The Second Apocalypse

Earwa => General Earwa => Topic started by: MrGrax on April 17, 2014, 05:09:45 pm

Title: "Death came whirling down"
Post by: MrGrax on April 17, 2014, 05:09:45 pm
In my reading of Old English poetry and sagas I remember at one point hearing that phrase "death came whirling down" repeated in a similar manner to when R. Scott Bakker used it in his combat passages.

It may have been the Battle of Malden that I remember reading it.  Does anyone know if Bakker drew influence from that old style of storytelling?
Title: Re: "Death came whirling down"
Post by: Madness on April 17, 2014, 05:12:24 pm
Welcome to the Second Apocalypse v3, MrGrax.

I believe all such whirling or swirling references should be attributed to Homer (the man or the oral collective):

"and the dark came swirling down"
Title: Re: "Death came whirling down"
Post by: MrGrax on April 17, 2014, 08:51:59 pm
Well that would be in keeping with the general aura of ancient cultures which he works to cultivate!  Thanks very much.  I am just a huge nerd for intertextual connections.
Title: Re: "Death came whirling down"
Post by: Cüréthañ on April 17, 2014, 10:19:27 pm
Truth shines, death swirls.
Title: Re: "Death came whirling down"
Post by: mrganondorf on April 20, 2014, 03:41:43 am
Hey MrGrax!  "Death cam swirling down" -- another No-God reference?!?!

Growing up in Arkansas and Texas, this was simply Tornadoes. 
Title: Re: "Death came whirling down"
Post by: Madness on April 20, 2014, 02:08:49 pm
Quote from: mrganondorf on April 20, 2014, 03:41:43 am
Hey MrGrax!  "Death cam swirling down" -- another No-God reference?!?!

Growing up in Arkansas and Texas, this was simply Tornadoes. 

It's funny but I find few natural phenomenons more terrifying than high speed winds... fitting that the No-God mirrors this (for whatever reason? why does the No-God cause a vortex of wind anyways?).

Maybe it's because nothing says you're made of a bag of meat and bone until you get tossed a couple hundred meters like a ragdoll.
Title: Re: "Death came whirling down"
Post by: Wilshire on May 05, 2014, 07:43:06 pm
Quote from: Madness on April 20, 2014, 02:08:49 pm
Maybe it's because nothing says you're made of a bag of meat and bone until you get tossed a couple hundred meters like a ragdoll.

One of my favorite short stories. Thanks for the reminder :D :
http://www.terrybisson.com/page6/page6.html
Title: Re: "Death came whirling down"
Post by: mrganondorf on May 08, 2014, 10:21:32 pm
Quote from: Madness on April 20, 2014, 02:08:49 pm
Quote from: mrganondorf on April 20, 2014, 03:41:43 am
Hey MrGrax!  "Death cam swirling down" -- another No-God reference?!?!

Growing up in Arkansas and Texas, this was simply Tornadoes. 

It's funny but I find few natural phenomenons more terrifying than high speed winds... fitting that the No-God mirrors this (for whatever reason? why does the No-God cause a vortex of wind anyways?).

Maybe it's because nothing says you're made of a bag of meat and bone until you get tossed a couple hundred meters like a ragdoll.

I have no idea why the No-God occupies a whirlwind, but it is cool that the NG is in the peaceful eye of the storm while the rest of the world goes to shit.  Maybe in TUC we'll get a scene where Kellhus penetrates the swirling wind and floats in stillness and quiet before the carapace.  COMMENCE THE ULTIMATE BAKKER CONVERSATION
Title: Re: "Death came whirling down"
Post by: mrganondorf on May 13, 2014, 02:50:28 pm
I love that story!  Do you know any other good Bisson?  I don't know anything about his stuff besides Meat.  There's a pretty good video of the story:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaFZTAOb7IE