[mrganondorf]

Damn, I've put off reading Foundation for too long.  Is there a thread for listing the fiction that influenced Bakker?

[Wilshire]

You should read the first one at least. Its a classic . But the list of "influences" is relatively short, as far as I know. Dune being one of the primary, straight from the horses mouth. Outside of that, I'd guess you have your habitual offenders and maybe a unique one or two others thrown in there.

[mrganondorf]

In my head I have: Dune, Tolkien, Asimov, Cormac...

[Madness]

Is there a thread for listing the fiction that influenced Bakker?

There should be if one can't be found. I know that "As readers, how are we conditioned?" treads those kind of thoughts.

[mrganondorf]

I doubt it too.  I think causes of the topoi at Cil Aujis, Golgotteroth and Mengedda were deliberate.

I think I like this, but do you mean that each individual topoi was created as some kind of attempt at something or that someone is deliberately creating topoi throughout the world--when there are enough and in the right spots the topoi will align and do something extra neat?

[Cüréthañ]

First option, MG.  Second one is a bit too 'grand conspiracy' even for me
I suspect that whatever happened at Viri involved creating a topos and that attracted the Inchies' attention and they (perhaps accidently) tried to drive the ark right into it.
Topoi at Mengedda and Golgotteroth are the result of Consult efforts to control/understand the barrier between the modes of existence.
Cil Aujis was perhaps another non-man experiment based on what they were trying to do at Viri.

[mrganondorf]

I love it!  Nin'janjin is the culprit behind it all!  Father of the first topoi, will he make the last???

Really I do want to see him in TUC because he's like the ultimate intact/erratic benchmark since he was the first nonman to get the life extension treatment.

So do you think TUC unfolds towards an attempt to create the perfect topoi?

[Madness]

Depends if Anarcane Ground is ever going to be explained .

[locke]

I love it!  Nin'janjin is the culprit behind it all! 

Ah yes, that's one of Nerdanel herself's originals, I don't think we've seen any posts from her since it was revealed Cleric was NOT Nin'janjin.

[Aural]

It was set to self destruct once the Dunyain project has been accomplished.

[Cüréthañ]

So do you think TUC unfolds towards an attempt to create the perfect topoi?

Mengedda Mark II.

[mrganondorf]

I love it!  Nin'janjin is the culprit behind it all! 

Ah yes, that's one of Nerdanel herself's originals, I don't think we've seen any posts from her since it was revealed Cleric was NOT Nin'janjin.

I showed up too late to the party!  I've got to read her stuff, is there a Collected Nerdanels of Nerdanel?

[mrganondorf]

Rereading the end of WLW, if Wutteat went up against Ishual, then there MUST be survivors.  Can't believe that Dunyain intelligence couldn't find some way to hide from a BLIND dragon.

[Wilshire]

If it was Wutteat, then yes, I agree. Blind or no, the Thousand Thousand Halls would have provided shelter from his bulk. He would simply be to big to hunt and kill each one. Only a well planned attack by several weapon races, or several schoolmen, could have managed to kill them all (I assume the schoolmen have some kind of "detect life" spell).

[mrganondorf]

I'm going to guess that Ishual was destroyed by sorcerous means because of the foreshadowed bit about Akka seeing the difference between gnostic and anagogic sorcery.  I bet he'll sees signs of either gnostic (the kind he's familiar with) or something foreign like Quyan/Aporetic/Inchoroi brand gnosis.  Mimara might could help out with the traces if they are Aporetic.