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Interviews: JordanCon 2013 - Q&A with Maria
Summary:
Entries
42
Date
Apr 20th, 2013
Type
Verbatim
Location
Roswell, GA
TourCon
JordanCon 2013
Reporter
Terez
Links
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1
Terez
The (transcription of the) Memory of Light panel is still forthcoming, and the report on our meeting with Brandon, but for now here is a Q&A I did with Maria mostly based on some questions sent to me by my friend Colin. I was expecting she wouldn't know the answers to many of them, but I was hoping for some tidbits, and I got some. Even some of the "I don't know" answers are interesting. If sometimes it seems like I'm talking too much when I should be waiting for an answer, keep in mind sometimes I cut out the whole *pause* *Maria face* *tries to be helpful* sequence. -
2
Terez
Why does Mordeth suddenly fall back in the room under Shadar Logoth (in The Eye of the World)? Was it because Mat picked up the dagger, or was it something different?Maria Simons
I don't know.Tags
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3
Terez
Brandon has said that Rand killed Aginor. (It was also in the BWB.) I think he was kind of iffy on it, but I tended to think that Rand killed him; some people say that Aginor overdosed, but I always thought that it was Rand taking the Power of the Eye from him that killed him, you know? It's like the shock of having it taken away...do you know?Maria Simons
I don't know. I always thought it was Rand too, but I don't know.Tags
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4
Terez
The thick black cord that was attached to Ishamael at the Eye of the World (technically it was at Shayol Ghul or in Dreamland) that Rand saw...is that different from the black wires?Maria Simons
I don't know.
Terez
I asked Brandon about that one too.
Maria Simons
I would have to really look at it and check the notes; it's not something that I know right off the top....
Terez
It's described a little bit differently. I thought maybe one was a connection to the True Power, and the other was protection from the taint, but RJ couldn't decide if that was the same thing or not.
Maria Simons
I recently saw something about that in the notes, but I'm not remembering exactly what it said.
Terez
Do you happen to know anything about Ishamael's plan with the Eye, because it seems like he was trying to lead them there; why did he keep mentioning the Eye? Did he have a dream about it or something? You don't know?
Maria Simons
No.
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5
Terez
RJ said that Fain was responsible for the fly trap thing; it's in The Great Hunt, in that little village...Maria Simons
He did?
Terez
Yeah. Because a lot of people thought it was Lanfear, and RJ said it was Fain.
Maria Simons
*looks surprised*
Terez
So I guess you don't know the answer to that question. (repeats self) ...and that kind of blew everyone's theories out of the water...
Maria Simons
Yeah, because I thought it was Lanfear.
Footnote
It's possible Maria is right that it's Lanfear; we only have paraphrased reports of RJ saying it was Fain: two reports from the same signing in 2005 that might actually be written by the same person.Tags
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6
Terez
Does the Horn work whenever it's blown, or are specific circumstances required?Maria Simons
I don't know that one either. Because I answered that for somebody; I think it was one of Luckers' questions way back...it was a different version of the question, you know, was the banner really required?
Terez
So why is the Horn of Valere linked to Illian?
Maria Simons
That's another good question that I don't have the answer to.
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7
Terez
When the girls are kidnapped in Cairhien in The Dragon Reborn, several Myrddraal arrive to collect them. Who were they working for?Maria Simons
I should know that. I think if I go to the notes, I could find that.Tags
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8
Terez
How did Moiraine identify Sammael and Be'lal? How did she know their names?Maria Simons
I'm assuming research; I don't know.
Terez
My theory was always eavesdropping.
Maria Simons
Oh yeah, that's another good possibility.
Terez
And that would be a reason why she tipped Sammael off to her presence.
Maria Simons
Yeah.
Terez
How did she rediscover balefire? Assuming research again?
Maria Simons
Assuming.
Marie Curie
That question always comes up, about whether you can learn a weave by reading about it.
Maria Simons
Yeah, I think it can help, and then you have to experiment and hope for the best.
Footnote
Maria answered the question about Sammael again later.Tags
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9
Terez
In The Dragon Reborn, Perrin sees Ishamael, Rahvin, and Be'lal in a place that looks like the Ways—and of course we see that place in The Eye of the World, in the boys' dreams too—is that a construct that Ishamael makes in Tel'aran'rhiod?Maria Simons
I am assuming so, but again, I don't know.
Terez
I got the impression (because of this conversation) that Brandon kinda tried to explain that one.
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10
Terez
Who had Herid Fel killed?Maria Simons
That was A Crown of Swords right?
Terez
It was in the epilogue of Lord of Chaos. They found out about it in A Crown of Swords. And it was the gholam. So it had to be—
Maria Simons
Sammael, yeah. That was Sammael.
Terez
Do you know the reason?
Maria Simons
Because he somehow learned that Fel was helping Rand and didn't want the information...?
Terez
A friend of mine has a theory; he believed that Herid Fel was Asmodean in disguise, because he didn't believe Asmodean was dead.
Maria Simons
That's a good theory! I like that theory.
Terez
I like it too! Because it would explain a lot... (including why a gholam was sent to kill a non-channeler)
Maria Simons
Yeah.
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11
Terez
So who was responsible for the murdered Tinkers (in Lord of Chaos Chapter 22, discovered by Vanin)?Maria Simons
I don't know that one.
Terez
It's not in the notes?
Maria Simons
Not that I have found. Searching the notes is....it's an imperfect science. Like if it's a rare character, it's real easy, because I open my desktop search, and I put in that name and not much comes up, but you put in "Tinkers"...you know, there are hundreds of files where the Tinkers are mentioned. If I had one of them's name? You know. I'm hoping to find out; I'm still finding new little bits and pieces here and there, so...
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12
Terez
Do you know the name of the third Blue Sitter that died (in Elaida's coup)?Maria Simons
I have it somewhere in my computer—I am almost positive—but I can never remember it.Tags
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13
Terez
Why are some of the heroes of the Horn referred to by the name of their last incarnation, while others seem to have archetypal names...like Birgitte, who I think has lived more recently than Birgitte. I might be wrong about that though, because we don't really have the details on that.Maria Simons
I have no clue.Tags
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14
Terez
Is the Bowl of the Winds found in Ebou Dar the same one that was lost by the Sea Folk?Maria Simons
I don't know.Tags
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15
Terez
Why wasn't Osan'gar given another chance, since he wasn't killed by balefire?Maria Simons
I think he had just been so....kind of useless. Why bother? You know...you don't get "three times, you're out"; it's "two times, you're out", you know?Tags
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16
Terez
Who gave Slayer the orders to kill Rand in Far Madding? And do you know who sent him to the Two Rivers?Maria Simons
I think I know who sent Slayer to Far Madding.
Terez
I always thought it was Taim...
Maria Simons
Yeah...
Terez
Because why else would he disguise himself?
Maria Simons
Yeah. That one I know.
Terez
Yay!
Maria Simons
Yay!
Footnote
At this time the no-kill order had been temporarily lifted in an attempt to prevent the Cleansing, so there was no reason for the Forsaken to order Slayer in secrecy.Tags
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17
Terez
Rosara Medrano appears in the Sun Palace at the beginning of Crossroads and seems to be an Aes Sedai. Was she part of the White Tower Embassy or did she arrive with Cadsuane?Maria Simons
I'm almost positive she was with Cadsuane, with Cadsuane's faction. I think I asked Jim that when we were actually working on the book.Tags
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18
Terez
So, sul'dam usually have to tell the damane what to do, but Tuon doesn't have to do that when we see her in Knife of Dreams...is that a matter of Talent, skill...something else? So it's like, you know, after they work with the Power for a while, they can see the weaves, right? Is it kind of along the same lines? After a while you don't actually have to tell the damane what to do; you can do it yourself through the damane?Maria Simons
That would be my assumption. I don't know it positively.Tags
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19
Terez
Which Forsaken was manipulating Masema? Brandon told us it was a woman. Well, he told us it a woman who was actually making the Illusion; it might have been somebody taking orders from someone else; we don't know.Maria Simons
I think I know, but I'm not sure.Tags
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20
Terez
So, what happened to Talene?Maria Simons
I don't know.Tags
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21
Terez
So how is it that Egwene was able to override the a'dam in the dream world when Moghedien couldn't? Was she just not as good as she thought she was?Maria Simons
Yeah, pretty much. She thought she knew everything, but you know, when Perrin went in and was, "It's just a weave..." it kind of changed the parameters.Tags
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22
Terez
So it's not clear whether Tuon accepted Egwene's condition to release damane who wished it. Did she, or was the agreement just Tremalking in exchange for allowing Seanchan ambassadors?Maria Simons
The latter I believe. I would really have to look at is closely.Tags
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23
Terez
Was Luc already a Darkfriend when he went to the Blight?Maria Simons
That came up in a panel yesterday.
Terez
Did you answer it?
Maria Simons
We talked about it. I don't think he was a Darkfriend when he went into the Blight, but I don't know.
Tags
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24
Terez
What happened to Liandrin after Suroth got arrested? She had that crazy shield on her, you know, so she was conspicuous.Maria Simons
I'd like to know that too. Some things occasionally get overlooked...Tags
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25
Terez
What happened to the Black Ajah that were with Rand after the Purge? Was that another thing that got overlooked? Because I know there was at least one—Fera—besides Elza, who obviously got blasted.Maria Simons
I don't know.
Terez
(later in email she told me that she had answered this for someone else, with time to think about it.)
Maria Simons
I believe that any Black Ajah da'tsang got the Black Ajah signal that the jig was up, and scarpered. I don't know anything else.
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26
Terez
Min predicted a tempestuous love affair for Sarene, and a lot of people said after the book that was a mistake, because it wasn't mentioned, and I was like, "Her Warder, Vitalien..." because she wrote poetry comparing him to a leopard. (laughter)Maria Simons
Yeah. There's a line somewhere about, she was always incredibly calm except when her Warder was around, or something like that...
Terez
Some people thought that it referred to Graendal...(laughter) And I'm like, "No....that doesn't count."
Maria Simons
Yeah....no....
Terez
You know, Compulsion, tempestuous love affair, same thing...
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27
Terez
Which Forsaken was it that visited Isam at the beginning of A Memory of Light?Maria Simons
I'm not going to answer that one.Tags
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28
Terez
Did RJ leave any notes about the future work of the Red Ajah?Maria Simons
Not that I've found.Tags
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29
Terez
Will there be anything more about the Land of Madmen in the Encyclopedia, or is the Guide all we get?Maria Simons
To the best of my knowledge, the Guide is all you get. There might be a sentence more somewhere, but not extensive information.Tags
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30
Terez
Why was Demandred's face familiar to Gawyn?Maria Simons
It seems like there was a reason, but I can't remember.Tags
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31
Terez
In Winter's Heart, Aran'gar says that Demandred was meant to be watching Rand, along with Aginor/Osan'gar, and how was he doing this if he was in Shara? I figured he was just doing the normal spying thing, but it seems like it was supposed to be a clue about where he was, which is why we always focused on it, but it wasn't.Maria Simons
Yeah, he was using other people.Tags
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32
Terez
Does Rand still have Lews Therin's memories?Maria Simons
I don't know.Tags
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33
Terez
Was Merilille with Talaan?Maria Simons
We don't know.Footnote
Most fans seem to believe that Brandon just put Talaan in A Memory of Light because a lot of fans were asking about her; RJ probably didn't leave any notes about where she and Merilille went.Tags
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34
Terez
Is turning (to the Shadow) reversible?Maria Simons
I don't think so. I wouldn't swear by that.Tags
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35
Terez
Was a glossary every written for A Memory of Light?Maria Simons
No. We decided pretty much right off the bat that we wanted to end with the end. How do you follow that ending anyway? And we're doing the whole Encyclopedia; that would just be like a separate glossary.Tags
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36
Terez
So why do Aviendha's children have this special power of being able to channel at birth?Maria Simons
I don't know.Tags
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37
Terez
Did Aviendha tell Nynaeve that Rand is still alive?Maria Simons
I think that's an open question that we don't really know.Tags
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38
Terez
Was there ever a Black Amyrlin?
Marie Curie
That's not the way the Black liked to work usually...
Maria Simons
Yeah, I'm thinking not, but I don't know that.Tags
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39
Terez
I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this one, but in the Age of Legends, was the middle or the third name the honorific? Like, Lews Therin was his first and last name, and Telamon is the third name that he got when...Maria Simons
Yeah. Like Berid Bel, and then Medar.Tags
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40
Terez
Were the Seanchan originally controlled by the Shadow after the War of Power, or was it just Ishamael meddling at random times?Maria Simons
I don't know.Tags
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41
Terez
Who led the Blue Ajah before the split? Do you know?Maria Simons
I did. I can't remember.
Terez
It's not Lelaine?
Maria Simons
I'm not sure.
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42
Terez
Lanfear's dream palace, with all the white hangings...was that a dream place, or a real place?Maria Simons
I don't remember that.
Terez
Yeah, I think we only see it when she opens a gateway. And we saw it that once when she cut off that dude's head with her gateway in Winter's Heart. (Actually, we didn't see it there; I remembered it wrong.)
Maria Simons
Oh, right. I don't know; I would have to look at that one, and I might figure it out.
Tags