A taste of things to come…

I got an unexpected package in the mail the other day. It was a poster tube from my good friend and Nathan Taylor.

Nate is the guy who illustrated The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle. He’s also the one who did the Kvothe Online comic I put up on the blog a while back.

I thought he might have sent me some of the sketches for an upcoming project we’re working on. Or maybe the original art for the Kvothe Online comic.

But what I found inside was treasure of an entirely different sort.

You see, Nate is one of the few people that read The Name of the Wind long before it was ever in print. I met him when I was in grad school back in 2000.

Even rarer, Nate is one of the people who has role-played in my world. I’ve run a few games over the years.

He’s also one of the people I recently trusted to read a beta version of book two and give me some feedback on it.

That means Nate knows all kinds of things about the world that other people don’t. Nate knows all manner of secrets.

This is what he sent me:

When I unrolled the poster, I laughed. It was a big evil-mastermind kind of laugh. Because once again Nate has managed to ring the bell beyond all reasonable expectation. This is the perfect depiction of the Amyr. It fills me with a dark and terrible joy….

In other news, for those of you who would like a small, pretty-much spoiler-free peek at a piece of book two, you can find a small scene over here.

Share and Enjoy,

pat

This entry was posted in book two, cool things, delicious fanarts, Nathan TaylorBy Pat105 Responses

105 Comments

  1. Posted February 21, 2011 at 1:11 AM | Permalink

    I have no clue who Amyr is. That reread is long past due.

    • Spraggus
      Posted February 21, 2011 at 1:25 AM | Permalink

      yeah im with you mate, tonights the night

    • Dyn
      Posted February 21, 2011 at 1:33 AM | Permalink

      If my memory serves, the Amyr are the ones who are hunting the Chandrian, thought to be dead long ago but found by Kvothe to still exist when Haliax mentions that they are being hunted by them.

    • Matt
      Posted February 21, 2011 at 1:38 AM | Permalink

      I’m about halfway through my latest reread. There is a lot of detail about the Amyr Knights in TNOTW if you pay attention. More detail than I recalled after reading the first time, anyway.

    • gaard63
      Posted February 21, 2011 at 9:54 AM | Permalink

      So on my latest read through, it would appear that the true Amyr are the one’s that followed Aleph’s path, “and Tehlu was the greatest of them…” that was the blasphemy that Skarpi got arrested for by the church, implying that Tehlu is not god but just the greatest of the Amyr… so the Amyr are the ones chasing the Chandrain, as are the singers and the scythe, in Skarpi’s dockside tale he talks about how the Amyr began to sing…singers…and i don’t know where the scythe come in. The false amyr I believe are the the “knights and justices” of the Aturan empire, based on the legend of the true amyr they let their power corrupt them and thus the picture that mr. nathan taylor has so artistically drawn and mr. rothfuss has so lovingly leaked to us.
      Well that’s my thinking at least

      • Posted February 21, 2011 at 10:02 AM | Permalink

        Yeah, that’s pretty much it.

        • tengen
          Posted February 22, 2011 at 6:29 PM | Permalink

          Spoiler alert? This part confused me a bit actually. Tehlu and a couple others got the whole treatment, burst into flames, moved faster than humans can see, yadda yadda. But their purpose was to mete out justice where they saw unjustness or something to that extent. But Selitos hung back and said I can’t do that I want to punish people and from now on Ima be called the Amyr along with my cats behind me. Butttt they didn’t get any of that specialness Tehlu’s gang got. Guess it’ll get mentioned later?

          • tengen
            Posted February 22, 2011 at 6:34 PM | Permalink

            Nevermind someone answered down there, that’s what I was thinking.

    • Posted February 21, 2011 at 11:16 AM | Permalink

      Yeah. I highly recommend refreshing yourself before you read book two.

      • gaard63
        Posted February 21, 2011 at 11:48 AM | Permalink

        Pat,
        do you mean you are not going to endlessly explain what happened in your first book again in the new book like some fantasy authors (goodkind) who think their readers are morons do?

        • zemind
          Posted February 21, 2011 at 2:31 PM | Permalink

          Speak for yourself. I read the first one a long time ago. I loved it but some of the plot points or character names are starting to fade. I have neither the time nor the envy to read again everything (it’s quite a lot) and I wouldn’t mind for something or someone, somewhere, to refresh my memory with the important stuff. Does anyone could point me toward such a thing? Please?

          • elfish311
            Posted February 26, 2011 at 1:19 PM | Permalink

            I’m not sure I understand this sentiment….The Name of the Wind=one of the best reads of all time. Why would it be a waste of time to read again? I’ve read it three times, each time it’s just as enjoyable and it makes me that much more excited for book 2. I can’t really think of anything better out there right now, so why not waste some time and read book one again?

        • Posted February 21, 2011 at 9:00 PM | Permalink

          I’m with you — I do have the first book after all (twice!) should I desire to re-read (yes) and/or need to perform spot checks (maybe) during the first two days of March (slurp!).

          In fact, I recall one best-selling blowhard in particular who stuck a 80-some-odd pages long preface to the front of a book. I was reading along, trying to figure out who these people were and why any of this mattered, when I turned the page and saw “Chapter 1”. I’m fairly certain that I threw the book at my bookshelf in outrage.

          It would be interesting though to see how concisely TNOTW could be summarized for an intro/reminder … Maybe Pat should have a contest? Best summary in 500 words gets a cookie? (And no I wouldn’t attempt such a thing.)

          Hoji.

      • cynrtst
        Posted February 22, 2011 at 1:44 AM | Permalink

        Yes, couldn’t find my physical copy so I Kindled it. I am trying to pay more attention this time, because the first time I was so enamored I just sped right through it. I CAN’T wait till Huntington Beach!!!! People probably always bring you stuff, Pat, so I’m bringing something for Sarah!

      • Posted February 22, 2011 at 7:04 AM | Permalink

        Totally plan on it. 62 pages left in Robin Hobb’s Dragon Keeper, then I’ll get NOTW knocked out in time for WMF in a week. That’s the plan anyway. I bet NOTW takes me more than a week though.

  2. Shnargen
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 1:17 AM | Permalink

    Haha I refuse to read anything that is even “pretty much” spoiler free! I am so paranoid after someone spoiled the end of the sixth Harry Potter to me, and after I accidentally spoiled a death in Storm of Swords for myself. I am terrified of spoilers…it’s like a phobia at this point. Also, see you March 1st, pat!

    • Matt
      Posted February 21, 2011 at 1:34 AM | Permalink

      I’m with you, Shnargen. Not one page, not one sentence shall pass these eyes until I have the book in my hand.

      (Excepting the small excerpt Pat read aloud at that book signing several months ago. That was cool.)

      • Shnargen
        Posted February 21, 2011 at 1:54 AM | Permalink

        Heck, even looking at the picture made me feel uncomfortable! haha i guess i’ll just have to get over it XD

    • Murdoc the Mad
      Posted February 21, 2011 at 1:43 AM | Permalink

      I love that teaser scene. I’ve read it five or six times already and I find something new to laugh about each time, and “Kvothe is crap at Interesting Fact” makes me chuckle out loud every time.

    • Mickey
      Posted February 21, 2011 at 2:20 AM | Permalink

      Been there and done that too, so now no more teasers, tid-bits, hints, clues or excerpts ! Just wait for the damn book like they used to do back in the Dark Ages before that Interweb thingy-ma-jiggumy.

  3. The Glory and The Dream
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 1:18 AM | Permalink

    That’s an awesome picture

  4. bremon
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 1:27 AM | Permalink

    That. Was so awesome.
    I need to reread Name of the Wind now.

  5. gkidd1985
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 1:32 AM | Permalink

    I love you Patrick Rothfuss. Sing me a ballad.

  6. chuckles73
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 1:32 AM | Permalink

    That definitely changes how I was thinking of them in my mind… A lot.

  7. Evenglare
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 1:33 AM | Permalink

    Fascinating ,about the roleplaying, what system do you use? Did you know pathfinder is coming out with the word caster class ? It reminds me of the magic in the name of the wind. If i brought my rpg rulebook along with my name of the wind could it be possible to sign it? I dont wanna be “that guy” , but this opportunity doesnt come around much….

  8. Dyn
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 1:39 AM | Permalink

    So I was wondering if the marks on his hands are blood or tattoos…I’m assuming that they’re flame tattoos considering what else is going on with the rest of the photo.

    Also, I have to say that the snipit from wise man’s fear surprised the heck out of me. The idea of Elodin “teaching” in a classroom -while a small surprise – is still a surprise. I have to say that it has me wondering what else pat has waiting for us in this second installment…

    • Posted February 21, 2011 at 10:03 AM | Permalink

      black flames.

    • Widow Of Sirius
      Posted February 21, 2011 at 2:47 PM | Permalink

      I think they’re tattoos…

    • thekeythecointhecandle
      Posted February 24, 2011 at 12:46 PM | Permalink

      My vote would be “blood on his hands”. Symbology. (see Boondock Saints)

  9. Sedulo
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 1:40 AM | Permalink

    Now with even more feverish anticipation!

  10. Mickey
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 2:15 AM | Permalink

    Hey c’mon now Pat, you can’t seriously be telling us that you have any other kinds of laugh than big, evil mastermind…it just wouldn’t be cool if you had one of those big, jolly,bearded guy ones…

    On second thoughts, you can laugh any damn way you please. Just don’t start doing reality TV shows where you do ballroom dancing or something equally degrading !

  11. D. M. Domini
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 2:44 AM | Permalink

    I like the hyena anatomy reference in the excerpt. Hyenas are an interesting species.

  12. Blarghedy
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 3:31 AM | Permalink

    So, uh… ye’ll be sellin’ that poster on the online, yes?

    *shifty eyes*

    I dun even know what it’s about ‘n’ I can’t help but find it to be awesome.

    • Posted February 21, 2011 at 8:57 AM | Permalink

      Yeah. We’ll probably be putting the poster up for sale in the online store pretty soon….

  13. benowulf
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 6:42 AM | Permalink

    Labeling that picture as an Amyr seems, in itself, to be somewhat of a spoiler. Why is the Amyr burning down a house? Why does he seem to have blood on his hands? I’ve long wondered if the role of the Amyr, the Chandrian, and the angels (those who chose Aleph’s path according to Skarpi) have gotten twisted over the centuries. Perhaps good and evil isn’t so clear anymore…as if it ever was. Centuries of vengeance seeking can take a toll on a person’s heart…

    Then again, perhaps it’s just a scene from one of your old role-playing games and it has absolutely nothing at all to do with the story. Perhaps the Amyr created by Selitos are just as pure in their purpose as they were the moment they swore to avenge Myr Tariniel. In fact…if anyone wants my theory (which you probably don’t, but you can stop reading then) I think the Amyr probably remained more pure than those who crossed to Aleph’s path and became the angels. Otherwise why would Chronicler have had the thought about Kvothe being a man who had obtained his heart’s desire, only to have to kill an angel to keep it?

    I love trying to puzzle out the mystery Pat. Keep up the good work.

  14. Marcus Cox
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 6:48 AM | Permalink

    All I can really say is your a damn tease, Mr. Rothfuss.

    I’ve been working on my reread of “The Name of the Wind” for a few days now and I’m finding it amazing how much I had forgotten. Had I not been reading I’d be one of the people asking what the hell “Amry” is. I’m very curious on this picture of them. Unless I’m reading into it the wrong way they seem to be the anti-Chandrian. So this “dark and terrible joy” you speak of confuses me. I’m also curious on when this scene is suppose to take place. I had forgotten how many different levels your book has to it. You have the frame, Kvothe’s story and the lots of other lore told through the story, which happens to be where most of the talk of Amry has been, up until the point that I’m presently at.

    Gahh… Eight days.

  15. thekeythecointhecandle
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 8:24 AM | Permalink

    This picture confirms my suspicion that the Amyr’s credo “for the greater good” seems to be an “ends justifies the means” kind of philosophy. I get the feeling that they will perpetuate evil in the name of their “greater good”. Real excited to read book 2!

  16. IrisSue
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 8:27 AM | Permalink

    I just completed the reread yesterday and imagined the Amry wearing hoods. Elodin makes me laugh out loud or if I were permitted to call him by his first name, then Master. Hahaha.

  17. Posted February 21, 2011 at 8:31 AM | Permalink

    Two brilliant tasters for next week – I can’t wait!

  18. Posted February 21, 2011 at 8:44 AM | Permalink

    Okay, I just spoiled myself. In addition, I soiled myself. Damn you and your funnies, Rothfuss. Damn you!

  19. thechessqueen
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 9:22 AM | Permalink

    A while ago the spoiler passage was read by Brent Weeks at a borders reading. I always wondered if Pat would be okay with some one posting it on facebook. But now that the spoiler is officially out, here is the link for those of you who want to hear it read in a hilarious fashion (I hope this is okay with Pat):

    http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=416298651235&ref=mf

    originally posted on facebook by James Lin (apologies for the cat ears)

  20. TimAZ
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 9:30 AM | Permalink

    No way this is in the book, this is just a tease. Elodin repeatedly using words like wow, crap, and okay? No. He sounds like a slightly stoned teaching assistant at Arizona State.

    • TimAZ
      Posted February 21, 2011 at 1:47 PM | Permalink

      Mmm, maybe that’s the intent, I guess. I really thought this was maybe a bit of a joke, the tone and style just seem so different from NotW. Kept expecting Elodin to say “dude!”

      • TimAZ
        Posted February 21, 2011 at 3:15 PM | Permalink

        Okay. I’ve put on my bathrobe and made myself a White Russian an re-read the piece. It’s good, I’m getting my head around it. It’s just like, Wow. Crap. Dude. Takes some getting used to.

  21. gaard63
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 9:39 AM | Permalink

    So on my latest read through, it would appear that the true Amyr are the one’s that followed Aleph’s path, “and Tehlu was the greatest of them…” that was the blasphemy that Skarpi got arrested for by the church, implying that Tehlu is not god but just the greatest of the Amyr… so the Amyr are the ones chasing the Chandrain, as are the singers and the scythe, in Skarpi’s dockside tale he talks about how the Amyr began to sing…singers…and i don’t know where the scythe come in. The false amyr I believe are the the “knights and justices” of the Aturan empire, based on the legend of the true amyr they let their power corrupt them and thus the picture that mr. nathan taylor has so artistically drawn and mr. rothfuss has so lovingly leaked to us.
    Well that’s my thinking at least

    • gaard63
      Posted February 21, 2011 at 9:55 AM | Permalink

      sorry meant to put this in the another comment not start my own…new to comment board…again sorry

    • benowulf
      Posted February 21, 2011 at 10:02 AM | Permalink

      With all due respect, you’re wrong…or Skarpi is…which is entirely possible if not likely. The Amyr are the ones who did NOT accept Aleph’s path. Selitos could not bear to take Aleph’s path because that would mean he could not avenge the destruction of Myr Tariniel. Those who accepted Aleph’s path could only judge what they themselves saw from that day forth. Those people sprouted wings and were never again seen by the eyes of man. They became what seems like angels, and what I theorize may be the “singers” (one of the things Haliax protects cinder from).

      Selitos and some others decided to remain in the worldly realm and call themselves the Amyr. He vowed that they would ever chase Haliax and give him no rest until his beloved city was avenged.

      So, Skarpi’s story is a great piece of the mystery…where did it go from there? Are there any of the original Amyr remaining alive or is it just a lineage? If they are alive, how did they survive? Selitos’ naming power? I doubt it. As for Tehlu, who became an angel no longer seen by the eyes of man…that allows for some of Trapis’ story to have shreds of truth as well. These people who took Aleph’s path could have come to be viewed as gods over time if they swooped in and judged things that they saw over the years. The tehlin church still would have arrested Skarpi because…well…would christians be ok with it if you said Jesus had become powerful only after some powerful wizard/namer imbued him with power and made him an angel?

      Haha. No. No no.

      • benowulf
        Posted February 21, 2011 at 10:03 AM | Permalink

        Incidentally I completed my fifth re-read in preparation for the next book. *sigh*…I know. I know. I consider it my generations lord of the rings…which my dad read maybe 15 times.

  22. Posted February 21, 2011 at 10:04 AM | Permalink

    thanks for the snippet, bro. I laughed in the middle of the library when I read:

    “You can divide infinity an infinite number of times, and the resulting pieces will still be infinitely large,” Uresh said in his odd Lenatti accent. “But if you divide a non-infinite number an infinite number of times the resulting pieces are non-infinitely small. Since they are non-infinitely small, but there are an infinite number of them, if you add them back together, their sum is infinite. This implies any number is, in fact, infinite.”

    “Wow,” Elodin said after a long pause. He leveled a serious finger at the Lenatti man. “Uresh. Your next assignment is to have sex. If you do not know how to do this, see me after class.”

  23. Valaritas
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 11:16 AM | Permalink

    Must correct math… can’t resist… A number that is divided an infinite number of times eventually DOES become infinitely small. This property is what allows the summation of infinite geometric sequences, as long as ‘r’ is between 1 and -1.
    ex: S(infinity) of .5^n = 1 … … … Unless there have been recent advances in mathematical theory of which I have not been aware. But it is ultimately a small issue with a marvelous excerpt. Thanks for releasing it!

    inb4 ‘Take Elodin’s advice.’

    • HJ
      Posted February 21, 2011 at 1:07 PM | Permalink

      Yeah, I found that rather jarring as well. But then I thought it might have actually been a misconception held by people in medieval times.

      In any case, the preview was pretty cool. Can’t wait for the book. :)

  24. Dianadomino
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 11:28 AM | Permalink

    Wow, some of you people are tough. I didn’t even pretend to try to resist the excerpt. :) But it was very tantalizing. *sigh* I can wait a few more days after so long, but why does the waiting seem more interminable than, say, years ago when I first read The Name of the Wind?

    I was also thinking that Elodin really was teaching the class something (and answering Kvothe’s challenge to teach them something) by chasing the milkweed pod—he showed how foolish it would be to chase something so elusive (such as the name of the wind) and to me, the simile seemed perfect after he sat down and inhaled one. That’s what happens after you stop chasing around after something, it comes to you when you’re not expecting it. Don’t know if that’s what you were intending, Pat, but it worked for me. ^_^

    XOXOX
    Diana

    • Mickey
      Posted February 21, 2011 at 2:30 PM | Permalink

      Oh the sneaky hidden messages of our Bearded Master…

  25. fuelpagan
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 12:27 PM | Permalink

    Dammit Pat.
    I had it all planned out to finish rereading The Name of the Wind the night before The Wise Man’s Fear went on sale. But like a sweet eater I gobbled it all up and now have 8 days of withdrawals until the book comes out. I could kick myself. Anyway. Just want to warn you when I start complaining where is book 3 on March 5th it is just addiction withdrawals talking. Only to be taken as a complement of how awesome your work is.

    Love the excerpt.

  26. AlanAdams23
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 1:14 PM | Permalink

    “This entry was posted in Nathan Taylor, book two, cool things, delicious fanarts”

    – Don’t read the last two words too quickly. I accidentally missed the “an” in “fanarts” and did a double take when trying to decipher what was being called “delicious”.

  27. CruEllenDeVille
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 1:39 PM | Permalink

    I seriously love Elodin, but hey, who doesn’t love an utterly insane guy who dares tell the hero of the story to jump off a roof :-). Cannot wait for March 1st (assuming that the Glaswegian bookstores will have The Wise Man’s Fear right away).
    Rereading The Name Of The Wind now (along with everyone else, I guess).

    Mr. Pat, you are incredibly amazing!

  28. Kitty
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 1:49 PM | Permalink

    Pat – have you ever done a blog about how you come up with all these great names for things, people, places?? I looked – couldn’t find one. My search skills may not be the best though.

  29. Posted February 21, 2011 at 2:35 PM | Permalink

    Hey !

    You’re 23rd on Amazon.ca : http://uploadpic.org/v.php?img=UINhkxBsQd
    and 10th on Amazon.com http://uploadpic.org/v.php?img=iDB9EzcM5X

    That’s really great…However, I don’t understand how you can be behind the Slow Cooker Revolution, your book tastes way better !

    Continue your great work,
    Alexandre

  30. Widow Of Sirius
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 2:58 PM | Permalink

    My brain can’t wrap around the fact that the book is almost here. I’ve been so intent upon it for so long that I can’t completely imagine a world where it is actually here.
    Not that I’m not excited. I just forgot to start re-reading NOTW for the 5th time :)

  31. Alean
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 3:09 PM | Permalink

    OT but can someone help me out? I would like to re-read NOTW and as my hardback is a couple hundred kilometers away i’d love to buy it as an ebook. Being in Europe the US-online-stores won’t sell it to me and I don’t want to read the german version readily available at amazon.de but the English original. Please help and happy march 1st!

  32. Posted February 21, 2011 at 7:27 PM | Permalink

    I just did something I’ve NEVER done before: I pre-ordered WISE MAN’S FEAR on Amazon so it will ship on March 1. It’s very exciting. Now I need to read NOTW one more time before it gets here.

    *quiveringinanticipation*

    Thanks, Pat, for feeding my story addiction. ;-D

    Jules

    • Posted February 21, 2011 at 9:43 PM | Permalink

      No no, you’ve got it all wrong. As an amazon prime member, you get free 2 day shipping, but they ship it two days early, so you GET it on March 1st. Can’t wait.

      • Dyn
        Posted February 22, 2011 at 12:30 AM | Permalink

        So you’re saying that if I find out where they’re shipping from I could theoretically go and hijack my copy two days early? This could prove interesting…

  33. Jam
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 7:30 PM | Permalink

    mm call me sentimental, but I agree with the sentiment expressed by others.. Pretty-much spoiler-free just isn’t quite as spoiler-free as I’d like

    • Matt
      Posted February 21, 2011 at 9:15 PM | Permalink

      It’s a difficult position to take, isn’t it? I’m going to have to stop reading comments in this blog until after I’m done with the book. Just scanning quickly through what’s posted so far, I’ve seen more references to the spoilers than I wanted.

      So long, folks. See you in a couple weeks.

      • Mickey
        Posted February 22, 2011 at 2:27 AM | Permalink

        Agreed !
        Seconded !!

        Please consider using a SPOILER NOTICE if you are going to post anything that will take away from others’ self denial by waiting. It’s just polite, yes ?

      • Jam
        Posted February 22, 2011 at 8:07 PM | Permalink

        I am definitely in this camp! But I don’t want to give up my Wrathfuss fix!! Especially when the comments are so entertaining between blogs.

  34. Little My
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 7:38 PM | Permalink

    Cool little author interview over at Amazon. I hadn’t seen it before, so maybe others haven’t either.

    • Little My
      Posted February 21, 2011 at 7:56 PM | Permalink

      You’ll want to scroll down to “editorial reviews” – that’s where they put it.

    • Mickey
      Posted February 22, 2011 at 2:20 AM | Permalink

      Thanky you ! What a great interview, Pat firing broadsides, ringing endorsements, vitriolic abuse and cult-loving !!!

      Made my day already.

      • Little My
        Posted February 22, 2011 at 5:55 AM | Permalink

        Yes, I particularly enjoyed the bit about his cult. (All of us here, presumably, plus some who haven’t found us, plus some who are taking a temporary leave in order to save themselves for Book 2.)

  35. Baldsilver
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 9:33 PM | Permalink

    i spent a long ass time trying to think through your infinity unknown fact, didnt make sense to me, oh well

  36. Ent_hused
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 10:48 PM | Permalink

    Interesting Fact…

    Great idea for layering in culture. And funny. I can’t wait to read all of it.

    Sometimes when I write, I notice contemporary phrases and/or syntax that want to leak out of my subconscious and onto the page. I’m all for not going faux archaic, but sometimes I wonder at the intrusion of certain constructions. As you used “80 years back,” I couldn’t help but think about this. Your phrase seemed fresh and very contemporary, even if yours is a different world with a different level of technology. I don’t buy into the whole translated into our language thing (as Sanderson claims).

    It was just interesting to see a contemporary phrase in your novel’s language. I didn’t mind it. It made the scene that much more immediate. But I guess the question was whether to use ‘ago’ or ‘back.’ Funny how ‘ago’ seems more neutral to my ear, whereas ‘back’ makes me think of Matt Damon telling Ben Affleck a story. Guess the next time I’m writing, I will be more open to the benefits of contemporary phrases in my dialogue.

    • Little My
      Posted February 22, 2011 at 6:00 AM | Permalink

      Yes. And my position is, if I didn’t like it before, I do now, because I love NOTW, and therefore whatever methods are involved is okay.

      And for the record, I really don’t love that kind of thing in something like Neal Stephenson’s Baroque Cycle, because that stuff is SUPPOSED to be historical fiction. This is a fictional alternative world, and if they speak as we do, so be it.

      • Little My
        Posted February 22, 2011 at 6:01 AM | Permalink

        “whatever methods are involved” ARE “okay”. Oops.

      • Ent_hused
        Posted February 22, 2011 at 8:01 AM | Permalink

        I think this simple fact–that fans will accept unconventional (out of genre) language like this–just speaks to the popularity of the story. This fact in itself is another interesting phenomena, that if the character, plot, tension, and world are enough to entice us, the characters can speak almost any way the author wants.

        Interesting facts indeed. Kind of blows the doors open on the conventional wisdom for writing fantasy. I for one am happy to observe it. Too often do I hear from people that they don’t read fantasy because of the unpronounceable names, or the esoteric and superimposed facts.

        I wonder if this is in part an influence of urban fantasy on high fantasy? Something that may bring high fantasy more into the mainstream. But the funny thing about high fantasy, is that even LOTR’s language wasn’t so difficult. It has only been the generations of writers hence, who’ve tried so damn hard to write and not write like Tolkien that we’ve come to that particular morass of language.

        • TimAZ
          Posted February 22, 2011 at 9:39 AM | Permalink

          I’m still struggling with Elodin as The Dude. I just reread it, and it’s quite the crap sandwich. Okay, it’s funny. Are we sure this is for real?

          • Mickey
            Posted February 22, 2011 at 12:15 PM | Permalink

            I’m thinking this a dark humour moment from our beloved Wrathfuss. That Imp of Literature that pokes his dreadful wand into the world of words we love so much…is it an actual excerpt from WMF ? I can’t see it myself, but I’ve wronger about bigger things than this before…

          • TimAZ
            Posted February 22, 2011 at 1:02 PM | Permalink

            Yeah, I just didn’t see it coming out from Elodin. Need to wrap my mind around it. Completely changes the way I view the character, which may not be a bad thing.

            I do wish I’d phrased my post above a little more carefully. It’s just some of the language that surprised me, I like the piece and laughed out loud a couple times. Must. Adjust. Thinking.

        • Mickey
          Posted February 22, 2011 at 12:19 PM | Permalink

          Embiggen, shorterize, bug-fuckeringly etc…just a few of the ways Pat is proving that language is alive and will change and grow every day.

  37. MelonMasher
    Posted February 21, 2011 at 11:31 PM | Permalink

    Any news when this next book will be released on Aubile.com ?

  38. thekeythecointhecandle
    Posted February 22, 2011 at 10:13 AM | Permalink

    This is not related to the excerpt, but I’m looking for a forum to discuss the books – are any good ones in existence? For instance: Did anyone notice in the NOTW that Auri gives Kvothe a Key, and a Coin? Any relevance to Taborlain? Also, anyone notice that “Kote” means “disaster” in Sairu? (Look at Kvothe’s discussion with Kilvin after the fire at the Fishery)…stuff like that.

    Thanks

    • thekeythecointhecandle
      Posted February 22, 2011 at 1:24 PM | Permalink

      Whoops: “Taborlin the Great*”

    • Widow Of Sirius
      Posted February 22, 2011 at 5:45 PM | Permalink

      I did notice that “Kote” means disaster, and mentioned it at a reading – I was the only one there that had noticed it, and I almost felt like I had spoiled it for people >.< However, I kind of love it – after all "Names are important as they tell you a great deal about a person."
      I didn't notice the Key and Coin/Tablorin the Great thing though, that's interesting!

      • thekeythecointhecandle
        Posted February 22, 2011 at 8:33 PM | Permalink

        These are my favorite things about the book…Pat has written them do so long and worked so hard on them that Everything is in there for a reason. And he doesn’t draw unneeded attention to cool things like that…he just puts them in, and if you notice them, you notice them.

  39. gryphia
    Posted February 22, 2011 at 10:30 AM | Permalink

    I just wanted to say that I’ve interrupted my reread of Steven Erikson’s Malazan Book of the Fallen (in anticipation of The Crippled God on march 1st) to reread NotW. If you know how awesome Erikson’s books are, then you’ll know how awesome that makes your books!

  40. priscellie
    Posted February 22, 2011 at 10:53 AM | Permalink

    Oh, HELL YES.

  41. Bryan
    Posted February 22, 2011 at 12:38 PM | Permalink

    By the way… I just went into iBooks on my iPad and downloaded a sample of the first 80-90 pages or so of “The Wise Man’s Fear”. It’s the iBookstore policy to provide a sample of every book it sells.

    Imagine my delight. Now I have to ration myself to 12 pages a day or go into withdrawal….

    • thekeythecointhecandle
      Posted February 22, 2011 at 1:22 PM | Permalink

      Careful…I read that sample already, and it ends on a cliffhanger. I consider reading the sample a huge mistake.

      • Bryan
        Posted February 22, 2011 at 2:30 PM | Permalink

        Better a cliffhanger than no cliff on which to hang, I say.

        It’s only seven more days!

        Or so I keep telling myself…

        • thekeythecointhecandle
          Posted February 22, 2011 at 3:38 PM | Permalink

          As long as you are comfortable freaking out for the next few days, by all means…

          I just thought I’d give you fair warning ;)

  42. Posted February 22, 2011 at 7:50 PM | Permalink

    Nathan’s sister, Wendy, is the one who first introduced me to the book. We shared a lot of the same interests (although she, for a long time, adamantly refused to watch the new Battlestar Galactica), so she showed me the book one evening as I came into where we both worked and said I should read it, that I would probably like it. I took a look at the cover: a shirtless copper-top with his hair flowing behind him and a musical instrument clutched in his paws? Uh, no thanks, I think this is a book that I can most definitely judge by its cover. But I somehow ended up reading it anyways and am so very glad to have been so completely wrong.

    Is Wendy a beta-reader as well? I may have to pester her for tantalizing information.

  43. neurosion
    Posted February 22, 2011 at 8:20 PM | Permalink

    Yesterday I received some magical information that I was sure had to be old news, but seeing as no one here has mentioned it… the Apple iBooks store is currently providing the first several chapters of WMF as a sample, no purchase necessary.

    …and yes, it’s pretty awesome.

  44. tonergirl
    Posted February 22, 2011 at 9:18 PM | Permalink

    So, this has nothing to do with the book, but i was wondering if you were involved at all in the protests? I have family up there, and that’s pretty much all their doing…

  45. Angelbaka
    Posted February 23, 2011 at 2:46 AM | Permalink

    Every damn time I read a string of comments for anything related to you I see a Norwegian has posted. Do you have that ridiculous of a following in Norway or are your Norwegian fans just that awesome? Makes me wish I’d been back there recently. Oslo is so pretty and Solo is (in my humble opinion) the greatest orange soda ever made. Ever.

    Also, Mr Nate: You, sir, are as much a gentleman and scholar as good Mr Rothfuss is. Which is saying something. (At least, publicly. We all know the DM is always a dick.)

    Then again, mayhap you know better than I… ‘course, the magnificent bastard is as much a gentleman as the King of… wait, some of them have been right cocks. I can’t really think of any pure ‘gentleman’… maybe Gandhi? Anyway, I think I made my point clear. As dirt. Oh well.

    YOU ARE BOTH AWESOME.

    Can’t wait to see you in LA, Pat.

  46. theboogieman
    Posted February 24, 2011 at 7:12 PM | Permalink

    Can’t wait for Wise Man’s Fear, Pat. I got to get re-reading The Name of the Wind fast, or faster, anyway (I’m a slow reader).

  47. Djwl29
    Posted March 4, 2011 at 7:39 PM | Permalink

    A bit of a personal touch to Nathan’s depiction…

    http://i.imgur.com/9gqsl.jpg

    Haha enjoy.

  48. chat
    Posted February 25, 2012 at 2:24 PM | Permalink

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