Photo Contest Part VIII – Eros, Filius, and Agape

One of the original categories I proposed for this contest was “Most Sexy.” This was, of course, a shameless attempt to get young ladies to send me pictures of themselves all scantily clad.

As with all of my nefarious schemes, this one met with varying degrees of success.

Oh. I remember when I had abs. *Sigh.* A decade of sitting in front of a computer writing a novel has not been good for my physique. I hope y’all appreciate what I gave up for this novel….

Similarly, as the pictures started to roll in, I realized that that “sexy” was too narrow a term for this category. I needed to broaden the field a bit, but I can’t think of a single way to describe them. “Most Lovely” isn’t quite right either. Perhaps what we need is not a single broad term, but a group of more specific ones….

The ancient Greeks were wise enough to have three words for love: Filius, Eros, and Agape. Filius was family love, what you feel for your mom. Eros was sweaty love of the sort that you feel for best friend’s hot mom. Agape is profound and elevated. A sort of soul love, like what you feel for your PlayStation, or Natalie Portman, or Joss Whedon.

Let’s do it that way, let us divide and conquer.

Some people made blatant attempts to appeal to my prurient interests. But these heavy-handed photoshoppings were the exception to the rule.

Some photos, in fact, were very high-class. Elegant, even.

Here we have the flirtation that comes at the beginning of the relationship….

…. and the romance that comes later. You sure know how to treat a book, Captain Joe.

Awwww…. the sweetest picture.

Here, apparently my book has just competed in some manner of sexual Olympics. I’m pretty sure that low score up on the board is from the East German judge….

Only rarely in my life have I been looked at with this degree of adoration. This is an agape look.

Awwww… Filius.

And there was a fair share of straight-up sexy too. Good old-fashioned Eros never goes out of style.

We’ve got librarian sexy.

Hip-wader sexy. (Don’t judge me.)

And some bad-boy sexy. Can you feel the sheer damn manliness rolling off this? Not a lot of guys seemed interested in sending in pictures of this sort, so I think it’s worth the runner-up position.

Our winner. So lovely. (I assume this was before the duck showed up…)

(Click to Embiggen)

And the picture that stunned me. The extra-winner. Winner plus. The ladies who sent this in were careful to point out that they were reading Chapter 69: Wind or Women’s Fancy.

Ladies, for going to such lengths, each of you may have whatever prizes you like. Plus, I’d like to send along something special. Would you have any interest in a couple copies of the ARC I’ve been hording? It only seems fair that you would each get one, as this was clearly a team effort.

This picture. I… I just don’t know what to say. Part of me feels like I should try to be suave here. I feel like I should pretend…

Here’s the deal. I think when we’re young, we all dream of being famous. We see actors or rock stars on the news, and we want some of that for ourselves. It’s a dream of power. It’s a childish fantasy.

I’m a grown-up. Partly. And that grown-up part of me says, “You should be mature about this. Assuming an attitude of careful appreciation to this picture. Be calm and complimentary, but don’t overdo it. Remember, you don’t want to seem like some immature git. Or worse, an old pervert.”

I’m also a feminist. Hell, I spent years as the ADVISOR to the local feminist group. That part of me is grumbling about women’s bodies as objects, and… y’know… patriarchy and stuff.

These are just a few of the ways my superego is trying to assert itself. Trying to make me feel guilty. Trying to crush my joy thin and lifeless as a dry, brown leaf.

But no. I’m going to shrug off all that responsible-minded bullshit for a moment and tell you the truth. This is cool. This is the coolest thing ever. I look at this picture and I feel like a goofy teenager again. When I first saw it, I laughed with delight and joy. I told everyone about it.

I wish I could go back in time and talk to my poor, lonely, confused teenage self and say, “Pat, things are not going to go smoothly for you over the next couple years. You will make terrible mistakes. You will spend a decade getting your college degree and writing a unmarketable behemoth of a fantasy novel. Most people, even the ones that love and support you, will think that this is a pretty stupid thing to do, and they will be right in thinking that.”

Then I would lean forward and say, “But if you keep writing, you will finish that book. And if you keep revising it, a publisher will buy it. They will pay you money for the story that came out of your head. And once that book is in print, there are people who will love your book. They will love it beyond all reason and expectation. They will love your book to such a degree that beautiful young women will strip naked and adorn their bodies with the image of your book, and then they will send you a picture of it!

In my mind’s eye, I can see the smile on the face of that teenage Pat. It is the smile I am wearing now. It goes deep down into my chest, and it feels good. It feels like being a stupid kid again.

Tomorrow it will probably fade. I’ll probably feel a little embarrassed about the fuss I made over this picture. But for now, I am happy in a very non-mature, non-responsible way.

For now, I know that I am very lucky. Thank you all.

pat

This entry was posted in contests, fan coolnessBy Pat54 Responses

53 Comments

  1. Captain Joe
    Posted June 9, 2008 at 11:15 AM | Permalink

    Hey Pat,I’ve noticed that you seem to update your blog every other day or so, at a round abouts 19:00 my time(which is GMT +08:00). This observtion allows me to be here to appreciate the latest entry fresh from your no-doubt bearded keyboard.Let’s have a look here… Okay, my good self romancing NOTW in a bubbly bath. That shot was the most difficult to set up, more so than dangling a hundred or so feet above the earth off the side of a building on a windy day. For modesty reasons, I took this picture alone – and my little digital camera has a fifteen-second timer. You’d think that would be enough time to sink into a bathtub without knocking over candles or books – but no! A lot of care was taken, and let’s just say there were a few more revealing shots before I managed an ‘appropriate’ one. The beautiful women alone make this my favourite category, yet the inclusion of so much naked man chest makes me want to go out and eat some meat, possibly drink some ale and get into a fight.Sounds like a plan, me thinks. Who is with me?Heh, what is this grown-up nonsense? I don’t think I’d be overshooting the mark if I suggested NOTW is universally loved by all creation, Mr Rothfuss. Nope, not at all. It has more than a touch of epic about it – not just the story itself, but the obvious care that was taken in crafting every single word. Hats off, mate, and the best part is you’re only just getting warmed up here.Also feel great about being a stupid kid, Pat, because being anything else requires a lot more blood, sweat, and tears. And leaves little time for anything imaginative or… defiant! Heh, enough from me,~Cap’n Joe

  2. Todd Moses
    Posted June 9, 2008 at 11:36 AM | Permalink

    I would love to know where that forest is with the women in white and the duck.Women who read fantasy/sci-fi rule!

  3. marky
    Posted June 9, 2008 at 12:20 PM | Permalink

    Am with ya Joe! Meat and ale it is. Can I have it in pie form though? I like the pies! Although, I nearly choked on my lunch pie when I saw the uber hotness of the naked back ladies. That Timberlake song sexyback is stuck in my head now. Damn you all!!Pat. I bought a signed copy of your college survival guide. Stop posting things I can spend money on. I’ve only one kidney left!!

  4. Captain Joe
    Posted June 9, 2008 at 12:44 PM | Permalink

    Awright then – Guinness Pie for Marky.

  5. Jaimo
    Posted June 9, 2008 at 1:01 PM | Permalink

    Are those three ladies adornments of the edible type that go on cakes? I’m just going to assume they are to quench my fantasticalness.

  6. suziko
    Posted June 9, 2008 at 1:08 PM | Permalink

    Ooh, when are you going to start selling temporary tattoos of your book art for all of your women fans to adorn themselves with? ;)

  7. Greg
    Posted June 9, 2008 at 2:09 PM | Permalink

    I’m just waiting for the day you go to a convention and some one says, “Pat, I loved your book so much that I got a tattoo!” And then they proceed to lift their shirts to show the tree covering their back.

  8. RedCochina
    Posted June 9, 2008 at 2:37 PM | Permalink

    Congratulations, naked back ladies! That picture does deserve the “extra winner” title.I think it’s entirely appropriate to gush and drool over this photo. Obviously a lot of thought and effort went into it and good art deserves to be recognized. Not only was it sexy and titillating, it was stylish and graceful as well. Bravo!

  9. Anonymous
    Posted June 9, 2008 at 2:44 PM | Permalink

    I think this was the first category that i guessed right about the winners. That said Joe you are rigth about the need for massive quantities of ale. But not for us but for the three near naked girls I thinkk that is a much better use.

  10. Mike Toot
    Posted June 9, 2008 at 3:49 PM | Permalink

    Don’t feel conflicted about the winning photo! Eros makes the world go round. Even staunch feminists will agree that being sexy is just plain fun! (Well, maybe not Andrea Dworkin, but she’s dead now so that will show her.)

  11. roseneko
    Posted June 9, 2008 at 3:54 PM | Permalink

    Now I’m curious…is there a Greek term for librarian-sexy? If there isn’t, there should be.

  12. Kalligenia
    Posted June 9, 2008 at 4:11 PM | Permalink

    Congrats to the winners. Those are some beautiful pictures. Something for us all to aah or ooh or Oooo! *squeal* over!

  13. zarkia
    Posted June 9, 2008 at 4:20 PM | Permalink

    “But for now, I am happy in a very non-mature, non-responsible way.”this line makes me so happy for some reason. i think it’s because i feel the same way about things i say and do at times. in the heat of the moment everything is just perfect; no inhibitions or judgement or self-consciousness. you say exactly what you mean, and it makes sense.and if, the next day, you read it and wonder what the hell you were on when you wrote it, what harm. we all need a little childishness in our lives.thanks for posting, pat :)

  14. Robert S
    Posted June 9, 2008 at 4:42 PM | Permalink

    I think the ladies win the contest overall. I mean when I saw the picture I was blown away. I almost wondered if the back of the cover was printed out as well. Then I remembered I’m married and my wife smacked me in the back of the head on the assumption I was thinking naughty things.

  15. Pat
    Posted June 9, 2008 at 4:57 PM | Permalink

    Robert: They probably would have won the contest overall, but you haven’t seen the final pictures yet…. Believe it or not, there is still more staggering awesome yet to come.

  16. Ryan
    Posted June 9, 2008 at 6:05 PM | Permalink

    I have to applaud all the massive amounts of creativity I’ve been seeing in all of these photographs. What I want to know is, why haven’t I ever met any of these women who are willing to get naked over a fantasy book?

  17. Rich
    Posted June 9, 2008 at 10:13 PM | Permalink

    I don’t mean to burst anyone’s bubble, but all three of those women are legal and taken. Don’t get your hopes up. :)

  18. hypermanic-zen
    Posted June 10, 2008 at 1:06 AM | Permalink

    Full respect to Captain Joe, as usual. Reading in the bath is damn hard business. That said, for me, nothing goes past librarian sexy. Too much time spent there, I suppose.

  19. Kira-hime
    Posted June 10, 2008 at 1:16 AM | Permalink

    Naked Girls, if I were you I would request ‘beta versions’ of book 2. Wish I had thought of that! XD

  20. Nathan House
    Posted June 10, 2008 at 12:50 PM | Permalink

    Congratulations to the winners. Sexiness plus effort is always a hard combination to beat.That’s a wonderful sentiment that you end with Pat. I think everyone, to some degree, occasionally wishes that their future-self would pop out of a time machine and give them a bit of a pep talk.

  21. matt
    Posted June 10, 2008 at 5:47 PM | Permalink

    hypermanic-zen: You think reading in the bath is difficult, try reading in the shower. What a mess that turned out to be… And all the other sailors complained that I was using up the hot water. I really learned my lesson on that one.Props, Cap’n Joe. You have reached new heights.Props, studly biker guy. Your sheer manliness made me want to do push-ups (I resisted the urge).Props, naked girls. Props for being naked.Pat, I think you now qualify as a rock star. You have naked groupies.

  22. Incubus Jax
    Posted June 10, 2008 at 7:44 PM | Permalink

    pfft, those are <>dudes<>.Just kidding great job everyone. Great Job naked girls. Now Pat can feel like a bearded perv at the next convention. He’ll be standing around, letting people buy him bearded ale thinking “how many of these chicks can I get to bare all for a reading?” Next thing you know it’ll be a new form a currency. You’ll be driving alone late at night when you see a bearded girl standing on a corner. You’ll pull over, roll down the window and say:“Eh, what can I get for three sentances?”And she’ll say “Throw in a prologue and a super-size fry and you can have anything you bearded want.”Good times, good times.

  23. Angela
    Posted June 11, 2008 at 1:38 AM | Permalink

    “You’ll be driving alone late at night when you see a bearded girl standing on a corner.” -incubus jax Be careful of anything received from a “bearded girl.” *contemplative look* I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s something fishy about a chick with a beard that makes me suspicious of their intentions.“Stop posting things I can spend money on. I’ve only one kidney left!!” -Marky Completely agree. I’m premeditating spending over $100 on books tomorrow…cheap books. Do you know how many cheap books that is? A lot. Except for the copy of The Wise Man’s Fear I’m preordering. That’s not so cheap, even with a good deal from amazon. I guess that’s just what I get bc of the super cheap NOTW I bought. WMF is TOTALLY worth it, though. Oh, the friend I gave NOTW to LOVES it… Yeah, we’re going to tear the world apart waiting for WMF. Bright side! I’ll send you the nakie pics we take at our next pre-planned, super hot, pillow fight sleepover!!! JK!!! Sorry guys, no one really does that…unless, apparently, NOTW is involved.

  24. Anonymous
    Posted June 11, 2008 at 8:47 AM | Permalink

    Filia, not filius.Filius is Latin for “son.”:)

  25. Anonymous
    Posted June 11, 2008 at 8:49 AM | Permalink

    Or, with a better English transliteration, “philia.”Greek: φιλíα

  26. Pat
    Posted June 11, 2008 at 9:05 AM | Permalink

    *Sigh* While I appreciate the anonymous attempts at help, please don’t jump in with corrections unless you’re sure of your information. As I said, we’re talking about Greek, not Latin, and ‘filius’ is, to the best of my knowledge, the more common English spelling. Not that there’s much of a difference between a “f” and “ph” in this case.

  27. matt
    Posted June 11, 2008 at 10:15 AM | Permalink

    Super hot, pillow fight sleepovers have to exist… they just have to. Somewhere, out there, a pillow fight is happening right now. You just have to believe.I’m going to side with Pat on the Greek debate. My vote doesn’t count for much, though, since I pick out proper Greek transliterations the way my wife picks out favorite football teams “Oooh, I like the colors on their jerseys!”

  28. marky
    Posted June 11, 2008 at 1:16 PM | Permalink

    Intellectual snobbery rears its ugly head. There’s always somebody who try’s to pick holes. Usually am stuck in front of them in the pictures when there pointing out continuity faults. THE SWINES!Ok. I’ve got my pillow. My kilts tucked round my waist. I’ve braids in my hair and beard. Now, where’s this sleepover? I happen to be the William Wallace of pillow fights so, you may take my clothes, you may take my dignity but you can NEVER take my eiderdowns!!

  29. Anonymous
    Posted June 11, 2008 at 1:43 PM | Permalink

    I am sure of my informations.This is the Greek alphabet: http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/1750/alfabetoyo3.pngThe ‘f’ sound is represented by ‘φ’, Latin transliteration ‘ph’ (and English transliteration as well, because the English grammars were very conservative and generally they like to keep the Latin spelling).Note 2 says more or less “there were three other symbols,” that is ‘j’ (iod), ‘ϝ’ (vau) and ‘h’. ‘j’ disappeared and it’s only used in reconstructed words, ‘ϝ’ indicated aspiration and was replaced by the two <>spiriti<> (ψιλαι), ‘ϝ’ was quickly lost in the Attic dialect, that is in what’s generally considered the “Classical Greek” but remained in the Western alphabets, that is the ones used in the Greek colonies of Southern Italy. It represented the ‘v’ sound, which wasn’t used in the Latin language, so when the Latins (by way of the Etrurians) adopted the Greek alphabet, they used it to represent the ‘f’ sound.This is just to say that ‘φ’ usually becomes ‘ph.’ This one is a page of a Greek dictionary: http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/392/dizionariohr6.pngAs you can see, there’s no ‘filius’ equivalent anywhere (I supposed it would be φíλιυς or, more likely, φíλιους). And it can’t be derived from the adjective φíλιος, íα, ον, because its declension is like the declension of δíκαιος, α, ον: http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/6361/aggettivodq5.pngI can spare you the Latin dictionary, I think, but I got two of them somewhere.

  30. Anonymous
    Posted June 11, 2008 at 1:57 PM | Permalink

    Crap. Read ” ‘h’ indicated aspiration and “

  31. Pat
    Posted June 11, 2008 at 2:47 PM | Permalink

    Rest assured, I would never stoop to criticizing a small typo in a blog comment. At least not one as detailed and well-thought-out as yours. You obviously know what you’re talking about, and you care about words. That makes you my sort of person. *Or* you’re a highly skilled bullshitter. I respect both, really. So either way, you’re safe. That said: http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/duty_calls.pngMy point is that, phonetically, there’s no real distinction in English between the “f” and the “ph.” I prefer “filius” not because it’s a better transliteration, but because it’s easier for people to understand and remember. Also, if they bother looking it up in the dictionary, they’ll find “filial.” And while filial love isn’t quite the same as “filius” it does at least get them into the right ballpark, conceptually speaking. Everything said, thanks for chiming in. I’m invariably impressed with the high signal-to-noise ratio of comments on my blog. To say nothing of the general level of eclectic smarts possessed by my readership. It makes me feel like I must have done something right to attract this readership.

  32. Angela
    Posted June 11, 2008 at 3:19 PM | Permalink

    Okay, I admit that there have been a fair amount of pillow fights when my friends and I around each other. That said, I don’t know if they can be classified as super hot. They’re more vicious and cunning than anything else, actually. Sure, we get all sweaty and our clothes become disarrayed, but they’re certainly nothing like the ones you see on tv like in That 70’s Show. In the show, they’re all scantily clad and barely hit each other with those tiny pillows. No. We do it right. We beat each other with super hard couch cushions and anything else that’s handy (like water glasses) and we’re not afraid of taking the random punches that go along with our kind of pillow fights. So, if I haven’t scared you off, Marky ;) you’re welcome to join in. There’s nothing sexier than a man in a kilt. That happens to be why we’re going to the Scottish Festival in my town this weekend. Well, that and I want to get a sgian dubh. Mar sin leibh an dràsda. (I hope that’s right. I really only do Irish Gaelic so it probably says something like “May many goats bless your bed” or some other shite. Ah well, ttfn.)

  33. Angela
    Posted June 11, 2008 at 4:35 PM | Permalink

    P.S. Looking back, I realize all of said fights were over books. During one fight, I pushed my friend down and went to grab the book (no idea what it is now), but she was still attached. So I lifted the book, with friend still attached, and shook her off. Another time, I was not victorious. Both of my friends ganged up on me and one was choking me out while the other tried to take the book. I held out for a while, breaking the hold a few times, but when your hands go numb, it’s time to call it quits.Good times.The moral of the story is: Women are crazy when given awesome books. Novels are the fairy dust that makes all of the mythical nakedness and pillow fights occur. So, don’t buy flowers, buy books! disclaimer *they have to be good books, though, or the crazy will turn against you. So play it safe and buy NOTW. You’ve been warned.*

    • Raleigh
      Posted April 7, 2011 at 8:54 AM | Permalink

      You make me feel ashamed. I wish we’d fought over good books. We had many (mostly)naked pillow fights in high school, but they were usually over who got to suck on the can of whipped cream next. We were usually watching crappy films(Mean Girls was a favourite for a while), which just makes it worse. We may have been a tad shallow. No less violent though, we used to roll each other down the stairs while wrapped in our sleeping bags if we didn’t agree with that person’s movie choice. And, you don’t know pain until you’ve been hit in the eye by a cushion zipper or ripped out a nail on another girls hair. Pain was no excuse to stop the fight, only permanent injury or imminent death was cause to call a ceasefire. I was very glad to read about another group that had such violent pillow fights(you guys had a better reason), we thought we were a little strange. When I read this I simply had to reply, no matter how late it was, the amount of alcohol I’ve consumed this evening may have something to do with it, as well.

  34. Anton Strout
    Posted June 11, 2008 at 4:38 PM | Permalink

    Please have the librarian delivered to me. Please and thank you…!

  35. marky
    Posted June 11, 2008 at 4:40 PM | Permalink

    mòran taing angela!Think my spelling might be off. It means many thanks. You properly no that as your Gaelic is spot on. Cannot believe somewhere in the world there actually having a Scottish Festival. (I envisage bottles of Iron bru, deep fried mars bars, Kvothe look-alikes and lots of fighting.)Have a wonderful time and don’t hurt anyone with your knife!I’ll have to take a rain check on the pillow fight. You girls sound a bit to hard core for me. *lifts up front of kilt and runs off screaming* :-0

  36. Angela
    Posted June 11, 2008 at 4:51 PM | Permalink

    Haha! That’s actually exactly what the Scottish Festival is…plus some bridies, meat pies, and haggas. Yeah, I usually don’t hurt anyone because this one clan that does the weaponry exhibitions appeases me by letting me play with the swords. They only let me do this because I dazzled them with my knowledge of the difference between a clay de mor and a clay de lav. (I have no idea about the spelling, though.)Well, I’m off. Have fun with your kiltedness, Marky.

  37. stephanie
    Posted June 11, 2008 at 5:44 PM | Permalink

    okay, i first must say that i am (named in legend) the “girl who got shaken off of a book by angela.” that’s right. i wasn’t going to let that book go…and it wasn’t even one of my favorites, either…secondly, i’m extremely nglad there was a moo in NOTW. yeah, my first encounter with the beings known simply as “moo” happened about two years ago in my current issues class…i was trying to think of the word “cow” in reference to a female elephant…unfortunately, i wasn’t particularly articulate that day…thus the “moo” (along with hand motions) came into my life…lastly, i was given NOTW by my friend and, while it was merely vaguely interesting at the beginning, i must confess to now having a squeaky, hyper-driven obsession with it…*shakes head* i got only four hours of sleep within the 48 hours i devoted to reading that book (my mother actually forced me to tear myself away and do something productive for about fifteen hours in between, but hey…we can forgive her, right?)…

  38. Anonymous
    Posted June 11, 2008 at 7:05 PM | Permalink

    Ok, I have to ask–are two of the naked girls the ones from the forest? If so, they are racking up some serious Pat Points.Which of course, they deserve.

  39. matt
    Posted June 11, 2008 at 7:35 PM | Permalink

    I recommend awarding this fella 1 Pat Point for suggesting Pat Points.

  40. Captain Joe
    Posted June 12, 2008 at 12:54 AM | Permalink

    Sailor Matt gets a Pat Point for taking Pat Points one step further.Recommend Angela gets a to-be-determined amount of Pat Points on proof that sexy pillow fights take place. Proof must be no larger that 80GB and easily downloadable…. heh, heh… putting the internet to good use here, folks.

  41. Laura
    Posted June 12, 2008 at 4:44 AM | Permalink

    Y’know, I was actually thinking of looking up the Greek, because I’ve always seen it transliterated with a /ph/ as well…. But I have bigger fish to fry here.Agape –> Natalie Portman?!I’m pretty conversant with the geek demographic, but I have never understood the Natalie Portman obsession. Agape love brings to mind many things — a mother sacrificing herself to save a child, Christ’s forgiveness, someone donating an organ to another in need — but never Natalie Portman. I just don’t get it.Go ahead and flame, Portman fans. I’m sure you have your reasons.I am having a great time seeing all these photos, though. What a variety!

  42. marky
    Posted June 12, 2008 at 9:32 AM | Permalink

    This could totally work.10 Pat points – A cool answer to any question. (SEE ABOVE)100 Pat points – A cuddly Rothfuss bear complete with detachable, warm fuzzy beard.500 Pat points – A signed copy of the best book on earth.1000 Pat points – A day of world building with Pat.5000 Pat points – a week of world building with Pat. (Fresh underwear not included)10000 Pat points – A FORUM!!100000 Pat points – Lusty librarian’s phone number!1000000 Pat points – A restraining order.

  43. matt
    Posted June 12, 2008 at 10:51 AM | Permalink

    Ha! A restraining order… I love it :)

  44. Kip, "Shwam!"
    Posted June 12, 2008 at 9:03 PM | Permalink

    48 hours? it took me 12 hours to fully read it the first time. Some books take longer than others, because when you read you are taking the writer’s thoughts (with some manitulation on the part of the editors) and forcing them into your mind. If your minds are not to much alike then the book will go slower, unles syou have ALOT of time to devote to straight out reading to allow you mind to warp into their tought patterns. There are some authors that I can’t read because they are so different my mind just wonders off or gets bored (*cough* Tolken *cough*). I can settle into Pats very easily, along with Eddings. Not to say I’m one of those crazy fans that believe they think the same as their favorite author and blah blah bullshit.I’m thinking about “Lucky Number Sleven” and Chocolate chip pancakes.

  45. Angela
    Posted June 13, 2008 at 12:53 AM | Permalink

    hmmmmmm, *weighs options* Pat Points or keeping video evidence of pillow fights off of the internet……. While Pat Points are tempting, I think I’m gonna pass. Plus, I think I’m breaking some rules regarding myths already anyway. I mean, you’re not supposed to let people know if dragons, faeries, and pilllow occurs are really real, are you? So, while I decline the…… uh, “gracious” offer, I’ll just have to leave you all with childlike belief you came with and a little knowledge……… video evidence of said fights exists even if you’re never, ever going to see it.Later, guys.

  46. Isaac
    Posted February 14, 2009 at 9:47 PM | Permalink

    Wish I had seen this in time to partake…I might have made some good use of my degree in photography…ah well…

  47. spryng
    Posted February 15, 2009 at 2:49 PM | Permalink

    Oh hey – I’ve seen that READ photo before on Fark. Now I understand why she’s holding your book. At the time, I was pleased, albeit vaguely mystified.

  48. Anonymous
    Posted January 21, 2010 at 8:49 PM | Permalink

    I am deeply uneasy and fell guilty about posting this – you are (I am presuming in the case of Anonymous) both distinctly older than me and probably wiser in pretty much every area. I know it is ridiculous to post at this date and on something so trivial – but my pedantry and sense of justice drive me on – I am a Classics scholar child of two ditto and I am already frustrated at how little of my knowledge I expend in my schoolwork so this is partly letting off steam (again I am sorry to be such a nit-picker but I don’t like loose-ended arguments).
    In an English transliteration it is best to use the most common spelling and there is basically no difference between the pronounciations of ‘f’ and ‘ph’.
    BUT saying ‘there’s not not much difference’ full stop has roused my pedantic instincts. Also I have no idea how the information in the Anonymous (‘I am sure of my informations.[sic.]’)was arrived at but I don’t think it’s correct (I don’t know about iod but ‘ϝ’ is the digamma and represented the equivalent of the modern roman alphabet’s ‘w’).
    ‘ph’ is used as the more accurate transliteration because the original word would not have been pronounced as though it began with an f but a p – specifically an aspirated p (like when you say ‘pool’ as opposed to ‘spot’; the syllable is spat out more).

  49. Marty
    Posted February 18, 2010 at 5:40 PM | Permalink

    Your analysis of the Greek words for love is somewhat deficient. To begin with, it does not include the word stergô, which tends to signify the form of love encompassed by the concepts of loyalty or liking.

    Regarding the Greek words you do include in your analysis, more proper definitions of their various shades of meaning would be as follows:
    – Eros is the most all-encompassing form of love; it does not just signify 'erotic' love.
    – Agape tends to signify brotherly love.
    – phileô tends to signify affectionate regard or friendship.

    For the definitive article on the subject, see: Sandys(1868). στοργή, έρως, φιλειν, άγαπαν. Journal of Philology, 1(1), 88-93.

  50. Chris
    Posted April 14, 2010 at 4:18 PM | Permalink

    This made me laugh. So thank you, Pat. For being a great author and for making me laugh. :)

  51. Sofia
    Posted April 24, 2010 at 7:11 PM | Permalink

    I lol’d at the winning picture… with the duck.

    I’m a huge fan, Pat, and this is my first comment on your blog, though I’ve been lurking it for quite a while (:

  52. The Dark Prince
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 3:21 AM | Permalink

    Mr. Rothfuss, I am from India. Your book, although I have ordered it, is long in the coming. I have heard nothing but good stuff about it and being a fantasy nut, i look forward to reading it. Can you tell me if it is an archetypal quest epic or something different? Was Lord of The Rings one of your inspirations? I ll be thankful if you reply.

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