The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers
Denarian Short Story
SerScot:
--- Quote from: Kindler on July 02, 2019, 05:15:11 PM ---One of several problems I'd have with a Nicodemus perspective is that it might soften his character too much. Learning too much about him may have us start rooting for him in future books. I mean, if you find out that Nicodemus has been doing all of these evil things in order to stop something much worse, some might start thinking, "Well, would it really be so bad if Harry lost?"
On the other hand, if it doesn't soften his character and he remains evil throughout and doesn't offer new insight into his motivations, then it'd probably be a bad story. I don't want to read about Nic setting boxes of puppies on fire, spraying Ebola-infected aerosols across the upper atmosphere above South Carolina, and having conversations at full volume in a crowded movie theater.
In other words: if the story wouldn't give us more insight into Nic's character, then it wouldn't be worth it. But if it does, it might have a negative impact on his future appearances in the novels.
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No one is the villain of their own story. I prefer antagonists who are more than “Snidely Whiplash” waxing their mustache. I think Jim could write this story in such a way that we don’t see all of Nic’a goals but we aee just how dangerous he really is and give us some insight into why he does what he does.
Bad Alias:
--- Quote from: nadia.skylark on June 30, 2019, 01:10:57 AM ---I disagree. Even apart from Thomas (who I'll talk about below) I can see Murphy getting tricked/coerced into taking up a coin. It would fit her character arc: in Small Favor, she talks about her faith in the law and how it hurts everyone to break it, in a manner reminiscent of the way Michael talks-->by Ghost Story, she's in a much darker place and disregarding the law-->at the end of Cold Days she say's she'll follow Harry down whatever dark road he chooses to take-->in Skin Game, she makes it clear that she'll do just about anything for Harry and to keep Harry safe, and gets the Sword broken as a result, and is also permanently injured-->I can easily see a situation where Murphy, worn down and feeling helpless, ends up taking up a coin because she thinks it's the only way to save Harry.
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That was my first thought as well. I don't think it likely, though.
--- Quote from: Mira on June 30, 2019, 03:59:27 AM --- The plague hit on and off all through the Renaissance... Improvement in the weather pattern also helped, meant more food, the people got stronger and healthier, which meant they could use their minds for a bit more than mere survival, that is what brought on the Renaissance..
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I've seen the speculation that the Black Death basically ended serfdom in Western Europe leading to the West and the modern world as we know it. The basic theory is that all the death made peasant labor valuable enough that peasants were able to break their ties with the land. It seemed convincing, but I wouldn't pretend I studied it enough to be convinced or invested one way or another. Also, I don't have Professor Farnsworth's "what if machine" that isn't worth the solid gold it's made of.
--- Quote from: SerScot on July 02, 2019, 05:29:45 PM ---No one is the villain of their own story.
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I've never agreed with that. Some people have to know they're the bad guy, at least in a particular situation. Maybe Marcone? I'd have to study Even Hand more to even think about coming to a conclusion on that one.
Kindler:
--- Quote from: Bad Alias on July 02, 2019, 07:27:34 PM ---I've seen the speculation that the Black Death basically ended serfdom in Western Europe leading to the West and the modern world as we know it. The basic theory is that all the death made peasant labor valuable enough that peasants were able to break their ties with the land. It seemed convincing, but I wouldn't pretend I studied it enough to be convinced or invested one way or another. Also, I don't have Professor Farnsworth's "what if machine" that isn't worth the solid gold it's made of.
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Bargaining power did indeed have a significant impact on the decline of serfdom as an institution. It was also helped along by the decline of the manorial system in favor of more centralized monarchies. Peasant revolts didn't help the system survive either.
You can pretty much see the rise and fall of most institutions and governments as gradual consolidations of power, then gradual redistribution of that power. Most cultures have gone through the centralization-->dissolution-->centralization cycle more than once. Even the US did it, though our "dissolution-->centralization" cycle is more understated and the decentralized aspect only lasted like eight years. What we've got now is an attempt at balancing those two.
Bad Alias:
Let me be more specific. I haven't studied the issue enough to have a strong belief that the Black Death made the world a better place by shifting economic power which in turn shifted social power.
Which eight years? Articles of Confederation?
g33k:
--- Quote from: Bad Alias on July 02, 2019, 07:27:34 PM ---... I've never agreed with that. Some people have to know they're the bad guy, at least in a particular situation. Maybe Marcone? I'd have to study Even Hand more to even think about coming to a conclusion on that one.
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I think Marcone sees himself as the "least bad bad-guy" for the job; in the sense that somebody will do it, or some anarchic warring factions. So Marcone is the best option.
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