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i_read_whatSo we're finally to the point of the story where threadfall is eminent. It sounds like I'm complaining, but actually, I think that this part of the book is paced very well. Each chapter or section has shown us a different aspect of the preparation, and they've been pretty short too. So I don't feel like any of the story has dragged.
Really, for all my problems with this book, I feel like I could learn a lot from Ms. McCaffrey on how to more effectively pace my own stories. She really doesn't have wasted scenes. Like take for example Lessa's miserable time under R'gul's tutelage. We only actually see maybe three pages of it. One time, one argument. But it is very clear that this is something that's been going on for a very long time, and that Lessa is miserable and bored sick of it. Anne McCaffrey, while she can be wordy, has a really good grasp of "less is more" and "show not tell".
If only the book didn't have such dodgy sexual and gender politics. Oh, and spoiler: While F'lar actually managed to not get on my nerves in two whole chapters, he's going to be back in fine form today.
So we start with Lessa waking up from a nightmare, one which Ramoth apparently shared, but she can't remember what it is. She and F'lar have one of their leading the Weyr discussions that I like so much: namely about training drills for the new dragonriders and some good-natured bickering about Lessa's own antics.
Lessa brings up an interesting point: if she'd discovered time travel, then surely someone else must have or may. She thinks that their ability to go between times must be of crucial value, which F'lar agrees, but neither can quite figure out how yet.
The two are interrupted by F'nor's arrival. He's red faced and choking because of dust storms, which sends F'lar immediately into activity. F'nor is bewildered because dust storms hadn't been one of the weather patterns that F'lar had wanted reports about. They've been going on for a week though, and that's bad.
F'lar is, of course, being a bit of a dick here. F'nor isn't a mind reader, but he's more desperate than malicious so I'll give him a bit of a pass based on the goodwill he built up last chapter. Also, he does apologize to his bewildered brother, admitting that he should have asked.
F'lar quickly ruins my good will though, because when they explain to F'nor the significance of the black dust: namely that's how Threads fall into cold air, Lessa quotes Moreta's Ride. F'lar doesn't want to talk about Moreta, because, per legend, she could talk with any dragon.
And of course, Lessa can too. And she tells F'lar this. Now is F'lar happy? Grateful?
"'How long,' he managed to say, 'have you had this particular skill?'
Something in his tone, in his manner, caused Lessa to flush and stammer like an erring weyrling. 'I ... I always could. Beginning with the watchwher at Ruatha.' She gestured indecisively in Ruatha's westerly direction. 'And I talked to Mnementh at Ruatha. And ... when I got here, I could ...' Her voice faltered at the accusing look in F'lar's cold, hard eyes. Accusing and, worse, contemptuous.
Really F'lar?
He accuses her of not believing in him and of being spiteful:
F'lar exploded onto both feet, his eyes blazing with aggravation. 'The one thing I could not figure out was how to direct the wings and keep in contact with the Weyr during an attack, how I was going to get reinforcements and firestone in time. And you ... you have been sitting there, spitefully hiding the...'
Okay, first of all, F'lar. Did you TELL her that you were looking for a way to keep all of the wings in contact? I don't think you did, because IF you did, Lessa would have told you what she told you right now: that SHE can do it for you.
Second of all, she told you that she spoke to Mnementh. Why not be mad that Mnementh didn't tell you?
Third of all: Fuck you, F'lar.
Happily, Lessa defends herself this time:
'I am NOT spiteful,' she screamed at him. 'I said I was sorry. I am. But you've a nasty, smug habit of keeping your own counsel. How was I to know you didn't have the same trick? You're F'lar, the Weyrleader, you can do anything. Only you're just as bad as R'gul because you never tell me half the things I ought to know . ..'
Brava, Lessa. Finally. Let him have it!
Of course we get some nice little bit of domestic violence as "F'lar reached out and shook her until her angry voice stopped." He says something about not wasting time, and he and Lessa stop immediately to F'nor's bewilderment.
They have a bit of sympatico thinking that I'd have enjoyed a lot more without the domestic violence as both realize (to F'nor's increased bewilderment) that they can go between time.
F'lar has figured out, based on the weather patterns, that Thread must have started falling in Nerat at dawn. This means bad things for the rainforests. But thanks to their ability to go between times, the dragons can go NOW to fight it.
F'lar tells Lessa to order out the dragons that can fly (while giving her another shake, compounded of pride and affection") and starts issuing the rest of the orders.
R'gul is the duty officer so he bursts in to question his orders. This gives F'lar a chance to fill him in on the dragons' ability to go between, and gives Lessa a chance to yell at R'gul, so I'm happy.
He also gives some last minute instructions to Lessa: to send word to the Holds and Crafts, to get Manora to organize the women and produce ointment, and finally: 'Most important, if something goes wrong, you'll have to wait till a bronze is at least a year old to fly Ramoth...'
Which, gross. But weirdly kind of considerate? I think it shows the depths of fucked-up-ness of this society that Lessa would barely be given time to grieve before she has to sleep with someone else for the good of the Weyr. At the same time, though, if he does die today (sadly he won't), at least she'll remember him encouraging her to move on?
Lessa isn't holding with that, insisting that no one is flying Ramoth but Mnementh. He kisses her passionately, in a way I might have enjoyed if not for the fact that he spent way too much of this chapter physically abusing her.
Damnit, Ms. McCaffrey how can you do this to me?? Most of the time, F'lar and Lessa have an amazing dynamic. They're partners in every sense of the word. We're not just told that they communicate and work together, we SEE it. You've shown us their mutual respect, camaraderie, and the way they can be so in sync as to leave everyone else in the lurch.
But then there's the rape. And the fucking shaking. And I suppose it'd be one thing if I thought you were trying to say something with this: something about how a relationship can have abusive elements and good elements too, or even something about how someone can be a good man in many ways while still having to unlearn abusive behaviors taught to him by his culture.
But if that's the case then you need to SAY SO. Because right now, F'lar is making no indication of changing his behavior and it's so immensely frustrating. I want to like them as a couple. I COULD like them as a couple. If you would knock this the fuck OFF.
But that's not going to happen in this chapter. Next one, at least, we get to see an actual Thread fight!
Part 3:3 | Table of Contents | Part 3:5, 6
Really, for all my problems with this book, I feel like I could learn a lot from Ms. McCaffrey on how to more effectively pace my own stories. She really doesn't have wasted scenes. Like take for example Lessa's miserable time under R'gul's tutelage. We only actually see maybe three pages of it. One time, one argument. But it is very clear that this is something that's been going on for a very long time, and that Lessa is miserable and bored sick of it. Anne McCaffrey, while she can be wordy, has a really good grasp of "less is more" and "show not tell".
If only the book didn't have such dodgy sexual and gender politics. Oh, and spoiler: While F'lar actually managed to not get on my nerves in two whole chapters, he's going to be back in fine form today.
So we start with Lessa waking up from a nightmare, one which Ramoth apparently shared, but she can't remember what it is. She and F'lar have one of their leading the Weyr discussions that I like so much: namely about training drills for the new dragonriders and some good-natured bickering about Lessa's own antics.
Lessa brings up an interesting point: if she'd discovered time travel, then surely someone else must have or may. She thinks that their ability to go between times must be of crucial value, which F'lar agrees, but neither can quite figure out how yet.
The two are interrupted by F'nor's arrival. He's red faced and choking because of dust storms, which sends F'lar immediately into activity. F'nor is bewildered because dust storms hadn't been one of the weather patterns that F'lar had wanted reports about. They've been going on for a week though, and that's bad.
F'lar is, of course, being a bit of a dick here. F'nor isn't a mind reader, but he's more desperate than malicious so I'll give him a bit of a pass based on the goodwill he built up last chapter. Also, he does apologize to his bewildered brother, admitting that he should have asked.
F'lar quickly ruins my good will though, because when they explain to F'nor the significance of the black dust: namely that's how Threads fall into cold air, Lessa quotes Moreta's Ride. F'lar doesn't want to talk about Moreta, because, per legend, she could talk with any dragon.
And of course, Lessa can too. And she tells F'lar this. Now is F'lar happy? Grateful?
"'How long,' he managed to say, 'have you had this particular skill?'
Something in his tone, in his manner, caused Lessa to flush and stammer like an erring weyrling. 'I ... I always could. Beginning with the watchwher at Ruatha.' She gestured indecisively in Ruatha's westerly direction. 'And I talked to Mnementh at Ruatha. And ... when I got here, I could ...' Her voice faltered at the accusing look in F'lar's cold, hard eyes. Accusing and, worse, contemptuous.
Really F'lar?
He accuses her of not believing in him and of being spiteful:
F'lar exploded onto both feet, his eyes blazing with aggravation. 'The one thing I could not figure out was how to direct the wings and keep in contact with the Weyr during an attack, how I was going to get reinforcements and firestone in time. And you ... you have been sitting there, spitefully hiding the...'
Okay, first of all, F'lar. Did you TELL her that you were looking for a way to keep all of the wings in contact? I don't think you did, because IF you did, Lessa would have told you what she told you right now: that SHE can do it for you.
Second of all, she told you that she spoke to Mnementh. Why not be mad that Mnementh didn't tell you?
Third of all: Fuck you, F'lar.
Happily, Lessa defends herself this time:
'I am NOT spiteful,' she screamed at him. 'I said I was sorry. I am. But you've a nasty, smug habit of keeping your own counsel. How was I to know you didn't have the same trick? You're F'lar, the Weyrleader, you can do anything. Only you're just as bad as R'gul because you never tell me half the things I ought to know . ..'
Brava, Lessa. Finally. Let him have it!
Of course we get some nice little bit of domestic violence as "F'lar reached out and shook her until her angry voice stopped." He says something about not wasting time, and he and Lessa stop immediately to F'nor's bewilderment.
They have a bit of sympatico thinking that I'd have enjoyed a lot more without the domestic violence as both realize (to F'nor's increased bewilderment) that they can go between time.
F'lar has figured out, based on the weather patterns, that Thread must have started falling in Nerat at dawn. This means bad things for the rainforests. But thanks to their ability to go between times, the dragons can go NOW to fight it.
F'lar tells Lessa to order out the dragons that can fly (while giving her another shake, compounded of pride and affection") and starts issuing the rest of the orders.
R'gul is the duty officer so he bursts in to question his orders. This gives F'lar a chance to fill him in on the dragons' ability to go between, and gives Lessa a chance to yell at R'gul, so I'm happy.
He also gives some last minute instructions to Lessa: to send word to the Holds and Crafts, to get Manora to organize the women and produce ointment, and finally: 'Most important, if something goes wrong, you'll have to wait till a bronze is at least a year old to fly Ramoth...'
Which, gross. But weirdly kind of considerate? I think it shows the depths of fucked-up-ness of this society that Lessa would barely be given time to grieve before she has to sleep with someone else for the good of the Weyr. At the same time, though, if he does die today (sadly he won't), at least she'll remember him encouraging her to move on?
Lessa isn't holding with that, insisting that no one is flying Ramoth but Mnementh. He kisses her passionately, in a way I might have enjoyed if not for the fact that he spent way too much of this chapter physically abusing her.
Damnit, Ms. McCaffrey how can you do this to me?? Most of the time, F'lar and Lessa have an amazing dynamic. They're partners in every sense of the word. We're not just told that they communicate and work together, we SEE it. You've shown us their mutual respect, camaraderie, and the way they can be so in sync as to leave everyone else in the lurch.
But then there's the rape. And the fucking shaking. And I suppose it'd be one thing if I thought you were trying to say something with this: something about how a relationship can have abusive elements and good elements too, or even something about how someone can be a good man in many ways while still having to unlearn abusive behaviors taught to him by his culture.
But if that's the case then you need to SAY SO. Because right now, F'lar is making no indication of changing his behavior and it's so immensely frustrating. I want to like them as a couple. I COULD like them as a couple. If you would knock this the fuck OFF.
But that's not going to happen in this chapter. Next one, at least, we get to see an actual Thread fight!