Active Users:1040 Time:23/12/2024 06:28:03 PM
Re: The One Power: Sanderson's serious lack of understanding of the concept... - Edit 1

Before modification by RugbyPlayingAshaman at 03/06/2013 03:48:55 PM

There is so much wrong with Sanderson's handling of the One Power in Memory of Light, but in a nutshell, what grates the most is his apparent belief that the strength of your willpower is directly related to how far you can "stretch" your strength limit in an emergency situation. So much so that if a character is just "determined" enough, he or she can resist shielding attempts by sa'angreal wielding foes, or handle a running battle against entire circles of linked channelers etc. Basically, if your need or desperation is great enough, you can launch dramatic ripostes against vastly overwhelming strength levels to drag out a fight until an advantage opens up to you. This is in no way similar to the Cyndane situation at the Cleansing, where only vastly superior skill, knowledge and precision allowed Cyndane to resist Alivia's angreal enhanced strength. The examples from aMoL are numerous, but essentially, various characters - on both sides of the Light/Shadow spectrum - survive vastly overpowering Power assaults simply through desperate last minute "parries" or sheer, bloody minded determination not to be shielded. It is so jarring that it makes a mockery of the entire book. By his logic, Sorilea should be able to resist being shielded by Moghedien, simply because of her willpower. He really has no concept, has he.
I had a mini-theory suggesting that strength and OP limitations had more to do with a block than anything else, but I'll have to read the book to get an opinion on it. I was busy with law school applications.

Return to message