William (aka Pug's son)

[Lacedaemonian]

I remember when reading about William when he was a child and thinking he had such potential as a future character. Why did Feist decide to leave him out of the leading roles? He barely gets a mention in any of his books.

 

[Winters_Sorrow]

I know! He could have played the whole "part of a magical family, yet always unable to join in!" thingy I lot more!

There seems to be a definite sea change with Fiest's later books - away from the all-powerful sorcerers and improbably skilled thieves to more common characters caught up in events bigger than themselves. The whole Eric von Darkmoor series is bit like "Sharpe-like" (erm, that's a book series by Bernard Cornwell set in the Napoleonic era btw for any non-brits - they made a popular mini-series over here with Sean Bean) and concerns the struggles of a few soldiers trying to accomplish their missions as best they can.

It's a welcome change (though I'd be a liar if I said I didn't miss the Pug & Tomas adventures! )

Anyway - slightly got off the point there...
William does play a slightly bigger part in the later books but it does tend to focus a lot on Eric's adventures so all he ever appears to be is another captain amongst captains - I agree it's a shame mind you. I think Fiest must have decided not to create a dynasty out of Pug's family and so didn't make William the star of these new books and instead go for a brand new character who's also a commoner - no protection of powerful friends and family then!

 

[Lacedaemonian]

He is described as this master tactician and excellent swordsman and rider. However, it was the talking to beasts bit that had me wondering. Also I thought he would end up marrying Gemmina but The Hand moved in there.

 

[Winters_Sorrow]

Mind you, a mind-reading wife?
That's pressure!

Also, how interesting are animal conversations anyway? Someone once described birdsong as basically three verses of "This is my nest, look at my lovely beak and Any Ladies out there?"

 

[Lacedaemonian]

I am sure it has its uses. He could surely command animals to do simple actions. You are of course absolutely right.

 

[rune]

I know! He could have played the whole "part of a magical family, yet always unable to join in!" thingy I lot more!

There seems to be a definite sea change with Fiest's later books - away from the all-powerful sorcerers and improbably skilled thieves to more common characters caught up in events bigger than themselves. The whole Eric von Darkmoor series is bit like "Sharpe-like" (erm, that's a book series by Bernard Cornwell set in the Napoleonic era btw for any non-brits - they made a popular mini-series over here with Sean Bean) and concerns the struggles of a few soldiers trying to accomplish their missions as best they can.

It's a welcome change (though I'd be a liar if I said I didn't miss the Pug & Tomas adventures! )

Anyway - slightly got off the point there...
William does play a slightly bigger part in the later books but it does tend to focus a lot on Eric's adventures so all he ever appears to be is another captain amongst captains - I agree it's a shame mind you. I think Fiest must have decided not to create a dynasty out of Pug's family and so didn't make William the star of these new books and instead go for a brand new character who's also a commoner - no protection of powerful friends and family then!

I use to like the magical characters more and one of the reasons I drifted away from Fiest's books was because his characters were more everyday types

 

[Winters_Sorrow]

I am sure it has its uses. He could surely command animals to do simple actions. You are of course absolutely right.

true - but really, when you think about it....




what does a rabbit know about ironing?

 

[The Master™]

William's talent was for reading animals... That is all... And I think somewhere it said that animals minds are just soooooooo boring...

I think that there is a good balance shown, between the magical and the mundane... I like that... If it was all magical, it would be boring... Besides, there are new and old magical characters in and about... Pug and Miranda's son (Magus???) might be shown more... But I'm sure Nakor will make another appearance - what a strange little man!!

 

[WJKeeling]

William had argued wih Pug and they had grown apart because Will wanted to be a soldier but Pug wanted him to be a magician. Feist probably could not use William because he would not do much as a soldier and reading animals' minds is not very useful.

 

[Lacedaemonian]

Reading animals minds is a top skill to have.

 

[The Master™]

Not when animals minds aren't particularly sophisticated... When they think about the 3F's... Food, mating and fear...

The only mind William was happy to read was the Fire Drake's... (Fantus???)

But William was more interested in becoming a soldier than being a magician... Wanted to be himself and not follow his father... And Pug respected that...

 

[Winters_Sorrow]

Well, as much as it pains me to defend Lacey's viewpoint , reading animal minds with the ability to convince/control them to doing your bidding would be fairly powerful.
Look at all the damage Macros was able to inflict on the Tsurani forces when they attacked Elvandar - that would depend on whether or not William was willing to use his powers in the knowledge that those animals might be put in harm's way thanks to him of course...

 

[Rahl Windsong]

I use to like the magical characters more and one of the reasons I drifted away from Fiest's books was because his characters were more everyday types

I agree, the books have got less of an awe and wonder and my interest in his work went down a bit as well, though I still will read anything by Fiest because I loved the adventures of Pug so much.

I really wish he would go back to the time of the Dragon Lords, and tell us the story of Ashen-Shugar in more detail. Or perhaps from the view point of some lesser being then Ashen-Shugar, but I would like to see him start an entire series from the past. Maybe even tell us the whole story of Marcos the Black.

It just seems to me that the ancient history of Midkemia was more exciting then the current state of affairs.

EDIT: One of the best RPG's I ever played was the one he did with Sierra, Betrayl at Krondor, I loved that game!

Rahl

 

[The Master™]

Well, as much as it pains me to defend Lacey's viewpoint , reading animal minds with the ability to convince/control them to doing your bidding would be fairly powerful.
Look at all the damage Macros was able to inflict on the Tsurani forces when they attacked Elvandar - that would depend on whether or not William was willing to use his powers in the knowledge that those animals might be put in harm's way thanks to him of course...

Ah, but Macros was the avatar of a god, therefore his power and knowledge was "enhanced and increased" by the god... So, of course, that will allow him to inflict havok...

However, poor William was only a weak magician, only able to read animals, not affect them... He was able to quieten animals by "soothing" them...

And defending Lacey will not make him like you any more... heheheh

 

[Winters_Sorrow]

And defending Lacey will not make him like you any more... heheheh

that's true!

In that case I stand by my original statement that William was a rubbish character in need of a good beating..

 

[The Master™]

I think that William was a good character, showing that you can have the best magical parents in the world, but you might still be a little retarded magically!!! So, it is a good thing!!!