The Dresden Files > DF Reference Collection
The Answer(hopefully) to Who Fixed Little Chicago (FULL SPOILERS)
AcornArmy:
--- Quote from: itari on July 14, 2011, 08:40:17 AM ---Well, if Harry had killed himself using a flawed model, he wouldn't have been useful to Mab. And don't forget that while Lea was encased in ice, Mab had to fulfill her obligations.
--- End quote ---
Plus, as inexplicable as it is, we have Mab's literal word in Dead Beat, when she realizes that the Darkhallow is close to being cast, that she must do what she can to preserve Harry's life. I've pointed this out before in this thread, but I guess people don't really know what to make of it, since most people tend to completely overlook that instance of Mab's behavior.
The only thing I can think of that might reconcile her statement with the many, many times in which neither she nor Lea have appeared to save Harry or give him vital information is to guess that it may have something to do with their awareness of Harry's imminent peril. Maybe if they're aware of it, they have to do something about it, but if they aren't certain, they're off the hook.
If that guess should happen to be correct, then maybe Mab checked in on Harry while he was working on Little Chicago at some point, and noticed the flaw in the model. This could have forced her per Lea's bargain to do something to help.
Of course, the other reasons might have done just as well to motivate her. And regarding X's statement that Harry is just some mortal, so why bother saving him-- well, in that case, why bother weakening the Winter Court by keeping Slate nailed to a tree for ten years, or close to it? If Mab was willing to make an effort to acquire Harry which could be felt and noticed by everyone in Faerie, then popping over to tweak Harry's model when no one was looking seems like a ridiculously small step to take by comparison.
ETA: ...in fact, now that I think about it, Mab's behavior toward Harry is so eye-catching that I kind of wonder if it might not be a distraction of some kind. But... nah.
the neurovore of Zur-En-Aargh:
--- Quote from: AcornArmy on July 14, 2011, 09:23:20 AM ---Plus, as inexplicable as it is, we have Mab's literal word in Dead Beat, when she realizes that the Darkhallow is close to being cast, that she must do what she can to preserve Harry's life. I've pointed this out before in this thread, but I guess people don't really know what to make of it, since most people tend to completely overlook that instance of Mab's behavior.
The only thing I can think of that might reconcile her statement with the many, many times in which neither she nor Lea have appeared to save Harry or give him vital information is to guess that it may have something to do with their awareness of Harry's imminent peril. Maybe if they're aware of it, they have to do something about it, but if they aren't certain, they're off the hook.
--- End quote ---
I'm inclined to think Mab is not just aware of any time Harry is in peril, she's aware of it with enough accuracy to know whether it needs her intervention or not; up to the very end of Changes, he gets through all those times, so her intervention arguably was not needed in any of them.
AcornArmy:
--- Quote from: the neurovore of Zur-En-Aargh on July 14, 2011, 01:01:37 PM ---I'm inclined to think Mab is not just aware of any time Harry is in peril, she's aware of it with enough accuracy to know whether it needs her intervention or not; up to the very end of Changes, he gets through all those times, so her intervention arguably was not needed in any of them.
--- End quote ---
Then her surprise over the Word of Kemmler and the necromancers would've had to have been feigned, in Dead Beat. I'm not saying you're wrong, but I don't see why she would bother with such a minor deception-- unless the point was to prevent Harry from understanding how intense her scrutiny of him was.
I don't know, I tend to distrust theories which require deceptions to be several layers deep, on the principle that it's too big a pain in the ass for most sane people to want to deal with, including writers.
laura118b:
Not if viewed in the same way as the Gatekeeper and Harry on Demonreach. If Mab could keep tract of the most likely outcome then she'd know her help wasn't needed. But if the Word was shielded in some way, which doesn't seem a stretch given the players involved, then things would have changed rapidly. Just like when the Gatekeeper changed his opinion when Harry stepped onto the island instead of the dock.
the neurovore of Zur-En-Aargh:
--- Quote from: AcornArmy on July 14, 2011, 01:22:20 PM ---Then her surprise over the Word of Kemmler and the necromancers would've had to have been feigned, in Dead Beat.
--- End quote ---
I don't think that's feigned; I think it's the first sin of her incipient insanity/possession by an Outsider.
--- Quote ---I don't know, I tend to distrust theories which require deceptions to be several layers deep, on the principle that it's too big a pain in the ass for most sane people to want to deal with, including writers.
--- End quote ---
There seems to be an audience for it, though. Anthony Price and Dorothy Dunnett come to mind, both of whom sold rather well when they were active.
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