Thursday, March 31, 2011

Brandon Sanderson, the mormonism seeping into the fantasy

I'm reading Sanderson's The Way of Kings, and I'm a well established Sanderson fan.

I'm wondering who else is caught up short when they read phrases like this:

The [noble] turned to the [man]. "It is better for one man to sin than for a people to be destroyed, wouldn't you say"

(redaction to prevent spoilers)

My guess is that Sanderson knew this phrase would draw us up cold, is supposed to raise our goosebumps and the little hairs on the back of our neck, and freak us out a little. It's a play on what Caiaphas says in weighing the political advantages of having Jesus of Nazareth killed: "Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not." (KJV, John 11:50)

Furthermore, if you're mormon, which I am, and mormonism is something Sanderson is well familiar with, we get the 1 Nephi 4:13 justification, used by an angel telling Nephi to kill a local corrupt ruler: " It is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief."

I don't think Nephi's murder of Laban was justified. The things the "angel" says to me are excuses that don't hold. I'm looking forward to what use Sanderson is going to make of the phrase--is the person who says it evil and unjustified?

But I do like how he inverts it. The scriptural versions are a a death to preserve the faith of many. Sanderson's play is a sin (murder) to perserve the lives of many.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Measuring in feet and inches

Relevant to the school assignment on architecture.

Stonehenge/Spinal Tap
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeGteg74mjw&feature=related
at 5:58

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

March Menus

Monday: Tuscan Bean Soup, Hamburgers, Fruit tray
Tuesday: Burritos, Fruit Tray
Wednesday: Turkey breast, Cream of Broccoli soup, green salad, garlic bread.