Mira – DVD? Blah, go to an outdoor theater!
Serack – if you are in the northern hemisphere and therefore approaching summer – there is usually some theater group or company somewhere doing a Midsummer’s Night’s Dream… pretty popular summer time fair.

Myself, I try not to assume the author has an agenda of that sort; exploration of questions is more fun than proselytising answers.

I think you misinterpreted the quote. An author doesn't have to have an agenda to put their own worldview into the text.

Yep - not quite what I was getting at. It’s been a long day, and the brain is tired. In a day or two I’ll try and revisit and rephrase it so it is clearer.

Thanks Serack.

Does anyone think any of the rage and hate Harry is feeling in the above WK quote was just his own natural over developed “defend and avenge the children credo” happily enhanced by Lashiel’s shadow?

Knowing that I am bucking the trend, I am still unconvinced that killing non humans with magic results in a mystical black magic mind warping stain. As argued by others above, it seems that the normal psychological stress and strains of killing anything in a violent way is more than damaging in a normal real world way. Everyone is different and deals with violence and gruesome stuff differently, but the stuff Harry has seen in the books is more than enough to make him at least a candidate for any number of PTSD like issues… (Or at least I think so in my non professional mental health way of thinking).

So are Harry’s actions at his B-party a result of black magic warping? Sure in part, but let us not forget what he has gone though in life. It is not surprising Harry is getting darker and more violent. I suspect and hope that toward the end of the DF or the BAT Harry will begin to heal or find some balance.

This I know.  And that a soulgaze is an application of The Sight.

Yes, likely just so – but I think it is important to remember that the Sight (third eye) and a Soulgaze provide different information (and to me they seem like they do). Much like the difference between a sit down visit and exam with your doctor vs. an MRI and a battery of blood tests. One may reveal a problem that the other cannot, but then there are times when both will bring forth information about an ailment. And then lastly there are times both might miss something.

To my thinking a Soulgaze is like an MRI and blood tests - more internal focused. The doctor exam is a more surface examination like the Sight.

For example:
If in Turn Coat Harry had used his sight on Morgan, Harry would have noted Morgan’s aura as a wizard, seen some manifestation of the summer cloaking spell that was keeping Morgan untrackable, and perhaps the remnants of the spell(s) and funny ink that were used to set him up. Harry would not have gotten any kind of good read on if Morgan was telling the truth or not.

If Harry had soulgazed him he would have had a read on Morgan’s general personality and current trustworthiness… not a perfect read of course, but still a generally useful bunch of info on which to gauge Morgan. I don’t think a Soulgaze would have shown Harry the Summer cloaking or anti tracking spell.

Sidhe killing Sidhe is not likely that uncommon. Harry is a member of the winter court, and therefore likely considered Sidhe for the purpose of inter faerie relations, laws and customs.

Would this kind of behavior normally be tolerated during a social function of Mab’s? We don’t know, but I think at this point Mab is still taking measure of her new knight, judging the boundaries and ethics Harry is going to try and work within as Winter Knight. The loss of one Sidhe Lord among likely thousands is not that big a deal from her POV.

Would this mean Harry is tainted but breaking one of the laws of magic? No. The black magic taint only applies when killing mortals. Killing Sidhe is no more taint worthy than killing a vampire. Also it is unclear if the black magic taint would apply if Harry used winter power to kill a mortal… as any one asked JB that question?

Does this mean Harry is getting colder and more ruthless? Yep, Mab in general is happy with Harry’s development, even if she might have preferred not losing the Sidhe Lord.

Sapient… well yes, but (I’ve said this before) the DV seems to be “soul centric” meaning it is not Star trek the Next Generation wherein all intelligent life is honored and treated with respect by a Federation with open arms… it seems that only the mortals with souls seem to count… at least form the narrative we have seen so far. In general killing soulless monsters is Ok.

Good fun - thanks Knnn

1. We have been told that Nicodemus has a very specific target in mind, ostensibly kept in the Labyrinth of Daedalus. What is Nic trying to get his hands on and why? The item will be something out of mythology, but it will have a heavy JB spin on it – kind of like how JB made Excalibur one of the Swords of the Cross.


2. Nicodemus apparently called in a marker from Mab to get Harry on the team. Does he have a specific plan for using Harry or did Mab twist his request? Which of Harry's capabilities will he admit to needing, and (given that this is Nicodemus after all), which abilities is he scheming for Harry to use? – Soul fire and/or Winter Power


3. Jim has mentioned that the book will be "Ocean's Eleven". Who else did Nicodemus recruit? How will they interact with Harry? – Other nickelheads. A Skinwalker, Lashiel with a new host. The Church Mouse. Also an insider; someone from the mythos who lives in or works with Hades. Charon or Thanatos perhaps have become disgruntled with their boss. Also Rakshasas have been mentioned in other books, so I'll go with one on Nic's crew.


4. Harry's general method of operation is to call on his friends for help. In this book, Harry is (initially) allowed one extra backup member on the crew. Who will it be? Which of Harry's other allies will "interfere" before the plot is over? - Karrin will be Harry’s first choice as #1. If she can’t, I see him asking for Thomas or maybe Mouse because Mouse spooked Nic a little in SF.


5. This is a Denarian book, so (unlike the last "end of the world" showdown), the Swords will almost certainly be present. In fact, there have been various hints... Which Sword wielders will appear in the next book and how will their interference/help affect the plot? – We will see Sanya, and Karrin will show up using the sword of faith.


6. Mab is apparently against Nicodemus succeeding in this heist. In the Cold Days, we found that Mab had complex reasons for wanting Harry to kill Maeve. What are Mab's reasons in this book? Is it simple thwarting or is there something deeper? 

Well it is Mab, so she has to have at least three reasons or goals.

*The first is clear and on the surface; it is to keep things stable in the supernatural community.

* Mab wants information about, and revenge on those nickelheads involved in PG and of course any nickelheads who might be involved with outsiders.

* As you will read below, I am putting a lot of my chips on there being a background scheme between Mab and Anduriel. It could be almost anything, so I can’t really say, but I do have a favorite, although unlikely idea I have listed below.

7. At the end of Cold Days, Harry needs to stay on the island to keep his growing headaches at bay. The start of Skin Games implies that those headaches will need to be resolved by the end of the book. Who or what is causing those headaches, and how will the whole thing get resolved by the end of the book? – The Parasite is the source of the headaches and Molly is at least indirectly involved with the parasite’s growth resulting in its need to get out of Harry’s head. Also the parasite is a damaged/modified Lash (yes WK Lash did become independent form Lashiel). Molly will have to be involved with the removal of the parasite to help insure Harry’s safety.


8. One of the key components of the "Ocean's Eleven" movie is that there is a final twist/reveal. Given that we've got Nicodemus, Harry, Mab, and potentially Hades (and who knows who else) all trying to get the better of each other, if there's one thing you can count on it's some sort of last minute quintuple-cross. What will be the nature of the twist and how will it all fall out?

*There are likely to be more than one. For starters one or more of Nic’s crew will try something on their own – in essence backstabbing Nic.

*Nic will try one last recruiting or team up effort on Harry. When Harry turns him down Nic will try and get Harry in trouble with, or to strand Harry in Hades.

*Harry will first and foremost try and keep the heist item away from Nic or any of Nic’s team members. Harry, who in recent books has demonstrated he is not afraid to call archangels, or visit the Mothers, or have a beer with Odin will go to Hades himself and work out a way to back stab Nic with Hades help.

* Look for Anduriel to do or say something unexpected.

*Lashiel and her host will of course try to kill or at least screw over Harry.

9. (Extra Credit) There are many WAG ("Wild A$$ Guess") theories on the boards, some crazier than others. Write up to three WAG theories (or make up your own) you believe are correct that will be confirmed (or at least have evidence in favor of) in Skin Games.

*Mab and Anduriel have something cooking on the side that Nic is completely unaware of, or Nic has been misinformed about _{(it might be that Anduriel wants to dump Nic, and wants Harry to be his new coin bearer... but it could be something else).}

*Nic will realize or be reminded by the end of the book Anduriel doesn’t give a rat’s bottom about Nic, and that he has been a tool of Anduriel’s. A special tool perhaps, but just a tool all the same.

*We will learn that at least one fallen is working hard on getting freed from their coin.

10. (Extra Credit) This is that "free form" question where you can come up with anything else you think will be in this book. Specific quotes Harry might say (will he actually quote Ocean's Eleven? The movie will have come out already in Harry's timeline)? Tidbits about the White Council? The fate of Molly? Write down anything you want. Note that whatever you write must be specifically mentioned or hinted at in Skin Games in order to be worth credit.

*Harry will get to exchange words directly with Anduriel… Nic won't be happy.

*Michael will be tested in an epic Old Testament sort of way… however we may not official know that what happens to Michael in SG is a test until a book or two later.

*Considering how smart Mab is, and how smart Nic/Anduriel are, and presumably how smart Hades should be… all that forethought and foresight and intellect working against each other might just get all tangled up into a great big mess. This might be the first book that ends in a way that will surprise the crap out of everyone and makes them all say “What the f*@K” in surprise or puzzlement… or invoke a collective “Oh shit”.

*One of the regular team Harry members will end up with a coin, or at least touch a coin and end up with a shadow of a fallen.

*JB hasn’t made Harry suffer enough. So I think it is time for a love triangle! I mean Harry has problems with relationships or would be relationships involving just one women. Make it two, and well, Harry will wish he were dead again. It will likely involve Karrin and Molly, but I could also see it being Karrin and someone else.

Very nice – thanks