Week 10 Part VIII - Paradox (Chapter 1 - 9)

[Edward C. Patterson]

Well, folks, we finally get to the Terracotta warriors.

Part VII: Paradox

Chapter I: The Terracotta Waiting Room

1 - Did anything about the famous Terracotta warriors surprise you?

2 - If you had your choice of Thunderer of the Book now, which one would take?

Chapter 2: The Meadow Market

1 - Did any of the choices made by the ch'i-tang as offerings surprise you?

[[matter of fact: My mother, rest he soul, caused a near riot in the Meadow Market, when she paid for a child's coat in FEC and the vendor was demanded to give her change back in ren-min-pi by our CTS guide.]]

Chapter 3 - Lu-mao-tien

1 - The tone of the work has changed a bit as we steam to the conclsusion. How would you describe it?

2 - Did you like this chapters sipback, which continues in the next chapter.

Chapter 4 - Tortoise and Lion and Dragon

1 - Simple chaper, no comment

Chapter 5 - Under the Thuja Tree

1 - Who or what is K'ao Xun?

2 - Had you ever heard of the Thuja trees of China?

3 - What do you find strage about Lin Ling-po?

Chapter 6 - The Nun's Tale

1 - Well, it's not Chauncer, but the Nun in question shows us a different side of Wu Tze-t'ien. What else does it finally clarify?

Chapter 7 - The Charletan's Tale

1 - Nope. Still not Chauncer. How would you describe Niu-wa's nature?

Chapter 8 - Celestrial Meditation

1 - I hope you all enjoyed this chapter as it is one of the few chapters that is pure factwith very little fantasy, and yet it is pahntasmagoria, none the less.

2 - Your choice now, thunderer or book?

3 - What is Sui T'ai-ku's role in the exorcism.

[[Note: the slip of Ji-bei is found by the Grand Canal by Li K'ai-men in the third chapter of The Academician, where he slips it into the bamboo cut in the book, which he carries throughout The Southern Swallow series).

BTW: The Text of the exorcism nd the steps in the rite are taken directly from Wei Dynasty texts and translated for authenticity.

Chapter 9 - Watcher in the Eaves

1 - What is the importance of Iridium to the science of geology?

Okay, a deep breath and onward to the last stretch.

Ed P

[Ann in Arlington]

Part VII: Paradox

Chapter I: The Terracotta Waiting Room

1 - Did anything about the famous Terracotta warriors surprise you?

  Not really. . . .I knew they were all different. . . .there was a traveling exhibit going around the US so the Smithsonian magazine had a big write up some months ago.  I was half expecting one of them to bear a striking resemblance to Tadzio or Silky. . . . . .

2 - If you had your choice of Thunderer of the Book now, which one would take?

  I still think the clues in the book will be the key, though Thunderer clearly has power. [/quote]

Chapter 2: The Meadow Market

1 - Did any of the choices made by the ch'i-tang as offerings surprise you?

[[matter of fact: My mother, rest he soul, caused a near riot in the Meadow Market, when she paid for a child's coat in FEC and the vendor was demanded to give her change back in ren-min-pi by our CTS guide.]]
[/quote] not really. . .they seemed to fit. . . .I was suspicious that the old man was more than just an old man . . ..

Chapter 3 - Lu-mao-tien

1 - The tone of the work has changed a bit as we steam to the conclsusion. How would you describe it?

Well, things are getting a little more serious. . .Nick seems to have lost touch with Tadzio so there's a sort of sense of urgency about getting he and Silky back.  Especially since they've gotten the Ch'en's sorted out.

2 - Did you like this chapters sipback, which continues in the next chapter.

It is good to get background. . . .and more about John Battle is always useful since he started the whole mess. . . more or less.

Chapter 4 - Tortoise and Lion and Dragon

1 - Simple chaper, no comment

O.K.

Chapter 5 - Under the Thuja Tree

1 - Who or what is K'ao Xun?

once again, I guess I didn't read closely enough

2 - Had you ever heard of the Thuja trees of China?

  I had not. . . .I gather they're like the giant redwoods but perhaps with more of a sacredness. . . .

3 - What do you find strage about Lin Ling-po?

Well, he's supposed to be relatively ancient but looks younger than much of the gang. . . . .

Chapter 6 - The Nun's Tale

1 - Well, it's not Chauncer, but the Nun in question shows us a different side of Wu Tze-t'ien. What else does it finally clarify?

I did actually wonder if you named the chapter in honor of Chaucer. . . .the story told does give further deep background to the origin of the relics and warrants, etc.

Off now to read the other 3 chapters of this section (I got a head start on the weekend. )

[Edward C. Patterson]

Merrly we roll along. The Ch'en's aren't quite sorted out (BOOK 4).    K'ao Xun is the boy they meet on the road. By the time you read this, you would have encountered him again. Actually, I did doff my hat to Chaucer, just as in Book 4 I have a chapter called "A Room with a View", an EM Forster nod.  BTW, there is so much back stoy to this tale that I needed a 4 book series (Southern swallow) to fill in just a little bit of it. However, we will contunue to reveal it as we move on through this book and the next 2. In some cases the characters haveen't tol m their entire back story. But they will, I assure you. They will. hey know more than I do, after all. I just channle them at this point.

Ed P

[Ann in Arlington]

Chapter 7 - The Charletan's Tale

1 - Nope. Still not Chauncer. How would you describe Niu-wa's nature?

. . . . sort of like a spirit possessing a medium?

Chapter 8 - Celestrial Meditation

1 - I hope you all enjoyed this chapter as it is one of the few chapters that is pure factwith very little fantasy, and yet it is pahntasmagoria, none the less.

  . . . .O. . . .K. . . . . . 

2 - Your choice now, thunderer or book? 

  I still see 'em as pretty equal

3 - What is Sui T'ai-ku's role in the exorcism. 

  O.K.  Blanking on this. . . .I think I'm getting a bit confusled with the various Chinese names. .  . . .

[[Note: the slip of Ji-bei is found by the Grand Canal by Li K'ai-men in the third chapter of The Academician, where he slips it into the bamboo cut in the book, which he carries throughout The Southern Swallow series).

BTW: The Text of the exorcism nd the steps in the rite are taken directly from Wei Dynasty texts and translated for authenticity.

[Edward C. Patterson]

Sui T'ai-ku (promounced Swei-tie-koo) is the river demon. In taoist rites, you needed to control a demon into the vessel in order to divine fortunes, the future or just tap into what's doing in the spirit world. This is a little different than Western exorcism, where the demon is already in the person and the priest is casting out. In this case, the priest attracts the demon into an empty vessel (takes the soul out and stores it, sort of a Harry Potter memory Pensive, and fill it with a demon. Then you need to know the characteristics of the demon, what it likes, how to trick it and for that you need a book. Once you finish with the demon, you cast it into one of the circles of hell). Quite simple really.  Quite scarry really. 

Ed P

[Ann in Arlington]

Gotcha. . .that's why he needed the kid. . .to act as a vessel for the demon sumoning. . . .

(still haven't had time to get to chapter 9. . . . . .)

[dnagirl]

Part VII: Paradox

Chapter I: The Terracotta Waiting Room

1 - Did anything about the famous Terracotta warriors surprise you?  No, I had read an article on them a while ago in National Geographic.

2 - If you had your choice of Thunderer of the Book now, which one would take?  Still the book I think.

Chapter 2: The Meadow Market

1 - Did any of the choices made by the ch'i-tang as offerings surprise you?   Not really.


Chapter 3 - Lu-mao-tien

1 - The tone of the work has changed a bit as we steam to the conclsusion. How would you describe it?  Things are getting pretty serious.  They seem to be on the right track to find the village gates and get to the boys.

2 - Did you like this chapters sipback, which continues in the next chapter.  I did.  I like getting peeks of John Battle.


Chapter 5 - Under the Thuja Tree

1 - Who or what is K'ao Xun?  He’s a boy who is mentally handicapped.  He ends up being a vessel for the demon later.

2 - Had you ever heard of the Thuja trees of China?  No, I hadn’t.  The first thing it made me think of was a banyan tree.  If I’m not mistaken, a lot of early religions worshiped trees as spirits, or containing spirits and the large, ancient ones were full of wisdom.

3 - What do you find strage about Lin Ling-po?  He is a lot older than he looks.  It’s also interesting how he treats Nick.  It would be thought that their relationship would be opposite, but Lin Ling-Po reveres Nick.

Chapter 6 - The Nun's Tale

1 - Well, it's not Chauncer, but the Nun in question shows us a different side of Wu Tze-t'ien. What else does it finally clarify?  She was definitely a vessel for Niu-wa but it’s interesting that in a way she was stronger, at least in will, because she could overcome Niu-wa at times.

Chapter 7 - The Charletan's Tale

1 - Nope. Still not Chauncer. How would you describe Niu-wa's nature?  Vengeful, perhaps to the point of making slapdash decisions that leave her vulnerable.

Chapter 8 - Celestrial Meditation

1 - I hope you all enjoyed this chapter as it is one of the few chapters that is pure factwith very little fantasy, and yet it is pahntasmagoria, none the less.  Exorcisms freak me out.

2 - Your choice now, thunderer or book?   Heck, I can’t decide.  They both serve an important purpose.

3 - What is Sui T'ai-ku's role in the exorcism.  He’s the demon who gives them instruction on how to find the gates of the village.

BTW: The Text of the exorcism nd the steps in the rite are taken directly from Wei Dynasty texts and translated for authenticity.

Chapter 9 - Watcher in the Eaves

1 - What is the importance of Iridium to the science of geology?  It shows the happening of a cataclysmic event.  I guess iridium is not common on Earth, but geologists have found a band of it layers down in the earth.  That tells them that a meteor had struck the earth and they can probably predict around what geological time this was.


Also, I don't think you ever told us what the song that Griffen and Wewoka sing before they eat waaaaaay back in the story.  The one with Alabama.

[Ann in Arlington]

Chapter 9 - Watcher in the Eaves

1 - What is the importance of Iridium to the science of geology?

Iridium is found in relatively high quantities in the layer that corresponds to the extinction of the dinosaurs, supporting the theory that it was caused by a massive meteorite impacting the earth.

[Edward C. Patterson]

So I thought also. Hmmmm. Do you think we're going anywhere with that? 

Ed P

[Ann in Arlington]

Finished the book. . . .need questions. . . . .not sure I'm happy with your ending. . .but, on balance, I guess it's the way it had to be. . . . . . . .

[Edward C. Patterson]

Well, the story is still not at an end.   2 more books, you know. Did you at least shed a tear at the end?   I was a bawling son of gun for 2 days after writing it. My beta readers told me that if I didn't have another book (and a chance for -  you know what - they'd collectively string me up, but Dickens had his Little Nell, didn't he?) My friend in Belgium wanted to put a meat fork through my heart.

Ed P

[dnagirl]

I cried, darn you Patterson.

[Edward C. Patterson]

Ah, DNAGirl - you finished the book also. I'm glad I couldn't hold you guys back.

I hope the ending lingers . . . a susseration . . . on that can be heard in far off Sienna.

Ed P

[moonlight_hp_91]

 it properly, you really smart, I am very happy for it, wish a nice day

[Ann in Arlington]

I admit that I did NOT cry. . ..because it was clear to me that Nick lives on some how even if not in a corporeal state (since dnagirl has now finished I feel safe posting a bit of a spoiler). . . . .sad for Simon of course, but he has Silky. .  .who matured greatly from the experience . . . . .how soon 'till the next book is finished? 

(As if I don't have plenty else to read in the mean time!  )

[Edward C. Patterson]

It's due out late summer - early fall 2010. These 700 pages just don't spill outa me like some other works.  In the meanwhile, there's always The Academician and The Nan Tu.  both adjusnts to the Jade Owl Legacy.

Ed Patterson

[dnagirl]

Ann, I'm pretty sure we'll see Nick again, in some form.  I'm just a big wuss, to be honest.   

[Ann in Arlington]

So. . .. .are we done?  'Cause we never learned about the Alabama song. 

[Edward C. Patterson]

I have one more entry on the last part and the Alabama song, only I got a hiccup at work and  new project and suddenly was inundated. This week, I promise and we're never finished.

Ed P