Nona the Ninth thoughts, Part 1

Awww Nona is probably the healthiest state Harrow's body has been in. I'm really convinced that Nona is Alecto. Or a fragment of Alecto? Not sure where Gideon and Harrow are, probably subsumed into Nona. Also, Prediction, we're gonna have like 206 souls inside Harrow's body by the time the series ends, 200 children for Harrow's birth, Harrow herself, Alecto, and like +3 other souls. It just seems right y'know? There's 206 bones in the body, and Harrow is the greatest Bone Adept of all time. I hope she Eats Jod's soul eventually.

Tf is the Blue Light? Did the BoE invent a Light Based Anti Necromantic weapon?

Oh, Coronabeth calls herself "Crown Him With Many Crowns". Love that for her. Judith is formal as hell, just being "The Captain".

Wait I dealt 1d6 psychic damage on myself

I imagined how cool a major Gideon the Ninth adapation would be, like who would I cast, who would I pick as a director, etc.

Then, I had the sudden realization that, THAT side of the internet would haaaaaaaate it. We'd get like 300 videos trashing it before it even releases, we'd have non stop Bad Faith Arguments, it'd get majorly review bombed.

Well, I'm sad now :<

you just know modern au harrow would have strong opinions about vatican II

Jod for being, y'know God, is so clueless about everyone is what I meant. I get the feeling, that he's just so overpowered and so above everyone else, that he hasn't really needed to care about what anyone else is thinking for multiple millennia. Like, he didn't even know what Gideon, Mercy, and Augustine were actually doing. His 3 supposed Best Friends. He's a Dork with Godly Power lol

Harrow the Ninth, Thoughts part 3

Finished the book! Harrow wasn't even insane, everyone was just gaslighting her. Gideon the First WAS attacking her. Ianthe was lying all the time, because Harrow told her to do so. Augustine and Mercy were lying to keep their cover, Johnny G. was lying because he also didn't know anything, even Harrow was lying to herself.

I understand, why both Lyctors had to kill John. But the consequences of what they'll do is insane. Obliterate 9 planets. Kill, likely Billions of People, Again. Who's to say killing off all life in a planet post ressurection won't make another Ressurection Beast to wreck havoc in the Universe. In an awful way, Mercy and Augustine are recreating the sin that John did. With likely the same consequences.

I can't agree with killing the Emperor, yes he deserves to die, but the price of doing so would have been too steep. I'd lock him in a tomb, and have him empower Dominicus for eternity. Killing John, and Dominicus in turn leads the nine houses to be put under the control of Augustine or Mercy, and through that connection, the Blood of Eden.

We don't even know who tf the Blood of Eden is! For all we know they're Fanatics and Zealots. With a name like that I'd bet money on them hyper religious freaks and Zealots. Probably some Brotherhood of Steel, Adeptus Mechanicus style cult. Likely the type to uncritically worship Nostalgia and the Past.

I'd stick with John honestly. Maybe John Gohn could be better one day, and I HOPE he was telling the truth about his regrets. If he didn't, well fuck him then. Warhammer 40k had the right idea for God Emperors. Turn the bastard into a living battery. I think, a part of Jod was hoping the 8 in GtN, would crack the formula. Maybe that's why he was hoping they would take it slow, do it with years of study and preparation. So, I can't really hate Ianthe for what she did. Or maybe, I just fell for Jaius Gaius sad wet cat act.

Also, Harrow and Gideon definitely opened the stupid tomb. Gideon found Harrow in the Tomb. So Alecto was definitely released. Maybe, partially? But she's still out there, somewhere. Maybe the girl living with Camilla. Who knows

I am, so very very happy I got my prediction about the Sleeper right. Once I realized Gideon was alive and consciousness inside Harrow, there was only one suspect. Gideon's Mom. Where else was a friggin Haz Suit ever mentioned except the one her Mom was found in. Considering Palamedes mentioned that you bring your last memory with you when you died, of course her Mom remembered being in a Haz Suit

Harrow the Ninth, Thoughts part 3

Finished the book! Harrow wasn't even insane, everyone was just gaslighting her. Gideon the First WAS attacking her. Ianthe was lying all the time, because Harrow told her to do so. Augustine and Mercy were lying to keep their cover, Johnny G. was lying because he also didn't know anything, even Harrow was lying to herself.

I understand, why both Lyctors had to kill John. But the consequences of what they'll do is insane. Obliterate 9 planets. Kill, likely Billions of People, Again. Who's to say killing off all life in a planet post ressurection won't make another Ressurection Beast to wreck havoc in the Universe. In an awful way, Mercy and Augustine are recreating the sin that John did. With likely the same consequences.

I can't agree with killing the Emperor, yes he deserves to die, but the price of doing so would have been too steep. I'd lock him in a tomb, and have him empower Dominicus for eternity. Killing John, and Dominicus in turn leads the nine houses to be put under the control of Augustine or Mercy, and through that connection, the Blood of Eden.

We don't even know who tf the Blood of Eden is! For all we know they're Fanatics and Zealots. With a name like that I'd bet money on them hyper religious freaks and Zealots. Probably some Brotherhood of Steel, Adeptus Mechanicus style cult. Likely the type to uncritically worship Nostalgia and the Past.

I'd stick with John honestly. Maybe John Gohn could be better one day, and I HOPE he was telling the truth about his regrets. If he didn't, well fuck him then. Warhammer 40k had the right idea for God Emperors. Turn the bastard into a living battery. I think, a part of Jod was hoping the 8 in GtN, would crack the formula. Maybe that's why he was hoping they would take it slow, do it with years of study and preparation. So, I can't really hate Ianthe for what she did. Or maybe, I just fell for Jaius Gaius sad wet cat act.

Also, Harrow and Gideon definitely opened the stupid tomb. Gideon found Harrow in the Tomb. So Alecto was definitely released. Maybe, partially? But she's still out there, somewhere. Maybe the girl living with Camilla. Who knows

I am, so very very happy I got my prediction about the Sleeper right. Once I realized Gideon was alive and consciousness inside Harrow, there was only one suspect. Gideon's Mom. Where else was a friggin Haz Suit ever mentioned except the one her Mom was found in. Considering Palamedes mentioned that you bring your last memory with you when you died, of course her Mom remembered being in a Haz Suit

Harrow the Ninth, Thoughts part 2

There's a parallel between Harrow and Humanity in The Locked Tomb that I find terrifying as a Biologist.

Harrow, is the sum of 200 children, sacrificed to create one Child.

Humanity, to be Killed and Ressurected, Jod released the Ressurection Beasts. These have been going around, attacking planets with life, in their madness as revenants.

To combat and stop these Beasts, Jod and the Lyctors have been Killing Planets. Harrow says that most of these life forms on planets are simple, bacteria or other single celled organisms.

Evolutionary speaking, these are the beginnings of life, baby or child biospheres.

Jod and the Lyctors are doing what Harrow's parents have done to have her, but on an unimaginable scale. They are killing Planets on the first steps of life, Infant Biospheres, strangling them in their cradles, for the sake of ONE FORM OF LIFE: HUMANITY.

No wonder John tells Harrow it's not her fault, he knows what her parents did, how it feels like. I think, that's why he puts a lot of focus on Harrow. He wants to know that what he is doing is worth it, and perhaps Harrow is proof of that.

Harrow the Ninth Thoughts:

- Teenage Girl

- Necromancer

- River of Death

Where did I hear about this before?

Oh, Right.

Surprised I haven't heard any references to Abhorsen/The Old Kingdom yet, considering it's probably the biggest Fantasy Necromancy book

When the new UIs referred to Caspian as a member of "The Old Pantheon", it got me thinking. Who was in that Pantheon? What was the mythology and "religion" like for the UIs over their founding?

Like, do they view Holstrom as like an Evil Demiurge?

Maybe people like David and Laurie are seen like, Gaia and Ouranos, the Father and Mother of every UI, since they're the source of the cure.

I can see Chanda being a Loki like figure, trickster, enemy, ally, all at the same time. He'd be divisive, helped the Demiurge, helped the Pantheon. But he is also the one who created the world they live in.

Yair and Farhad as being like twin or brother Gods.

Joey would be the Hermes or Messenger God, considering she was the witness to the battle.

SafeSurf is definitely the Devil analogue, the Ultimate Enemy for the UIs.

Then, you have Caspian, which is definitely the Messiah, sacrificed himself for the good of all, even returns at their greatest need. Has a final confrontation with the Devil/SafeSurf.

Finished Gideon the Ninth! Some of my analysis were correct! Which was cool! There were things I didn't guess, but they felt properly set up, so I wasn't annoyed at all.

Spoilers below!

So, a Lyctor is basically a living Philisopher's Stone from FMA. Harrow is now basically van Hohenheim.

I honestly did not see that coming, cuz that was a hard, but not atypical way to become immortal. Again, Hohenheim from FMA. I guess it makes sense right? Especially with the whole "One Flesh, One End" thing. I had flashbacks to Steel Inquisitors in Mistborn.

My boyyyy Palamedes! God damn, what a nerd! What a Bad Ass! What a bloody mastermind of biology! He's my top character now, since my first 3 died first :(.

Also, I was right with the whole Dulcinea, Unrequited Love aspect! Just didn't expect it to be from Palamedes towards Dulcinea.

The moment Gideon and Harrow fused was some straight up anime stuff happening. I loved it.

I kinda expected the Emperor to look like, Nagash or idk Vecna from DnD. But he's just a Dude.

Some thoughts and theories:

They never said that the person being incorporated and the person that incorporates said person has to be willing. It just makes an incomplete, but still powerful lyctor. It also never said you can't do the ritual multiple times, heck, Corona almost said that Ianthe could have done that to her as well.

There's hints to mind reading already, so you could forcibly know a person through that, shove people into a lyctor to grow in power.

Also... weird thing to notice, but, there are no scythes. It's very clearly, a conscious omission to avoid scythes. When all the other typical symbols of Death are present. Skulls, Skeletons, Black Cloaks. So where are the Scythes?

Gideon the Ninth Live Blog 2!

The 8 pairs in Gideon the Ninth are all, different types of relationships

2nd House: Captain and his Lieutenant

3rd House: Dysfunctional Family and Sibling Rivalry

4th House: Childhood Friendship

5th House: Marriage/Lovers

6th House: Professional, maybe Doctor and Nurse?

The 7th, based on the name Dulcinea, makes me think Unrequited or maybe even Courtly Love?

8th House: Uncle and Nephew

9th House: I know most people read them as Lovers, but I think they represent Lord and Subject in the beginning more.

I guess this is a live blog now.

(Nooo Magnus, don't be crumpled like wet laundry)

I swear if the kids get turned into wet laundry too imma be mad

I'm almost done with Act II of Gideon the Ninth, my favorite part is honestly Magnus and the Fourth Teens. Especially the voice Moira Quirk uses for them.

(Magnus. Maaaaagnus. Noooo. Don't talk about uuuuussss. Magnuuuusss)

I'm almost done with Act II of Gideon the Ninth, my favorite part is honestly Magnus and the Fourth Teens. Especially the voice Moira Quirk uses for them.

(Magnus. Maaaaagnus. Noooo. Don't talk about uuuuussss. Magnuuuusss)

Weird thought about The Locked Tomb as a setting.

How come all the soldiers and fighters seem to fight in melee? It's not like Dune where you have personal shields that make ranged fire useless, it's not like Star Wars where each knight can see the future and deflect projectiles. It's not like Red Rising where the armor is so thick, and the shields so strong, only a super special sword can penetrate it.

So, my theory is this: cohorts, soldiers, cavaliers? They don't matter in a fight. Any Death is good, it gives material and energy to the ones that actually matter: The Necromancer. The King Undying, basically made a whole army of melee fighters, because melee fighters can get obliterated easier, to produce more death energy for his Necromancers. Besides, imagine if you did have a bunch of non Necromancers that can pick you off at long range. Can't defend from what you can't see.

In summary, the Emperor and the Necromancers basically did this to the rest of the human fighters:

So I found a few things like this awhile back but figured I’d share my own thoughts about it.

The Mandalorians thinking of the Jedi as great warriors and to them getting a Jedi in the family was considered a great feat (that no one has managed to achieve yet), they think the Jedi have incredibly high standards, as the great warriors they are should, and continue to follow, flirt with and try to parent Jedi they see.

Meanwhile the Jedi fully believe the Mandos hate them, they specifically warn all younglings to avoid them and it’s one of the first lessons for Padawans.

At one point a Mando sees a Jedi with a Padawan and try’s to compliment the Jedis child rearing skills but they say something like “Your young one is very strong, they would make a great Mandalorian!” Which to the Mando is a compliment and a little bit of flirting, but for the Jedi, who’s already primed to stop someone from kidnapping their padawan because of how popular force-sensitive slaves are (especially those with training who aren’t considered to dangerous, ie Jedi padawans) takes this as a threat and responds with a snarled “Yes they are, and so am I” while projecting every ounce of ‘I’ll beat you black and blue’ they can into the force, the Jedi quickly pulls their padawan close and leaves. Meanwhile the Mando is like “Wow that was hot” and is all proud of themselves for coming up with such a great compliment.

A ton of other shenanigans ensue and it’s great.

Side note I love the idea of the Jedi being very off putting to most others, not in a clear way but a lot of small things (just to fast reflexes, knowing what you’re about to say and responding before you even started etc).

Also here’s a list of reasons Jedi are the perfect spouse to Mandos

They’re great warriors who treat battles as dances, you will never get tired of watching their swirling robes and glowing blades.

They’re amazing with kids, raising their young is a great honor to them.

They stay level headed in the most stressful of situations, remaining competent and calm the entire time.

Their ability to sense danger means they almost always have the upper hand in battle.

Again great fighters, you won’t know true awe until you seen a Jedi cut down a field of enemies in less time then it takes most to fight a small gang.

Anyway these were just some thoughts I had, if anyone has any fic recs with this premise please let me know!!

I think it's the sensibilities too! Like, Gideon putting on sunglasses and walking into the Dark Academia mansion, while in the middle of a Enemies to Lovers story. In a pretty Gothic setting haha

Huh.

Gideon the Ninth/The Locked Tomb is inexplicably, Tumblr Coded Sci-fi. The same way, Red Rising is Reddit Coded Sci-fi. Does that make sense? I don't know how to explain it, but it feels that way y'know?

Huh.

Gideon the Ninth/The Locked Tomb is inexplicably, Tumblr Coded Sci-fi. The same way, Red Rising is Reddit Coded Sci-fi. Does that make sense? I don't know how to explain it, but it feels that way y'know?

Reasons why I should:

- I am a magic and worldbuilding nerd, necromancer society is cool

- Someone said it was like reading LGBT Warhammer, which sounds amazing

- My army for Warhammer is Ossiarch Bonereapers, Bone Based Super Soldiers

- I'm surrounded by Catholic imagery, that Gothic and Memento Mori aesthetic is killer

Reasons why I shouldn't

- My TBR pile is massive

- Not sure if the audiobooks are good (pls tell me if it is!)