TGS and MAT ( spoiler)

[Knight of the Day]

I read mat's story line and thought why??

The HORROR TOWN......Ok to show the pattern breaking apart.... or maybe just to fill out the timing of events but why???

Why suddenly insert Mini Horror story that is quickly wrapped up if their are no further plotlines to make use of the informtion here?

Does this new place where the dead arise in the morning have a significance to Rand....( die to live again???)


Probably not!

 

[Talysia]

You know, I wondered about the zombie town, too (Hinderstap, was it?). I think it was indicative of just how badly the pattern was unravelling, and I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't see more examples of it in the next book. Mind you, I hope that the next book focuses more on the matters at hand, rather than bits like this.

Thinking about it, though, the previous books have always referenced myths and legends in some form, whether they're ancient or fairly recent (the similarities to Odin and suchlike, and then the moon landings - Glenn, and Materese, or Mother Theresa). Perhaps this is something similar, or will become something similar in terms of mythology we recognize.

Or maybe I'm just reading too much into it.

 

[JagLover]

Aside from giving Mat to do in this book (before he presumably is far more key in the next book). I thought it was a decent idea becuase it helps show how the pattern is unravelling.

 

[Lofwyr]

Aside from the flavor aspects and getting to spend some time with Mat, the town served as an important plot point. It gave him the information he needed to go after Verin, which presumably accelerates his story into a position to do big things right off the bat in ToM.

 

[ThunderandLightning]

I think it's just a sub-plot from Jordan's notes that Sanderson didn't have the heart to throw out. I do think it's an interesting idea -- but the storyline didn't really need it told.

It appears to be the intended method of Matt meeting up with Verin again. So if that was how Jordan was going to do it, so be it -- and you can't really tell the story of Hinderstap much more briefly than Sanderson did without it sucking. But I think Sanderson should have just tossed Hinderstap out entirely. I can't fathom how it can have any great relevance to the rest of the series.

Considering that this was the ONLY significant sidetrack from the storyline and considering that it is opened and closed in the same book, I can certainly live with it.

 

[Ross Foster]

Hi, new to the site, e-mails and anything computer releted [only had the internet 5 months]. Just wanted to add my first reply to this thread [sorry if this ends up in the wrong place]. So; I can't help but think that Sanderson had to put more Matt in the book. He seems to be everyones favourite character, or certainly top two or three, therefore a couple of extra chapters of Matt acting like Matt, maybe slightly differant than Jordans' Matt, but still telling the Aes Sedai what to do and generally making me smile was the reason for the whole doomed village senario. Really enjoy Matt as a character, especially when he talks back to those Aes Sedai as most of the time they really annoy me too. Thanks for reading.

 

[Talysia]

Welcome to the Chronicles, ThunderandLightning, and Ross.

I'm not sure whether Sanderson had to include more Mat in tGS, as there's going to be a lot of his POVs in the next book (really can't wait for Towers of Midnight now), but it was good to see more of him anyway. Mat is a favourite of mine, too. It did feel like Mat's character wasn't written as well as the others, but hopefully Sanderson will have nailed it by ToM. I'd still read it anyway, but there you go.

As for whether Hinderstap could've been left out entirely? I don't know. It depends what was in RJ's notes, I suppose.

I really must reread tGS again and refresh my memory.

 

[Clansman]

Welcome to the Chrons, Ross. Take a moment and introduce yourself here:

Introductions - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums.

Feel free to skip around, posting as you go. We're a friendly bunch.

 

[ThunderandLightning]

As for whether Hinderstap could've been left out entirely? I don't know. It depends what was in RJ's notes, I suppose.

Consider for a moment: How does Hinderstap shape the overall storyline? How important will that little village of people trapped in place be when the Last Battle rolls around? I'm betting it will have zero relevance going forward. Just one more thing in the world screwed up by the Dark One's touch.

It was essentially a filler. Something for Matt to do leading up to meeting back up with Verin. He went to Hinderstap to investigate why somebody had a reward out for him. Relevant end result: Matt Cauthon meets back up with Verin Mathwin and priming Matt for the Tower of Ghenjei sequence -- which we know MUST happen because Rand will fail without Moraine Damodred's help according to Min's viewings.

Hinderstap didn't have to be cursed for that meeting to happen after all. Sanderson could have just as easily cut to the chase, skipped Hinderstap and had Matt meet up with Verin. Might have even had room to put Matt much closer, or even inside the Tower of Ghenjei by the end of TGS.

I just see it as indicitive of Sanderson's loyalty to Robert Jordan keeping Hinderstap in. The only way Hinderstap matters at all (in the greater scheme of things) is if it is translocated to the foot of Shayol Ghul -- not very likely. What's the point in doing that?

In the end, I'll freely admit that it's a fascinating concept, even if it is a useless side adventure.