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Yeah, it works on that level, as noted in that response: Joel Send a noteboard - 22/08/2013 08:40:30 AM

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View original post Other than, once again, Jordan being deviously complex for the sake of illustrating the Shadows devious complexity, even if it does just the opposite on closer scrutiny.


But it's supposed to, on closer scrutiny (books later anyway.. in TGH you're supposed to believe in the apparent machiavellian complexity).

The "devious complexity" turns out to hide gross inefficiency.

Jordan compared it once to the Nazi leadership: a maze of chaos, duplicate responsibilities, fierce rivalries etc. One hand does one thing unknowing the other pulled in the other direction.

It was often a miracle they achieved anything (and that "miracle" was often the civil servants). It's mostly the same with the Shadow.

It's mostly chaos and despair the DO wanted. In the end it all comes down to placing Rand in the right extreme mindset of desperation to stand a chance to sway him to His side.


"In general though, I think most people get too hung up on Machiavellian maneuvering, and that illustrating the foolishness of that is one of TWoTs major themes."

That is about the only way the episode can be anything more than grandiloquence.

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Dark Friends - 29/07/2013 05:04:02 PM 1025 Views
Re: Dark Friends - 29/07/2013 05:08:41 PM 946 Views
It's fairly obvious, Jordan-style (ie: a few cl;ues, you have to think it up yourself) - 30/07/2013 02:56:55 PM 1058 Views
Mmh I would need to re-read the relevant chapter... - 30/07/2013 03:01:51 PM 919 Views
At that point the Shadow had PLENTY of resources in Illian though. - 18/08/2013 01:06:06 PM 976 Views
Re: At that point the Shadow had PLENTY of resources in Illian though. - 18/08/2013 06:12:46 PM 830 Views
Still sounds like rationalization to me (no offense.) - 19/08/2013 03:19:51 PM 1043 Views
Re: Still sounds like rationalization to me (no offense.) - 19/08/2013 05:56:29 PM 845 Views
Rand (or ter'angreal Rand) seemed to think it would. - 20/08/2013 03:34:29 AM 833 Views
The way I see it, - 20/08/2013 04:36:30 AM 819 Views
Right, so Rand either serves the Shadow in all worlds or none. - 20/08/2013 04:58:51 AM 847 Views
Re: The way I see it, - 22/08/2013 03:40:52 AM 844 Views
That's pretty much what I think, and also why I don't think there's one 'real' world. - 22/08/2013 04:01:44 AM 866 Views
Re: That's pretty much what I think, and also why I don't think there's one 'real' world. - 22/08/2013 07:54:43 PM 826 Views
I see. - 23/08/2013 03:43:22 AM 909 Views
Re: Still sounds like rationalization to me (no offense.) - 22/08/2013 03:57:04 AM 854 Views
Yeah, it works on that level, as noted in that response: - 22/08/2013 08:40:30 AM 921 Views

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