The Hands of the Gods in Thick as Thieves (SPOILERS under cut)

[piartemis18]

Hello everyone! Been watching the community for several years and figured it was time to log back in to LJ and join up proper, so hi. May see some of you Salt Lake folks tomorrow night

Comments

[agh_4]

About Immakuk -- I recently had the bizarre pleasure of reading the Saga of the Volsungs (anyone?), in which Odin shows up in disguise excessivelyoften. You always know it's him because he has one eye and there's a footnote saying "Odin, again," so when the wine merchant appeared I kind of cracked up because my Odin-detection reflexes kicked in. And .... they actually proved to be kinda helpful!

[freenarnian]

LOLing at "Odin-detection reflexes." Guess you could say that's essentially what Gen has that other people haven't got. :D

[checkers65477]

I have nothing to add to this discussion except to say that I dearly love the poems in this book. I cannot imagine how hard they were to write but the flow, imagery, everything...just so wonderful. I liked the stories in the other books (most of them, anyway) but the poems are soooooo great.

[beth_shulman]

I loved the way they used repetition.

[beth_shulman]

piartemis18, I never said welcome! And thanks for starting a great discussion!

[piartemis18]

Thanks! It's been a heady week (culminating, in fact, with seeing MWT in person tonight and creepily making her touch all my books in lieu of signing them so they are blessed when I lend them out).

I love to see everyone thinking and speculating. What fun we're having!

[anon8]

Just as the Romans "imported" the Greek gods after conquering the Greeks, but gave them Roman names, I wondered if Ennikar and Immakuk are part of the pantheon of the old gods under different names.

I also wondered what Kamet would have thought of Phresine's story of Klimun and Gerosthenes?

[sgwordy]

Oh I quite like this idea! It's the only one that I feel I can easily incorporate into the series and my interpretations of how/why gods meddle. I'm *trying* to be open minded to many possibilities but it is really hard for me to get on board with another country's/culture's gods helping their enemies.

[shadowgirlvg]

Ok, so I have a theory about this. A common trope is that gods and mythical figures exist so long as people remember them. I think it's entirely possible that Kamet is the world's most prominent scholar on Immakuk and Ennikar. He knows a ton of their stories and variations of them. He's helped spread the stories into other languages and cultures. He's basically their bard. Maybe they see him as the equivalent of their most loyal follower and worthy of protection.

Also, on rereading, it feels like Immakuk and Ennikar may have been basically shoving Kamet towards Costis at all times. "He wants to leave the river boat? Set it on fire! He thinks Costis is dead in a well? Okay, give him a pep talk. Oh, but now he needs a rope? Fine. We'll shine a friggin' moonbeam right on it. Damnit! He's still trying to run away! We will make sure he gets lost for HOURS trying to find his way away from the docks!"

You and Costis are going to be best friends forever, Kamet. Whether you like it or not!

[checkers65477]

This is brilliant. It would make so much sense that Immakuk and Ennikar actually exist, in some realm, and would protect Kamet, their biggest fan. It explains a lot.

Also, "You need to get past the gate? Here's a nasty camel to keep everyone away."