Group Reread Camber of Culdi Prologue and Chapter One

Tonight, I reread the prologue and first chapter of Camber of Culdi,
and here are my comments, in the hopes of getting the ball rolling.

The Prologue
I kind of like the omniscient third person tone of the prologue, and
the 'proto-historian' point of view represented. It's a clever way to
hook a new or even a repeating reader into wondering about Camber and
his times. Was he good or awful? It also makes one curious as to WHEN
and how far ahead in the time line this omniscient commentator is
looking back to discuss Camber, since it refers to Kelson as Kelson I.
(Makes me wonder if there was a Kelson VIII with six wives, three
ruling off-spring and a dietary problem along about the early to mid
1600's in Gwynedd...) She mentions "Building techniques that would not
be discovered until late in Kelson's reign." Since no great building
technique discoveries were discussed in KKB, we can assume Kelson has a
decently long life left to him, yet.

The prologue also sets the scene nicely for the antagonism between
Camber and Imre to come, and tells us what sort of king Imre was and
why Gwynedd was better off without the Festils. At least, in the short
run and in the VERY long run it was. It's a debatable point whether
the Haldane Restoration was a good thing in the medium run. But the
Regents were not solely responsible for anti-Deryni sentiment in
Gwynedd, by any means. The Festils, like other badly behaved Royal
dynasties in our own history, essentiallly dug their own graves through
being arrogant and uncaring toward their subjects and uninterested in
being even marginally competent administrators. Hence Camber's decision
to "retire' since he could not serve Imre in good conscience. Quite
possibly, there might have been an outbreak of anti-Deryni violence had
Camber decided he was such a bad king, he had to be removed for the
good of the Kingdom.

The Haldane Restoration could be said to have postponed a violent
outbreak for Cinhil's lifetime, but when it eventually happened, the
Regents WERE responsible for the viciousness and thoroughness of it.
But I am getting ahead of myself.

Chapter One
Chapter one is obviously more immediate in its focus on Camber and his
family, since it is told in the present. Camber and his living
offspring are all introduced at least by mention if they don't appear
in person. We find out that Cathan is the eldest son, and serves at
the Festillic Court as Camber used to do. We find out that he's
married with two sons, and that he has to jig to Imre's tune, which he
does, more or less willingly. As of 903 at least, he's a good but not
always successful influence over Imre.

We also find out about Joram and his membership in the Michaelines. And
that he's a firebrand, prone to tirades, and a member of an outspoken
religious Order that butts into secular affairs, which is not always
wise. Nor do they shrink from criticizing anyone they think deserves
it. Camber considers Joram "young and impulsive" and that he's
concerned that Imre will be after the whole Order one of these days.

Rhys is also introduced by name, by profession, and that he's already
experimenting with meditational and magical techniques, and that Evaine
has the hots for him.

Since the chapter is told from Evaine's point of view, we learn most
about her. She's young, but she's been the female head of Camber's
household for several years, already. She's the one who informs Cathan
about the hostages being taken from Caerrorie. She is "fair, witty and
insatiably curious" and her scholarly pursuits have made a close,
special bond between herself and Camber, although he would deny she
was his favorite. We certainly see her curiousity at work when she
picks up the shiral crystal in Camber's study.

Camber admits he doesn't really know what shiral crystals are good for,
which goes to show that even distinguished scholars of haut arcanum
don't know everything. His magical education is not so much emphasized
as his more ordinary service to the crown and his legal studies, which
any man of his class and generation might have undertaken. His early
priestly calling is referred to, but again, not reallly emphasized.
All this suggest KK was still getting acquainted with him herself at
this early stage. At this point, Camber is a man who expects to
finish his life in peaceful scholarship and contemplation. His mind
can't stop working after a lifetime in service to the kingdom or to
the Crown. But he most likely suspects that if there is a rebellion
against Imre, it will be lead by a younger generation than his own.

Fortunately, we know better. =o)

Melissa

I managed to read up to charter 6, and I can't but think about the
entire trilogy on a macro level. Two clichés come into mind, "be
careful what you wish for, you may get it" and "unintended
consequences", both of which are about to happen. I wonder how
much real world events influence these novels, in KK writing them.
In Cuba, Batista was overthrown by Castro, in Iran the Shah was
overthrown by the Ayatollah, in both cases a bad dictator is replaced
by some worse. Sound familiar.

Joram is indeed a firebrand. A pity, he mellowed with age. A
bold act against the regency in 917, would have end their reign before
it started. Or a move against them, when Javan was king would have done
the same. Why did he wait until after Rhys death to act? But that
would have ruined the entire time line. With writing prequel one can
paint oneself into a corner.

I thought that Aidan (Daniel Daper) would have made a wonderful king,
much better than Cinhil. From the brief view we have of him, he seemed
to be a very wise and pragmatic person. A pity, he was 83, and died then
and there. How much different would things have turned out if he was
20 years younger?



Shiral wrote:
> Tonight, I reread the prologue and first chapter of Camber of Culdi,
> and here are my comments, in the hopes of getting the ball rolling.
>
> The Prologue
> I kind of like the omniscient third person tone of the prologue, and
> the 'proto-historian' point of view represented. It's a clever way to
> hook a new or even a repeating reader into wondering about Camber and
> his times. Was he good or awful? It also makes one curious as to WHEN
> and how far ahead in the time line this omniscient commentator is
> looking back to discuss Camber, since it refers to Kelson as Kelson I.
> (Makes me wonder if there was a Kelson VIII with six wives, three
> ruling off-spring and a dietary problem along about the early to mid
> 1600's in Gwynedd...) She mentions "Building techniques that would not
> be discovered until late in Kelson's reign." Since no great building
> technique discoveries were discussed in KKB, we can assume Kelson has a
> decently long life left to him, yet.
>
> The prologue also sets the scene nicely for the antagonism between
> Camber and Imre to come, and tells us what sort of king Imre was and
> why Gwynedd was better off without the Festils. At least, in the short
> run and in the VERY long run it was. It's a debatable point whether
> the Haldane Restoration was a good thing in the medium run. But the
> Regents were not solely responsible for anti-Deryni sentiment in
> Gwynedd, by any means. The Festils, like other badly behaved Royal
> dynasties in our own history, essentiallly dug their own graves through
> being arrogant and uncaring toward their subjects and uninterested in
> being even marginally competent administrators. Hence Camber's decision
> to "retire' since he could not serve Imre in good conscience. Quite
> possibly, there might have been an outbreak of anti-Deryni violence had
> Camber decided he was such a bad king, he had to be removed for the
> good of the Kingdom.
>
> The Haldane Restoration could be said to have postponed a violent
> outbreak for Cinhil's lifetime, but when it eventually happened, the
> Regents WERE responsible for the viciousness and thoroughness of it.
> But I am getting ahead of myself.
>
> Chapter One
> Chapter one is obviously more immediate in its focus on Camber and his
> family, since it is told in the present. Camber and his living
> offspring are all introduced at least by mention if they don't appear
> in person. We find out that Cathan is the eldest son, and serves at
> the Festillic Court as Camber used to do. We find out that he's
> married with two sons, and that he has to jig to Imre's tune, which he
> does, more or less willingly. As of 903 at least, he's a good but not
> always successful influence over Imre.
>
> We also find out about Joram and his membership in the Michaelines. And
> that he's a firebrand, prone to tirades, and a member of an outspoken
> religious Order that butts into secular affairs, which is not always
> wise. Nor do they shrink from criticizing anyone they think deserves
> it. Camber considers Joram "young and impulsive" and that he's
> concerned that Imre will be after the whole Order one of these days.
>
> Rhys is also introduced by name, by profession, and that he's already
> experimenting with meditational and magical techniques, and that Evaine
> has the hots for him.
>
> Since the chapter is told from Evaine's point of view, we learn most
> about her. She's young, but she's been the female head of Camber's
> household for several years, already. She's the one who informs Cathan
> about the hostages being taken from Caerrorie. She is "fair, witty and
> insatiably curious" and her scholarly pursuits have made a close,
> special bond between herself and Camber, although he would deny she
> was his favorite. We certainly see her curiousity at work when she
> picks up the shiral crystal in Camber's study.
>
> Camber admits he doesn't really know what shiral crystals are good for,
> which goes to show that even distinguished scholars of haut arcanum
> don't know everything. His magical education is not so much emphasized
> as his more ordinary service to the crown and his legal studies, which
> any man of his class and generation might have undertaken. His early
> priestly calling is referred to, but again, not reallly emphasized.
> All this suggest KK was still getting acquainted with him herself at
> this early stage. At this point, Camber is a man who expects to
> finish his life in peaceful scholarship and contemplation. His mind
> can't stop working after a lifetime in service to the kingdom or to
> the Crown. But he most likely suspects that if there is a rebellion
> against Imre, it will be lead by a younger generation than his own.
>
> Fortunately, we know better. =o)
>
> Melissa
>