Name of the Wind 85 - 87

Chapter 85

There is a disciplinary hearing for Kote and Ambrose. Kote argues successfully to have Ambrose pay him 20 talents for stealing and breaking his lute. The masters then vote unanimously for Kote to get 6 lashes and be expelled from the university.

Could his be the moment of Kote's expulsion? But he hasn't even learned to master calling he wind - seems doubtful he could do it again on purpose. At least he got some money to buy a new lute and pay Devi!

Chapter 86

Kote gets a reprieve! Elodin moves to repeal the expulsion and also promote Kote to the rank of Re'lar (which we learn means "speaker", as in speaking the names of things). This motion is passed by the masters, but no word on the lashes. Later Kote talks to Elodin, who tells him of the history of the university. Kote wonders how he was able to call the wind. Elodin is cryptic but explains that although he doesn't consciously know the name, his subconscious mind does. Elodin explains that it is often in anger, tapping into he subconscious, that a student is first able to call the name of something, and this is how it was with Elodin himself. So it's almost an expected thing, and not likely to result in expulsion. Despite being a Re'lar, Kote does not gain access to the Archives. Elodin also declines to tell him more about he four plated door in the archives. Elodin then goes on cryptically about naming, leaving Kote confused.

Phew! Kote is saved and on his way to being a great arcanist. Elodin is pretty opaque in discussing the power of names, so I was at least as confused as Kote. Luckily, it seems Elodin has taken a special interest so Kote will learn from the best.

Chapter 87

Kote reveals to his friends that despite having his expulsion sentence commuted, he will still get lashes. Later, he meets with Auri and convinces her to show him around the underground tunnels of the university. He finally reaches a room with some ancient-appearing machines. The chapter ends with an interruption mid-sentence.

The Underthing is described as massive, far bigger than I had been imagining, almost like an underground city. Makes you wonder how big the university was in the past and what had been going on there. You get the impression that it is now a pale shadow of what it once was, a very interesting thought.  Hopefully we will get to know more about these machines that are fascinating Kote.

First MMORPG Memories

The first MMORPG I played was Everquest Online Adventures for the PlayStation 2. This must have been in early 2004.  It was a beginning of an interest - some would say addiction - that continues to this day.

I remember actually feeling nervous about asking someone to group with me for one of the early quests outside of Qeynos (Sony EQ backwards - did you ever catch that?). That seems so funny after 12 years of grouping and questing now.

What are your first MMORPG memories?

Book Review - Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin

Ursula Le Guin's landmark novel tells the story of Envoy Ai and his mission to the planet Gethen. Ai seeks to convince the inhabitants of the planet to join in interplanetary federation of human worlds. However, he must navigate the treacherous internal politics and intrigues of the nations of Gethen. 

The inhabitants of Gethen are unique among human worlds in that they are hermaphroditic, having no gender most of the time except during the time of kemmer, when they can assume either gender.  Le Guin incorporated this feature as a thought experiment to ask the reader to think about how gender and gender relations affect and influence society and politics. As such, this book is often classified as an example of feminist literature. 

To me, it also read as a critique of government and political systems that put short-term political goals ahead of the long term and bigger-picture good. Again and again, the politician characters' attempts to one-up each other delay and imperil Envoy Ai's mission.

The writing in this book is beautiful, and fans of science fiction with a literary spin will enjoy it very much. 

While some science fiction is focused on the science or adventure aspects of the story, this book puts more emphasis on emotion and philosophical aspects.  It may not be to some sci-fi fans' liking in that sense.

The story was overall engaging, but dragged during the climatic journey in the second half of the book. The accounts of survival in a vicious ice bound climate have a very Shackelton-esque feel which didn't hold much excitement for me. Otherwise I found the book enjoyable for the high quality writing and thought-provoking aspects.