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Shadowmarch Reread: names and mythology

I’ve long had a nagging suspicion in the back of my mind that the names of the gods in Shadowmarch (mentioned so far in my reread: Perin, Erivor, Kernios, Zoria) are based on real mythology, and I think I found a few of them now:

Perin, the lord of the sky. Perun is the god of the sky in Slavic mythology.

Just skimming this article now, but so far I’ve found: Erisvorsh (God of the storm, wind and thunder. He is an aspect, name, or associate of Perun.) Zorya (Zorya is the goddess of beauty, virgin associated with war and with Perun.) Kirnis (Tutelary deity of cherries.) Zosim (I think there is a Zosim in Shadowmarch?) (Tutelary deity of bees)

Not a god, but the name Ynnir reminds me of Ymir, but I’m too tired to read much and try to puzzle out a connection.

(Come join our Reread at tadwilliams.com/forum!)

((I can’t link because then tumblr will hide my post. Sorry!))

fourier-transform-everything

Adding to the list:

Nushash = Shamash, the Shining One, Prince of Justice and Akkadian god of the sun but also Ra, Egyptian god of the sun who is frequently associated with falcons

Kernios/Zergal/Black Earth = Hades with a splash of Ereshkigal, the Great Earth, Mesopotamian mistress of the underworld. Her uncle-husband most definitely did not want to marry her. (Kernios and Zoria are uncle-niece.) Funnily enough, Ereshkigal murders her sister Inanna and Inanna ends up being resurrected by Enki, a god of water. (Kernios was killed by his half-brother and subsequently resurrected by Erivor, a god of water. The idea that the ruler of the underworld is himself dead is also reminiscent of Osiris, the Egyptian god of the dead.)

Twin sisters Breeze & Moisture were probably inspired by Antu, Great Mother of Sky who is the mother of Enki, Lord of the Earth and Waters and the grandmother of Marduk the Avenger, patron deity of Babylon and god of thunder. Antu’s husband also has children with Ki, Earth Mother, who is the grandmother of Nanna, god of the moon and the great-grandmother of Shamash, god of the sun and judgement

The magic in Shadowmarch reminds me of the Egyptian Book of the Dead.

clumsybutterflies

Left: what just arrived in the mail and what I want to read right now

Right: what I should and want to read first to properly appreciate it

clumsybutterflies

It ended up taking me less than a month, while working and having a toddler and doing some Christmas prep, so I'm pretty impressed with myself.

Admittedly, the laundry situation was dire towards the end, and cleaning took a back seat, too. But sometimes you have to be a Tiamak or Strangyeard rather than Rachel the Dragon...

#tad williams #osten ard #the last king of osten ard #personal

saddest-girl-in-the-whole-world

I will NEVER not fuck with women using a traditionally masculine title. Tell me more about that girl that's also a prince.

jenroses

The captain is always sir...

clumsybutterflies

There's a character in The Navigator's Children who is knighted and wants to be addressed as Sir Lady so-and-so (not saying who because spoilers.)

#tad williams #osten ard #the last king of osten ard #the navigator's children

clumsybutterflies

Doctor Morgenes once told me something very wise—'Make your home in your head, Simon," he said. But I came to see in the last year that there's even more to it than that. Making a home in your head is a good start, but you must also make a home in your heart for the people you love."

- Tad Williams, The Navigator's Children

clumsybutterflies

This quote, though. This is at the heart of everything. Of the books, of course - this is why I love them - but also of the fandom, such as it is. Especially those of us who hang out at "Smarch", but also every Tad-fan I meet in another context, it's always... "of course. You are such a kind, good-hearted person, someone I could be friends with. Of course you love his books."

#tad williams #personal

Doctor Morgenes once told me something very wise—'Make your home in your head, Simon," he said. But I came to see in the last year that there's even more to it than that. Making a home in your head is a good start, but you must also make a home in your heart for the people you love."

- Tad Williams, The Navigator's Children

#tad williams #osten ard #the last king of osten ard #the navigator's children #quotes

9thbutterfly

Two chapters in I'm already screaming internally.

I kind of foresaw one thing, but the other not at all!

Spoilers under the cut!

clumsybutterflies

More detailed thoughts later, maybe. For now, just:

I loved it. I just felt so comfortable in the book, if that makes sense. Battles and threats of destruction and all, I still always felt I could trust Tad.

Even the characters that I didn't care for in the first book or two have grown on me, so I was happy to spend time with everyone.

And I'm just so fond of reunion scenes, especially "but I thought you were dead!" reunion scenes, so this felt tailor-made for me on that level!

Yes, I can see things I would have done differently, and questions I would have liked answers to, but overall I loved it!

(And I'm so, so glad that my brain seems to have recovered somewhat from the constant exhaustion of the past years, my thoughts felt clearer and my memory better than they have in a long time. At the same time, I feel sad that this happened only now, and not at a time when I could have done some Scrollbearer work for the book... But oh well.)

#tad williams #osten ard #the last king of osten ard #the Navigator's Children

codenameantarctica

Ah yes, I see Jarnulf went to Sir Deornoth's school of "being a bit TOO much in love with your Prince".

#tad williams #the last king of osten ard #the navigator's children #Jarnulf

"Most people, I think, wish only to live their lives in a little comfort, and free from fear," said Tiamak. "Although to be fair, many want something more of life-I ached to see more of the world than I could from my my hut in Village Grove. But there are a number of men in this world-and women, I suppose- who only want to take everything for themselves, or to deny things to others. Aedonites would say they were corrupted by the Devil. Or it could simply be that they have some hole in their spirit that nothing can fill, but still they keep trying to shove more in. Sadly, I think there will always be such creatures among us."

"But how can we keep such folk from having the power to harm others?"

"That, not even the wisest counselor could tell you."

- Tad Williams, The Navigator's Children

#tad williams #osten ard #the last king of osten ard #the navigator's children

9thbutterfly

Two chapters in I'm already screaming internally.

I kind of foresaw one thing, but the other not at all!

Spoilers under the cut!

#tad williams #osten ard #the last king of osten ard #the Navigator's Children #and of course I go and post this on the wrong blog

clumsybutterflies

Left: what just arrived in the mail and what I want to read right now

Right: what I should and want to read first to properly appreciate it

clumsybutterflies

I have finished The Witchwood Crown at last.

Only two more monsters and two normal-sized books to go.

Might skip The Heart of What Was Lost, as I've read it more often and it is depressing...

#tad williams #osten ard #the last king of osten ard #the witchwood crown

Left: what just arrived in the mail and what I want to read right now

Right: what I should and want to read first to properly appreciate it

#tad williams #osten ard #the last king of osten ard #the navigator's children

"I have faith that learning will always frighten stupidity, and that stupidity often strike back, sometimes murderously."

Tad Williams, The Witchwood Crown

Huh. Depressingly relevant these days.

#tad williams #osten ard #the last king of osten ard #the witchwood crown #Aengas

More than four years now since you left us, Cyan, and still you are always with us. Especially when we get together like we did yesterday. In our thoughts, in the stories we tell, in our clothes and the other little things you left us. But also in every stitch I knit or sew, in the way I clean mushrooms or heat rice, and especially, especially in the way we say goodbye as we all leave for home.

Thank you for the friendship and the good times.

#personal #I still always laugh when I remember the origins of 'save the Pope!' as a farewell