I think fans blew it out of proportion, but only because they wanted closure on the issue. And why shouldn't they? It's a minor mystery but still incredibly irritating not to know. Asmodean is one of the Shadow's generals, not some largely irrelevant character like Herid Fel or Tylin - their murders could remain a mystery without so much as a leaf stirring.
I honestly think that RJ would have revealed the murderer in LoC if it hadn't created rampant hysteria in his fans. Even in past interviews at the time, it remained the most popular question before the release of book 6. And I think this is pretty much where I disagree with RJ the most, because I think he deliberately took it twice around the dance floor and milked it for all it was worth. It was almost done again with Adeleas, but luckily she's irrelevant enough that the mystery wasn't such a biggie.
The Asmodean thing has been too much, for too long. We've had so many Graendal PoV's since FoH, and any of them would have been perfect places to insert a small line about her assassination of the man, which now seems to be the most unimpressive and impulsive act with hindsight. Stretching it for eight books has really been a laughable attempt to milk interest and desperation from fans, which I daresay became resent and irritation in the majority of cases.
Yes I think it was done purposely. There was a million places that this could have been explained. Plus each book we waited the answer should have been more mysterious more exciting, more complex, and by waiting and waiting it just kept making more sense that it had something to do with a character we havent understood yet (Lanfear/Cyndane) or we havent seen yet (Moiraine) etc etc, and personally if I were the writer I might enhance the story of the death more if I made my fans wait so long.
The gratuitous gloating Asmodean feed
- 03/11/2010 05:16:23 PM
1985 Views
Given the lack of relevance, I think those of us who were indifferent are the most vindicated *NM*
- 03/11/2010 05:39:51 PM
593 Views
I still don't get....
- 03/11/2010 05:42:00 PM
1135 Views
She was always my front-runner, but I have to admit, I never really cared about this whodunnit
- 03/11/2010 06:09:20 PM
938 Views
Bleh
- 03/11/2010 07:00:43 PM
986 Views
You're unfair to RJ. It had a purpose.
- 04/11/2010 02:44:44 AM
1038 Views
I am being fair, but not generous
- 04/11/2010 04:28:34 AM
1064 Views
BWAHAHAHAHAHA .... I TOLD YOU SO ETZEL!!! SLAYER MY ASS!!!
- 03/11/2010 10:04:13 PM
1070 Views
- 04/11/2010 02:11:13 AM
1060 Views
- 04/11/2010 02:11:13 AM
1060 Views
I've said for years Graendal was the obvious killer ... Not at all shocked to be proven right! *NM*
- 04/11/2010 04:59:48 AM
490 Views
Thank you and I serve up plates of crow for all those who refused to believe! 
*NM*
- 06/11/2010 04:32:52 AM
502 Views
*NM*
- 06/11/2010 04:32:52 AM
502 Views