Dora Vee

To be fair, it was written by a noble woman, so I expect no less from someone like her. However, she also ended up fleeing a revolution herself. heheh.

Or pirate movies. :p I agree with Winter Bass, btw. "Going after, say, capitalist factory owners - who actually do exert meaningful power in the West - is going to alienate people." That didn't stop Steven Erikson(Lether) or China Mieville. And I am almost positive that the author of Baru Cormorant is a straight up communist. And don't get me started on science fiction. Stephen Donaldson, for example, DID go after at least one CEO(Holt Fasner). And people alienated by that are probably bootlicks anyway who probably wouldn't read any obviously left-winged writer, even a socdem like I think Erikson is. It's hard to say what the Malazan setting actually is because it's all over the place what with old lizard bones being like phones. Even the Berserk world looks more like 1600s rather than actual medieval period. However, I do agree that the medieval setting is easiest, but I wonder if it's because of familiarity whether their views on the medieval setting is accurate or not. "Rather than doing the hard work of actually breaking from the medieval/early modern formula, it's so much easier to serve up the same setting.... but DARK." Or maybe as an allegory against, er, other periods/systems? Blegh, I actually agree with you though.

If they saw themselves that way, then they were wrong to do so and were probably manipulated into believing that by those false giants. Those "giants" made gains on the shoulders of others.

Some people have called "Noble Bright" "Hopepunk." I can't decide which is worse.

I have no idea where "Noble Bright" came from. I just think of "Rainbow Bright" when I see it. Oh, are you an actual socialist? I hope so...I just want to know I'm not alone...I know I'm not on reddit. Anyway, yea, I get what you're saying, but at the same time, I don't think it's that bleak or grim for as many people as you think. I know it's a LARGE number, but the point I'm trying to make is that it's not necessarily an absolute unless you're destitute/trapped/dead. I know the US has a lot of problems, but that doesn't make it THAT bleak. At least not yet. Then again, a gilded cage is still a cage. Even if you're right, those sorts of things don't necessarily make for good stories nor are they necessarily mature.

Yea, it's all pretty complicated as it always depends on "who, what, where, when and why." It's one of the reasons why people braying about "historical accuracy" and getting pissy about 'things that don't belong' are irritating to me. I just ignore it and do what I want anyway. I'm sure others have done the same. I think Grimdark came about as a result of being tired of the same, predictable things. I suspect that some of them were tired of the idealized view of "the past", of monarchs/nobles, religion, of well, anything really. They were trying to say things like "good" doesn't always win(which is true), life is "shades of grey/many colors", things don't have to be "that way", life isn't always "a happy ending", but it got a little too far. The ironic thing is that having a bleak view on life is just as "naive" as the pollyanna view. As for being "adult", well for once, I agree with CS Lewis. And even if say, "noble bright" is childish, so what? Adults watch My Little Pony. If they like it, so what? Then, you have people like me who are hard to please and anything can set me off. I do, however, agree that "gritty realism" doesn't mean that the story is any better than anything else and it's not always a good excuse either.

It's really only been Malazan for 2018, so: 1. Memories of Ice 2. Midnight Tides 3. Deadhouse Gates

Malowabi is a head on Kellhus's belt. He's not dead. As for Ajenics, it's uncertain where he really is.

Chapter 83 is considered non-canon. That being said, some people have argued that Falconia/Griffith is "humanity's dream", but I don't believe it.

Yup. I firmly believe that Elfhelm will be attacked, but will have a twist. Something like this: https://griffiths-huggybox.tumblr.com/post/161046951708/bthump-divinesong-said Speaking of theories/meta: https://griffiths-huggybox.tumblr.com/post/162227141473/universal-monarchy

Yea, that's how I see it too. She's like a Gollum: one to be pitied and not hated. I also think she did the right thing in choosing to stay behind. I think it took some strength to admit some things about herself.

Yea, but the difference is that most people wouldn't have done what Nina has done. She's a bit worse than most people.

Actually, I'm pretty certain it's Lost Children. Here, Guts was at his darkest.

Hooray! I was wondering if there was such a thread!

If you're referring to the fountain speech, I really believe that the "what a true friend does" applied to every one but Guts. Like, every one else was allowed to leave, except for Guts. Every one got a choice, except for Guts. I don't think that's changed. With Kellhus, that seemed to apply to every one. :/