a year as a Benedictine monk. Must be part of my attraction to this series. ;^)
Caz could show up in other people's stories, couldn't he?
I like the idea of current peoples living on the remains of the past, like the Rokari-built Zangre or Audar's destruction of the Hallow King. That they were suggested by Moorish castles in Spain and Charlemagne's massacre of Verden adds power. I suppose the real difficulty is the further details about the gods and their interactions with each other that would have to be figured out. I love these books.
I'd be REALLY interested in a roknari main character, maybe for the Father's book. One of my favorite parts of the chalion books (and bujold's work in general!) is the tendency to invert the genre conventions of who gets to be a main character - Curse of Chalion written by anyone else would've been about the adventures of the brave teidez, not the weary wounded veteran. Paladin of souls would've been about the dy gura brothers' swashbuckling, not the middle aged woman's battle with despair. And written by anybody else, they'dve been trite nonsense instead of the gems they are. A roknari main character would center the experiences of a cultural and possibly religious outsider, which would have fascinating plot and character possibilities given the theological backdrop.
One enticing element of the Chalion series is that a side, yet pivotal, problem is always left hanging. As a reader, I want to solve the Quadrene's lack of faith in the Bastard or to make sure Ingrey, Ijada, and Fara shed their spirit animals at death so they can join their gods.
I think that's one of Pratchett's strengths. He gets to play around with multiple characters & update their story as inspiration strikes him. Plus, it gives long time readers a thrill when one makes a cameo in one of the other novels. :)
My son and I were talking about the 5GU (Five Gods Universe) while he was here for Christmas, and we were speculating about how neat it would be to see how the Five Gods were interpreted by a non-European-analogue culture (Aztec, say, or Chinese).
I think Paladin lends itself nicely to a sequel and there are great secondary characters that could become primary in the next book that would still keep Ista and Caz in the sphere of the story.
It seems to me that Caz has run his course in a most fulfilling manner and could only become a bit part player in any further Challion tale. The one I would really like to see more of is "bitter-sweet Ista" with her blossoming love displacing the bitterness and her new found "talent" finding interesting employment.
Agree that Cazaril himself has nowhere much to go, unless you apply the LMB patented 'what's the worst thing that can happen to this character'. Which I won't, though I can think of a few things, partly because I don't want any of them to happen to him. But like Lauren I'd love to see something with some other characters a few years ahead so we can check-in on how Caz, Ista, Iselle etc are getting on. Maybe Foix & Liss as Theophania suggested, or someone else. Anything actually...
I really hope that someday you will be inspired to take on one of the other gods and add another book to this series.
I am looking forward to a book centered around the Mother deity''s story. Project away as much as you will.
@Chris At least in the letter dy Ferrej received at the beginning of Paladin, we found out that Caz and Betriz had a little boy....
Although it was almost 6 years ago now and I'm coming in late, I like K's reference to Pratchett in this context. The late lamented Pterry created plenty of characters and introduced new ones whenever he felt like it, but still managed to bring characters back and give us updates on them now and then. I don't really need a new story to feature Old Character X in large letters, but it would be nice for X to have a walk-on part and a few lines, for old times' sake. With the Pen & Des novellas, in particular, it becomes a recurring sadness that so many characters appear briefly in one novella and are never seen again. However, I suppose an author's creative process is a matter of inspiration, and we have to be grateful for whatever it gives us.
I do like the way Cazaril and Iselle's story provides the way in to Ista's story - both to give her the opportunity and the problem - but who would take up the torch for a third book? And what problem?
I would have liked to see how Foix and Liss got on, though. Foix appeals to me as a character. "A lot more subtle than he looks." Plus I like his sneaky sense of humour.