I'm going to have to disagree on that prologue... Yes, it is well written, but is so detached from the rest of the story. You learn nothing of the Dunyain. Nothing real about the setting or first apocalypse. None of the characters show up later, the kid does not turn out to be anyone important. (Unless Bakker is planning some real out-of-left-field reveal 6 books later) It is more like a short story set in the same universe than an actual part of the main plot.

So while the chapter is atmospheric, it is just fat. And fat needs to be trimmed so we spend more time on characters that will matter going forward. Every scene, every second is valuable currency that must be spent very thriftily. Anything in the story that does not directly impact the main characters needs to be on the chopping block, that is basic screenwriting.

I find it amusing that it seems people are more interested at discussing the idea of tv adaptions rather than specifics of what they'd like to see in a PoN adaption, storyboarding, etc.

That's because the whenever changes are brought up, the 'literalist' brigade immediately descend on the discussion steering it that way. They are like the Scylvendi, unable to see infinite tracks in the steppe,  so many ways to get to the same destination.

But since you asked, I will write up some ideas... Although I know exactly what response this will get from some quarters.

Changes I would make to make a PoN adaption more approachable for a wider audience: (The first book is the stumbling block to get over for new readers, we all know this)

• Drop the bastard in Ishual prologue, it contributes very little (not even that the kid is an Anasurimbor) - instead start with Kellhus rescued in the snow. Another option to start the first episode would be the Inchoroi crash, and discovery by the Nonmen. Then flash cut to 'present day' and Kellhus in the snow. The rest of the backstory will be filled in through glimpses in Akka's dreams.
• Simplify the political structure of the three seas. Only use 3 Inrithi groups - Nansur, Conryan, and Galeoth. And then the Fanim Kianese of course.
• Merge Monemn and Sumna locations. Cut out Akka's start in Carythusal, a location we never see again. Move it to Monemn as well.
• Both Serwe and Esmenet need to have beefed up roles. The characters could be merged, but is probably bad since this is enough of a sausage fest as it is  .
• Accelerate the book 1 plot so we can get to the good stuff... Have all meet up in Monemn by 2/3rds through season 1. Season 1 ends with the battle at the river Sempis.

That's just off the top of my head.

'I got over it' means 'I deposited the check'

It's a not a bad thing, just don't see a reason why not to acknowledge it.

It is a bit tiring sometimes to have people re-interpret comments to fit their ideas. "He said X but obviously means Y". No. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, as Freud would say. 

There will be changes in an adaption. It is a different medium, with different strengths and weaknesses. Some authors are more excited about it than others, and see it as an opportunity to tweak the story for an interesting effect. Others chafe at any changes to their "baby".

(One example of the former: Dan Simmons once mentioned that he wrote as short treatment/adaption of his own Hyperion and Endymion books for a potential movie deal, and he made MAJOR changes, mashing/mixing events and characters from all 4 books together into one script that was very different) 

But two things are guaranteed:
1. The written version won't disappear, it will always be there.
2. There will be vocal fans who think that the story and themes are ruined because minor detail Z is not included or changed.

The plot is a bit meandering, but I have always been a sucker for alt-historical settings. Even so, some of the actors are terrific and I like what the show tries do, show the implications of different courses history could have taken.

I'm also a fan of "The Man in the High Castle"... The final episode was a real  , so I'm eagerly anticipating season 2.

Quote from: Titan on August 29, 2016, 04:47:20 pm

Is it eternal, though? There seems to be an element of reincarnation in Earwa. Souls seem to be recycled into newborns (either whole or rebuilt from fragments), and it was this soul in-flow that the No-God prevent with the womb-plague.

Why do you believe that?  I don't recall any source that supports that interpretation?  I would be grateful if you would explain why you believe this is so.

The Sharmat has already tackled the first part, do you need a source for the No-God stopping souls from attaching to children in wombs? I guess I don't have a direct source, but that seemed to be pretty explicit to me - or maybe I jumped to a conclusion here. But the Consult is working on shutting out the outside, and with souls moving back and forth from the Outside, it seems to me that the womb plague was an indication of a partial success.

The vast majority of people watching Game of Thrones have not read the books.

Certainly. But a significant minority are readers who continue to watch. (many who became readers after the show started, judging by how book sale figures rose after the show started) Whatever our own anecdotal evidence suggests, ratings and book sales  indicate that people in general are *not* tuning out of the show.

Quote from: The Sharmat on August 29, 2016, 09:03:59 am

I'd rather face oblivion under the No-God than the Eärwan afterlife to be honest.

The Earwan deal suuuuuuuuuucks.  Everyone gets a limited number of years of mix pain and pleasure, possibly with a lot more pain than pleasure, and then a very large percentage gets torture for eternity.  Compared to that, nonexistence because of a successful genocide isn't such a bad deal.  It's still horrible, but its not being tortured in unimaginably horrific ways until the end of time.

Is it eternal, though? There seems to be an element of reincarnation in Earwa. Souls seem to be recycled into newborns (either whole or rebuilt from fragments), and it was this soul in-flow that the No-God prevent with the womb-plague.