Comments on: A DISTANT SOIL: The Ascendant Chapter 2 Page 13

By: Colleen Doran

Colleen Doran — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 05:09:58 +0000

UPDATED

By: Arlnee

Arlnee — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 07:53:32 +0000

for the record, in mathematical terms for the statement “we love Bast,” is true only for values of we={n-R/}

(which is pronounced n, as in the number of “we,” minus R-lean.)

By: scribblerworks

scribblerworks — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:19:17 +0000

But… but…

Bast is using metaphors drawn from her centuries on Earth. Does D’mer even KNOW what a bunny or a dog is? 😀

Of course, he’d certainly know her tone and attitude.

By: Colleen

Colleen — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:45:29 +0000

Oh, boy! A fight!

I’ll make popcorn!

By: Allan

Allan — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:53:54 +0000

Nah, don’t listen to Arlnee — she can’t even spell her own name right! We love Bast!!

By: Colleen

Colleen — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:50:56 +0000

Very good analysis!

I think Bast really is as smart as she thinks she is, and any time she isn’t as smart as she thinks she is, it’s because the author goofed up!

By: Arlnee

Arlnee — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:16:19 +0000

the reason dog works better, for me, is not only the “pet” connotation but also the domination/superiority angle. A pet is rendered harmless, not taken seriously, but a pet that also is trained, kept on a leash, and told to fetch? Dog is FAR bigger the insult. Particularly since she’s saying Kimarian nobility is lower than an outcast Ovanan. Rabbits aren’t expected to be trained, merely domesticated. Dogs, however, are controlled. She’s basically saying “bad dog” to him, but even implying he’s a good one is an insult. It’s a “have you stopped beating your wife” kind of statement.

Or maybe she just thinks she’s smarter than she really is and thinks the more metaphors she adds in, the better she looks. Which is fine. The more she makes herself look ridiculous, the better I like it 🙂

By: mamid

mamid — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:22:07 +0000

some of the sparing later on also goes to the pecking order thing. D’mer outranks her in Seren’s trust, but she outranks him because she’s Ovanan and he isn’t. The rest of the household, well, one in particular, thinks D’mer is a threat and the only one who will eventually be an ally is at first what seems to be only yet another staff member, but once again, Ovanan so he too outranks D’mer.

By: Colleen

Colleen — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:16:22 +0000

I dunno, it seems redundant.

Considering Bast’s character – and her name – it might be more telling to have her use a line about a dog as a pejorative, so I’m now leaning toward Arlene’s perspective here.

Then again, she might use the bunny line to mean that she thinks D’mer is something cute and small and unthreatening to her.

But, would she use both at once?

Gosh. Writing is hard! LOL!

By: mamid

mamid — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:07:10 +0000

I don’t think that line is overkill. She’s trying to reestablish her place within Ovanan and as staff of the Avatar, she’s higher in the pecking order than a servant, a variant, or as she sees him, a slave. So, by giving him an order like that, she’s showing who is boss.