Homage to Beleriand

   Could it be that Genabackis was intended as some sort of homage to this earliest of all Tolkien maps? The two look very much the same... except these continents curve in opposite directions. But the rest is somewhat similar. Big inland seas, and there’s also the fact that the first colonists – Noldor or Malazan – both landed onto the northwestern tip…

   Maybe it’s just a coincidence, but I really dig that kind of mysteries. Like finding bizarre symmetry between Lawrence of Arabia and Dune. (There is one all right.)

Scabandari

   Spoiler clearance: Reaper’s Gale

   So, what exactly did Gothos use, back then, to create the Finnest? Was it a mask? A strange whip? I know an old manservant, in Letheras, who probably remembers very well.

   If Redmask is indeed inhabited by the lost spirit of Scabandari, it increases the meaning of that statement: ‘It is the way of time, for old enemies to find peace in the passing of ages.’

   Scabandari Bloodeye – the victor of the K’Chain Che’Malle – is possibly Redmask now – this guy who fights alongside two K’Chain Che’Malle! (Or... could Sag’Churok be secretly up to something?)

Shadowthrone

   Spoiler clearance: Reaper’s Gale

   Shadowthrone is ten pounds of fun in a five pound bag. Really. I love him. He’s the godly version of Orson Welles. So funny. When he speaks about the Nameless Ones, he says: ‘The Nameless Idiots’. And he says for Hood’s sake, even when he is physically in the presence of Hood – and then says: ‘Oops—’

   He tries to open his Warren, while still holding on to Kalam’s otataral knife... and mumbles: ‘Absurd! I must walk!’

   Temper bursts out of Coop’s with his big armour donned; Shadowthrone freaks, and flees the scene! Why? I have no idea... but I almost choked laughing. Fucking hilarious.

   Finally, Shadowthrone is so pumped up on caffeine (or something), he can quite easily be afraid of his own laughter: see page 1166 of The Bonehunters...

   The god allowed himself a small, dry laugh. Then ducked as it came out louder than he had intended.