Speculation about Elcho Falling (spoilers)

[dekket]

Having just finished The Twisted Citadel, book two of the Darkglass Mountain trilogy by Sara Douglass, I felt the need to ask if anyone else had any ideas about what Elcho Falling actually is?

The Darkglass Mountain Trilogy is a sequel (of sorts) to the Axis/Wayfarer's Redemption trilogies, and to the Beneath the Hanging Wall Maximillian Persimus of Escator stand alone novel (although the events of this book had actually already been mentioned in the first of the Wayfarer's Redemption book, Sinner), and the stand alone novel Threshold (set in Ashod, which is now part of the Tyranny of Isembaard).

Serpent's Nest was the Mountain of the Edge of the World (on the Edge of the Endless Sea, actually), with the entire mountain simply being a shell/disguise for the absent Elcho Falling.

By the way I thought that the description of the return of Elcho Falling was great. I liked the way the mountain shattered and the ocean swept in, then the Castle of Elcho falling just fell out of the massive spinning rings of the Crown of Elcho falling.

On the surface, Elcho Falling is a massive (it is the size of a mountain - in fact the size of Talon Spike in the original Axis trilogy) magical citadel. It has been referred to as 'an entire world'. It seems to have all the attributes of the Magical Citadels of Tencendor, in that only friends/previous occupants are allowed in (think Sigholt), it provides rooms as required (i.e. Spiredoor), it has infinate storerooms that provide all the food, drink, etc that is needed (as did Silent Woman Keep).

It is also a 'gateway', and now that it is restored is able to concentrate the Star Dance into the world in a similar manner as the Star Gate did in lost Tencendor, only on a much larger scale.
Is it a gateway similar to the Star Gate, through which someone of power could step out into the universe. Or into the world of Tencendor/Escator/Ashod?

Anyone care to speculate on what Elcho Falling actually is?

 

[Sephrene]

I'm probably going to be way off base, but judging by Sara's previous books, we can expect that there will be a convoluted twist to the story merging enemies into friends and friends into enemies.

Much like Santuary, Elcho Falling only becomes necessary when the threat of complete annihiliation is imminent. Much like the Star Man, the Lord of Elcho Falling is going to lead the people out of the current crisis, depite the reluctance of Maximilian to wear the Crown of the Lord of Elcho Falling. But Elcho Falling is much more than Santuary. Much more than all the magic in Tencendor combined. And Maximilian is much more powerful than the Star Man will ever be. This will be the final showdown, the final manipulation engineered by the gods of the Star Dance. The Lealfast are really the only people who understand what Elcho Falling is but they will prove to be one of Maximilian's deadlier enemies.

So what is Elcho Falling? I think it is a world where people will be living amongst the Star Dance. Its raw power will be alive within each being. It will be the beginning of the End. Exactly where the Star Dance wanted to be from the start. It will be the reason for millions and millions of years of intimidation and manipulation by the Star Dance. And just like Tencendor, there will be a very high price to pay. But there is no Faraday this time round (I sincerely hope Sara does not bring her in) and Ishbel is not one to take it lying down so it will be interesting to see who or what becomes the ultimate sacrifice.

Whatever the case, I am in high anticipation of the third book and hope that The Infinity Gate will be worth the wait.