IN HER NAME: Week of 3/15 - Reading & discussing chapters 40-48

[Michael R. Hicks]

Can't be EZ.  Can't even be a real Kreelan.  The Kreelans have no eyebrows, just a jutting shelf of bone, they wear their hair in very long braids, have fangs and talons.  I don't think that would be very attractive on a book cover. 

Mike, who designed that cover and who posed for it? 

LOL! You guys kill me. When I told you that the book was self-published, I really meant "self-published" - I did the cover art, using my meager Photoshop skills (with some help from Jan). It's made from two stock royalty-free images: one of the alien planet-looking background, the other from a photo of a woman holding a sword that sort of struck me as being, I dunno, in tune with the novel somehow. So I figured out how to change her skin blue and fiddled a few other effects.

But yeah, she's meant to be Esah-Zhurah (before the change, obviously), but that's as close as I could get on a shoestring budget (a total of about $2.50 for the images) and no artistic talent! LOL!

Actually, when I release Book 1 as the first of a trilogy set (hopefully by next month), the cover will be much simpler, but not sure what it'll be yet... 

[Michael R. Hicks]

Yes, please do!  "Ditto" what Gertie said about vampire and blood for me!  I can't handle any hint of the supernatural!

D'oh! You guys just don't trust my fingers!

I must confess that I finally gave in and read ahead this week and finished the book too!  I have to head out now, so will finish posting comments later, but just have to compliment you on what an excellent read this was...one I will be reading again and one that I never would have found/read without KB! 

D'oh! Another member of the IHN Late Club? Glad you enjoyed it (and please consider doing a review)!!   

One question:  Is the woman on the cover E-Z?  Somehow I thought she would look different.

Ah, just answered that in the last post...

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

D'oh! You guys just don't trust my fingers!

Okay, as long as there's no throat biting and absolutely no blood sucking, I'll trust you.

[Neekeebee]

A lot happened in this week’s reading!  (I know that I’ve been saying that each week for several weeks now, but it seems to be more true every time, so I have to keep saying it!)  This week, it was impossible to put the book down, so I just kept reading and reading…
It did confuse me that Eustus thought Shera-Khan was a girl…was it something about his appearance or was it just that humans have only ever known female Kreelans?

As weapons, it would only make sense for a civilization to have kryolon torpedoes as a deterrent, b/c an enemy like the Kreelans would possess something equally destructive they would use.  It would be like Mutually Assured Destruction: if you launch yours, we’ll launch ours….

The Thorella-Borge connection was a really unexpected twist!   Until then, I thought Thorella was just being used by Borge.  It seemed sad that the real Markus Thorella’s name was so besmirched by the Borges, esp after Tanya described him.  Father Borge is definitely the worse of the two; he is like the evil mastermind that created his monster of a son, not that Son Borge is all that innocent.

I felt like the events were happening so fast in the last part of the book (this week and next week's chapters) that I could barely keep up...kind of like I was chasing after the protagonists to see what was happening to them.  All the while, I kept thinking, I have to know what happens next but I don't want to finish the book yet!

Re vampire books:  I'd be willing to overcome my wimpiness if the vampires are Kreelan! 

N

[Michael R. Hicks]

Okay, as long as there's no throat biting and absolutely no blood sucking, I'll trust you.

Well, I can't promise you that, but I'll warn you which sections have any of that sort of thing going on!

Seriously, though, the vampirism part is really a secondary aspect of the story, sort of like the traditional sci-fi aspects were secondary in IHN. And yes, this will also be - bottom line - a love story...

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

Well, I can't promise you that, but I'll warn you which sections have any of that sort of thing going on!

Seriously, though, the vampirism part is really a secondary aspect of the story, sort of like the traditional sci-fi aspects were secondary in IHN. And yes, this will also be - bottom line - a love story...

Okay, admittedly there were some pretty gory parts in IHN, so I guess I can take a bit of vampirism as a background.  I have ... what ... another four years to get used to the idea? 

[Michael R. Hicks]

A lot happened in this week’s reading!  (I know that I’ve been saying that each week for several weeks now, but it seems to be more true every time, so I have to keep saying it!)  This week, it was impossible to put the book down, so I just kept reading and reading…
It did confuse me that Eustus thought Shera-Khan was a girl…was it something about his appearance or was it just that humans have only ever known female Kreelans?

Well, he thought she was a girl because it simply didn't occur to him that it might be a boy. The only male Kreelans anyone had seen but Reza were the mummies of the Imperial Guard that Eustus and Enya found. But the "female-ness" of the Kreelans was just so ingrained in him (and everybody else). And since Shera-Khan's armor was so badly beaten up, there probably wasn't much to go by there, either...

As weapons, it would only make sense for a civilization to have kryolon torpedoes as a deterrent, b/c an enemy like the Kreelans would possess something equally destructive they would use.  It would be like Mutually Assured Destruction: if you launch yours, we’ll launch ours….

I think the only two reasons the Confederation didn't collapse into civil war over possession of these weapons was that 1) they were kept extremely secret, and 2) the humans were totally preoccupied - and united - by the threat from the Kreelans. But I suspect that in a peacetime period the Confederation likely would have erupted into civil war over possession of the weapons if word of their existence became anything more than rumor...

The Thorella-Borge connection was a really unexpected twist!   Until then, I thought Thorella was just being used by Borge.  It seemed sad that the real Markus Thorella’s name was so besmirched by the Borges, esp after Tanya described him.  Father Borge is definitely the worse of the two; he is like the evil mastermind that created his monster of a son, not that Son Borge is all that innocent.

Yeah, talk about the ultimate megalomaniac. Had he achieved his ultimate aims, he would've put Hitler and Stalin to shame...

I felt like the events were happening so fast in the last part of the book (this week and next week's chapters) that I could barely keep up...kind of like I was chasing after the protagonists to see what was happening to them.  All the while, I kept thinking, I have to know what happens next but I don't want to finish the book yet!

LOL!!  

Re vampire books:  I'd be willing to overcome my wimpiness if the vampires are Kreelan! 

Well, they've already got fangs, but no taste for human blood...  

Like I told Gertie: I'll post a special warning section for places to skip over! LOL!

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

I felt like the events were happening so fast in the last part of the book (this week and next week's chapters) that I could barely keep up...kind of like I was chasing after the protagonists to see what was happening to them.  All the while, I kept thinking, I have to know what happens next but I don't want to finish the book yet!

N

I worked that out.  I finished the book weeks ago, and now I'm rereading the chapters for the discussion.  Gives me a good excuse to reread again so soon.   

[Michael R. Hicks]

Okay, admittedly there were some pretty gory parts in IHN, so I guess I can take a bit of vampirism as a background.  I have ... what ... another four years to get used to the idea? 

Yeah, that's true - IHN isn't exactly a teen slice & dice story, but there was still plenty of violent hooplah!  

And four years? NO. These are my main goals this year:

1. Release IHN as a trilogy (will keep the original as an omnibus)
2. Do P90X
3. Run the 1/2 marathon in San Antonio in November
4. Finish the rough draft of the vampire novel by the end of the year.

I don't expect this novel to be as long as IHN. I hope (and if it is, I'll break it down into smaller books). But that all depends on my fingers!! I just need a name for it. Was thinking about "Hell's Gate," which would actually be extremely appropriate, but there are already a bazillion books with that title. Hmph...

[PraiseGod13]

Well, I can't promise you that, but I'll warn you which sections have any of that sort of thing going on!

Seriously, though, the vampirism part is really a secondary aspect of the story, sort of like the traditional sci-fi aspects were secondary in IHN. And yes, this will also be - bottom line - a love story...

Okay..... I am totally NOT a vampire novel reader.... but I had never read a sci-fi novel either.  So, after totally trusting Mike, I cautiously started reading In Her Name..... and could not have enjoyed it more.  So, along with Gertie, I will trust Mike again on his next novel and use any "cautions" he gives us to help us over the dicey spots.  I can't imagine anyone who has read In Her Name not anxiously awaiting Mike's next book.  I too will be re-reading IHN again before the next novel debuts. 
     Gertie..... it can't be any harder to get through than the scene with Jamie and Randall down in Wentworth's secreted room.  That one about does me in every time I read it.

[Anju No. 469]

OK Mike - pick a few of us (blue people preferably) to "edit", read your new novel and suggest a title.  Prize being a part in your movie of IHN 

It took a little convincing of y'all to get me to read this book, afraid of monsters and dreams, and I have already finished it the second time, and got so much more out of it.  BUT I have to read something else LOL 

May not post any answers here, but then again might your questions are getting more difficult 

[Michael R. Hicks]

Okay..... I am totally NOT a vampire novel reader.... but I had never read a sci-fi novel either.  So, after totally trusting Mike, I cautiously started reading In Her Name..... and could not have enjoyed it more.  So, along with Gertie, I will trust Mike again on his next novel and use any "cautions" he gives us to help us over the dicey spots.  I can't imagine anyone who has read In Her Name not anxiously awaiting Mike's next book.  I too will be re-reading IHN again before the next novel debuts. 

Well, blood-sucking aside, if it makes any difference the vampires in this novel aren't based on spiritual evil in the traditional sense: they're intentionally created to serve the purposes of human evil. Just as a hint, the story begins in early 1945...

     Gertie..... it can't be any harder to get through than the scene with Jamie and Randall down in Wentworth's secreted room.  That one about does me in every time I read it.

Yeah, there was some "vampirism" going on there! If you can make it through that (multiple times?), my next story should be a breeze...

And here's just a thought: since we're having a sort of "read with the author" book club thing, maybe a "write with the author" thread? I dunno, just thinking out loud - it might be nice to have some ongoing feedback on what my fingers are coming up with (and make sure there's someone who can add!). Whatcha think?

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

Yeah, that's true - IHN isn't exactly a teen slice & dice story, but there was still plenty of violent hooplah!  

And four years? NO. These are my main goals this year:

1. Release IHN as a trilogy (will keep the original as an omnibus)
2. Do P90X
3. Run the 1/2 marathon in San Antonio in November
4. Finish the rough draft of the vampire novel by the end of the year.

Good luck with all that.  Keep your eyes on the prize. 

I don't expect this novel to be as long as IHN. I hope (and if it is, I'll break it down into smaller books). But that all depends on my fingers!! I just need a name for it. Was thinking about "Hell's Gate," which would actually be extremely appropriate, but there are already a bazillion books with that title. Hmph...

Pathway to Hell
Gateway to the Inferno
Down to Perdition
To the Pits of Hell

Just off the top of my head. 

     Gertie..... it can't be any harder to get through than the scene with Jamie and Randall down in Wentworth's secreted room.  That one about does me in every time I read it.

Yeah, but it's Jamie.  I can't leave him there alone with that devil.   

OK Mike - pick a few of us (blue people preferably) to "edit", read your new novel and suggest a title.  Prize being a part in your movie of IHN 

See my suggestions above.  Even if Mike doesn't like them, maybe they'll be an inspiration.

May not post any answers here, but then again might your questions are getting more difficult 

You can always just say "ditto."  I love it when everyone agrees with me.   

Well, blood-sucking aside, if it makes any difference the vampires in this novel aren't based on spiritual evil in the traditional sense: they're intentionally created to serve the purposes of human evil. Just as a hint, the story begins in early 1945...

No, it's just the blood-sucking that gets me. 

Early 1945 ... Hitler didn't commit suicide until April some time.  Stalin was about ready to get started with his iron curtain after the fall of Germany.  Those are the two big baddies of the time. 

Yeah, there was some "vampirism" going on there! If you can make it through that (multiple times?), my next story should be a breeze...

Yes, I've probably read the Outlander 15 or so times.  Yes, I cry and cringe every time. 

And here's just a thought: since we're having a sort of "read with the author" book club thing, maybe a "write with the author" thread? I dunno, just thinking out loud - it might be nice to have some ongoing feedback on what my fingers are coming up with (and make sure there's someone who can add!). Whatcha think?

Sure.  Sanctioned buttinsky.  Love it. 

[Michael R. Hicks]

OK Mike - pick a few of us (blue people preferably) to "edit", read your new novel and suggest a title.  Prize being a part in your movie of IHN 

Well, hey, you all have a spot in the movie, anyway!

But that would be kinda cool. Maybe we can set up a sub-forum with limited members/access?

It took a little convincing of y'all to get me to read this book, afraid of monsters and dreams, and I have already finished it the second time, and got so much more out of it.  BUT I have to read something else LOL 

TWICE? Good heavens, Anju! 

May not post any answers here, but then again might your questions are getting more difficult 

Awww, come on! You don't even have to answer the questions, just ad-lib! 

[Michael R. Hicks]

Pathway to Hell
Gateway to the Inferno
Down to Perdition
To the Pits of Hell

Just off the top of my head. 

Good ones! And that's even without the Kool Atomic hat!!

No, it's just the blood-sucking that gets me. 

We'll try to get kinder, gentler vampires...

Early 1945 ... Hitler didn't commit suicide until April some time.  Stalin was about ready to get started with his iron curtain after the fall of Germany.  Those are the two big baddies of the time. 

No spoilers!

Yes, I've probably read the Outlander 15 or so times.  Yes, I cry and cringe every time. 

Yikes! Well, that's about as many times - maybe - as I've read The Mote In God's Eye.

Sure.  Sanctioned buttinsky.  Love it. 

LOL!!

[Neekeebee]

And here's just a thought: since we're having a sort of "read with the author" book club thing, maybe a "write with the author" thread? I dunno, just thinking out loud - it might be nice to have some ongoing feedback on what my fingers are coming up with (and make sure there's someone who can add!). Whatcha think?

Got my calculator right here....Wait, it is solar-powered.  Will that work with vampires?

N

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

Got my calculator right here....Wait, it is solar-powered.  Will that work with vampires?

N

 

Mike has promised us kindler, gentler vampires.  Maybe they don't have to hide in the dark?

[Michael R. Hicks]

Mike has promised us kindler, gentler vampires.  Maybe they don't have to hide in the dark?

One will...one won't...

[Neekeebee]

Mike has promised us kindler, gentler vampires.  Maybe they don't have to hide in the dark?

Kindler vampires?  OK, you guys convinced me.  I guess I can read a book about vampires who kindle!  

N

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

Kindler vampires?  OK, you guys convinced me.  I guess I can read a book about vampires who kindle!  

N

Ooops, my bad ... or maybe, my good.   

[Michael R. Hicks]

Ooops, my bad ... or maybe, my good.   

Oh, LOL!! That's a good one!

[Ann in Arlington]

O.k.  Finished the book in the car today -- we're driving to FL to watch an oboe recital.  Anyway. . . . .got to chapter 48 which is as far as I was supposed to go to be caught up but there were hardly any little dots left so. . . . .

Anyway, as to this section. . . .definitely the plot and various threads start coming togethr.   I knew there was something hinky with Borge and Thorella. . . .fairly shocked at the killing of Nathan but not really surprised. . .knew who'd done it.  So Glad to see Rabat get her come-upance. . . . .now to just get rid of Borge and Thorella. . . . .

Realized as soon as I 'saw' the Kreelan child that it must be Reza's. . .. surprised he was a boy (did you name him after the tiger in Jungle Book? ) but then realized it made perfect sense.  The whole idea of the WAY was to get the Empire back to a point where the males had value again.  Interesting watching Reza relate to him. . . .could have stood to see more of that, but understand why not.

A thought did occur to me:  Reza lost the bloodsong.  But presumably Tesh Dar and Shera Khan both have it.  So why didn't the knowledge that Reza was still alive get broadcast to the rest of the empire, including EZ. . . . .except that it needed to happen the way it ultimately did to make a good story.

Jodi and Eustus were in a difficult position.  They clearly totally were on Reza's side, but the war had been going on forever.  How could they just up and change sides without really good reason.  They'd already gone pretty far in being willing to talk with TD and SK and not treating them as prisoners.  And they were both military so there was an oath there. . .and remember, Eustus was still smarting from having his loyalty questioned when everyone else thought Reza had turned on them.  You can see how they'd be willing to help individuals but couldn't go the step to actually take overt action that would be to their own side's detriment.

Anyway, as I said, I have finished it.. . . .so I'll wait until the last questions are up so as not to risk any spoilers.. . .

Ann

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

Realized as soon as I 'saw' the Kreelan child that it must be Reza's. . .. surprised he was a boy (did you name him after the tiger in Jungle Book? )

That was my thought, too.   

A thought did occur to me:  Reza lost the bloodsong.  But presumably Tesh Dar and Shera Khan both have it.  So why didn't the knowledge that Reza was still alive get broadcast to the rest of the empire, including EZ. . . . .except that it needed to happen the way it ultimately did to make a good story.

The bloodsong is tied to the Empress, and with the Empress dying, there is no bloodsong.  It's why the Kreela have lost the will to fight. 

I don't know how you could drive and listen to this book.  I was sitting on the edge of my seat and biting my lip through the whole ending. 

[Michael R. Hicks]

O.k.  Finished the book in the car today -- we're driving to FL to watch an oboe recital.  Anyway. . . . .got to chapter 48 which is as far as I was supposed to go to be caught up but there were hardly any little dots left so. . . . .

Well, at least you didn't stay up until 2 a.m.!

Anyway, as to this section. . . .definitely the plot and various threads start coming togethr.   I knew there was something hinky with Borge and Thorella. . . .fairly shocked at the killing of Nathan but not really surprised. . .knew who'd done it.  So Glad to see Rabat get her come-upance. . . . .now to just get rid of Borge and Thorella. . . . .

Yeah, Nathan's death was sad. His character is actually based a bit on a someone I knew from Africa. Actually, I guess a fair bit of the book - or the characters, at least - are from some of my various travels (France, Soviet Union, sub-saharan Africa, among others).

And I was glad my fingers came up with a good way to deal with Rabat. The swine.

Realized as soon as I 'saw' the Kreelan child that it must be Reza's. . .. surprised he was a boy (did you name him after the tiger in Jungle Book? ) but then realized it made perfect sense.  The whole idea of the WAY was to get the Empire back to a point where the males had value again.  Interesting watching Reza relate to him. . . .could have stood to see more of that, but understand why not.

Actually, it never occurred to me until years later when I actually watched The Jungle Book again (I hadn't seen or read it in ages) and saw Shere Khan's tiger character. So I suppose it's fitting - Shera-Khan is certainly tiger-worthy! - but completely incidental.

A thought did occur to me:  Reza lost the bloodsong.  But presumably Tesh Dar and Shera Khan both have it.  So why didn't the knowledge that Reza was still alive get broadcast to the rest of the empire, including EZ. . . . .except that it needed to happen the way it ultimately did to make a good story.

As Gertie pointed out, the Empress is the heart and soul of the entire culture. When she went into "distress," the link essentially went off-line.

Jodi and Eustus were in a difficult position.  They clearly totally were on Reza's side, but the war had been going on forever.  How could they just up and change sides without really good reason.  They'd already gone pretty far in being willing to talk with TD and SK and not treating them as prisoners.  And they were both military so there was an oath there. . .and remember, Eustus was still smarting from having his loyalty questioned when everyone else thought Reza had turned on them.  You can see how they'd be willing to help individuals but couldn't go the step to actually take overt action that would be to their own side's detriment.

Wheels within wheels...     But yeah, they were kinda stuck. A crappy situation to be in, on top of everything else! 

Anyway, as I said, I have finished it.. . . .so I'll wait until the last questions are up so as not to risk any spoilers.. . .

Ann

I hope to have them up in a more timely fashion, since we'll be on vacay and won't have to muck with the usual daily routine. Since it seems like most folks have probably finished it, I may go ahead and post the questions for the remaining chapters (divided up in separate threads).

[Ann in Arlington]

I'm happy to see further questions anytime. . . . .

Gertie, I wasn't driving. . . . I was sitting in the back reading. . . . .never could read in a car before Kindle so it's a good thing!!!  Yes. . .all pretty intense.  I read a Dickens short story and then an Agatha Christie novel for the rest of the trip.  Ready now to start Distant Cousin.  I LOVE this gadget!!!

I get the whole bloodsong thing now. . .I think if I'd been able to read it all in more of 'one fell swoop' I would have grasped more.  But having to read in fits and starts I think I missed some things.

One (more) question occurs to me.  I hope this isn't jumping to the next chapters . . .don't think so.  When did Reza have the thingy implanted.  I had the impression it was when he was severely injured after the 700 battle.  But he'd had the freeze up when he was imprisoned by Thorella before that. . . .so I'm confused as to when she'd had a chance to do it any earlier. . . .

Looking forward to the last bits of discussion. . .now must relinquish the laptop to DH so he can check e-mail. 

Ann