Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

To Ride Hell’s Chasm by Janny Wurts

Hi Janny,

Thank you for agreeing to do a Q&A with us for this book also. We really appreciate it. :)

As an intro, could you please tell our group a little about this book? What it represents, why it was written, what topics does it touch?

Laura wrote: "Hi Janny,

Thank you for agreeing to do a Q&A with us for this book also. We really appreciate it. :)

As an intro, could you please tell our group a little about this book? What it represents, why..."

Hi Laura,

First of all it is a story about human beings and our tendency to focus on our own specific viewpoints - that no one person has all of the vision needed to answer a question, and no one person is the 'hero' at all moments - people tend to do their best on what limited platforms they stand on, but inevitably lack of knowledge, prejudice, and lack of imagination and inability to see past or biases create faults in response during a crisis.

For this story, primarily, I wanted to focus on how a large scale crisis impacts a small, very isolated, very limited society - hit by a big problem that is outside its normal scope - how will the people involved respond to the crisis, and how will that play against strengths and shortfalls.

Primary is the characters, their plight, their story - but the intersectional themes piled up very fast - and covered a lot of ground.

How are outsiders regarded and received and prejudged - both for their foreign roots, their race, their alternate education - what happens in a society that has little differences when outside points of view become critical - and distrust of differences can run rampant?

What happens when you stand the trope of the 'arranged marriage' on its head - this isn't the princess being pressured as a political pawn avoiding escape - but a coup in progress....

What happens when human beings are not the only heroes - when reliance on the stamina or the attributes of INDIVIDUAL animals are a factor in saving the day? We've relied, historically, on the gifts of other species, but how often do we acknowledge them as the individual heroes they are?

How do very fair minded people react - when all is on the line - in a law and order country - where does the letter of the law compound - or even confound - the problem at hand - and when does the spirit of the law matter more? This question is probed with scorching results.

Who is responsible, truly, bottom line: the man who gives the orders OR the man who wields the sword? I often think this significant point escapes debate entirely, and this book stabs straight in and stares down the bore hole - where lies the ethical truth?

If we fail to acknowledge the individuality of our animal allies, do we also fail to acknowledge the clean instincts of the predator - or do our fears and our prejudices play there, as well?

When is the human killer innocent, or when is the wild predator innocent - or vice versa?

I had a really good time writing this as a complex political intrigue passing the torch into an all out thriller - but the players are all necessary to the end result, and no hero or protagonist every truly stands alone.

It is a favorite theme of mine to play diverse view points and experiences off each other and reshuffle opinions - who emerges at what moment as the unlikely savior, and who crumples when a strength becomes a weakness....there is no pat answer/no matter whether we as human beings like to simplify and accept the surface take without troubling to look deeper until we are in crisis and forced to change our established view point.l

Thank you so much for your reply Janny. That is amazing! And this is an incredible book.

Laura wrote: "Thank you so much for your reply Janny. That is amazing! And this is an incredible book."

You're welcome!

-- to Mayim, I am there in spirit and holding your hand - may your child be OK!!!! heartfelt well wishes to you both.

Here's a question for Janny: Why are salt and cedar smoke, specifically, anathema to demons and sorcerers and the various hellspawn in the novel?

Salt is believed to have clearing properties throughout the ages/said to repel evil/witches, same with cedar - considered sacred by some cultures/with the smoke associated with certain properties....loosely interpreted, there you go.

What a sweet surprise to see this topic revived and your enjoyment of the book!

Janny! So good to see you here! Just wanted to say I hope you are doing well and staying safe, as well as all those you love! And I am really hoping, no pressure though, that we could be looking forward to something new from your end? (✷‿✷)

Choko wrote: "Janny! So good to see you here! Just wanted to say I hope you are doing well and staying safe, as well as all those you love! And I am really hoping, no pressure though, that we could be looking fo..."

All well here, both of us are safe and easily able to work from home - how about you? I have written to GR friends in Italy and elsewhere, concerned too, but they are OK thank goodness!

I am steadily working on the draft for Song of the Mysteries - brace for the bottom dropping out from under, yet again....if you caught the six satellite short fiction works that connect to Wars of Light and Shadows - the latest of them, The Gallant, is a substantial novella, it covers Verrain's backstory - all of these are available in e formats only at www.paravia.com/catalog - I think there is a rundown somewhere in the Q and A under Light and Shadows threads that details where they fit best into your series read, but the will in many cases dramatically open up detail and depth into the main events of the series novels. Where you all are at Fugitive Prince, most of them won't spoil - but defintely DEFINITELY hold off on Black Bargain until after you've read Peril's Gate at the least, or after Stormed Fortress, as there are reveals about one of the characters and you might not want the cards on that mystery flipped too soon.

Thanks for stopping by, and for the well wishes - may the happy thought given to me be returned to you a thousand fold.

Enjoy your reading!

Thank you so much!!! We are well and staying safe... My household went through the virus already, so hopefully we get some immunity to it for the next round... My dad had the hardest time, with ICU and all that goes with it... We almost lost him, but he is stubborn and not ready to go yet(•‿•). I bought the anthology in which the Galant was published, but I will get the rest of them as well.

Please keep writing, at your own pace, of course, because your work brings so much to us! Always here and always fans(◔‿◔)! Thank you once again ❤️

Choko wrote: "Thank you so much!!! We are well and staying safe... My household went through the virus already, so hopefully we get some immunity to it for the next round... My dad had the hardest time, with ICU..."

My lord, I am so grateful to hear that your Dad survived, and that the rest of your household made it through. Had to have been a terrible trial, and scary. Hugs! I have no words for what people are going through, this is a difficult time for everyone, world wide, everyone is affected, and many I know are undergoing a rough time. Thank goodness to hear you all made it!