Fitz Fool 1 ??? (Spoilers all Hobb books incl CoD)

[Farseer]

I don't feel comfortable in discussing how another book or books with Fitz and The Fool will go, as Robin herself was so disappointed that words about it were made open. Hm, is difficult for me to say it in english, but I feel we should just leave her alone with that without any speculations etc.

I understand, and do agree, but the reality is is that most speculation about what would happen with the Fitz/Fool storyline would have happened after the release of Fool's Fate anyway. In this, anything I'd contribute as far as the F & F-specific storyline would go, would mostly be just a re-hash of all that anyway eg Time's Labyrinth, celestial connections to the Skill and Elders of old etc, the land itself calling to Fitz and other Elders/Elderlings. Even discussions regarding Kelsingra etc stem from as far back as that, and even Assassin's Quest, and not just post-Rain Wild Chronicles.

I can't speak for her (have said this elsewhere on the same subject) but Robin doesn't enjoy stumbling across speculation about *any* of her books, not just those that include Fitz and Fool. Seeing other people's ideas interrupts her own thought processes (as it would/does for any author) and so she avoids such sites as this altogether at times. Instead, her comments regarding any speculation surrounding any upcoming novel/s regarding Fitz and Fool stem mostly from the negative and very loud reactions of readers following the end of Fool's Fate. Not very nice things were said about her or to her at all. Some of it is disclosed in the link I have provided below but some things I recall also appeared in her old website with the 'Mad Woman in the Attic' scenario. This is what is mostly concerning to Robin and what she regards as being career-ending stuff...not so much the speculation by we readers who are just discussing (EDIT: *nicely* discussing) things and guessing where the storyline may lead.

See the thread - The Ending doesn't make sense? : http://forums.theplenty.net/showthread.php?tid=64&pid=10338&highlight=attic#pid10338 and, specifically if you don't have time to go through too much of it, my #80 post. This entire thread is built on opinions and speculations following Fool's Fate, though it still doesn't capture the full intensity of reader reaction

I also suggest a read of the fanfic discussion thread - http://forums.theplenty.net/showthread.php?tid=136&pid=1169&highlight=attic#pid1169 - as much Hobb fan-fic is all tied in with the reactions of readers following FF (as a lot of it was written afterward when readers felt unsatisfied with the Fitz and Molly ending). A portion of this fan-fic, that was just as often sent to Robin via email, was of a detailed homosexual nature, regarding such a relationship between Fitz and Fool.

The Fool thread would also shed some light on things too, as much of their platonic vs sexual relationship/Fool's gender etc was discussed following the outcry from FF, as were things things discussed again with Dragon Keeper in mind in the The Dragon Keeper "Controversial?" thread: http://forums.theplenty.net/showthread.php?tid=66

I bring these up, not to bring the actual discussions to light once more but mostly to provide background to Robin's wishes to keep a lid on things re Fitz and Fool. Will try and find other links to all this but, again, I don't think it's so much the friendly discussions (outside the normal distractions that this hands to an author and, as it is, Robin herself has spoken a smidgen of her recent progress on page 469) as the strong opinions and speculations that often turn into hate mail threats and personal attacks that is what concerns Robin. Such things are the reason why she put off her continuance of the Fitz/Fool storyline for so long, and her reason for wanting to now continue it on the quiet. It has long been my opinion though that she couldn't or wouldn't stay away from it forever because, as Changer/the Catalyst and the White Prophet, Fitz and Fool are central to the entire Realm of the Elderling storyline.

In this, I feel comfortable in still participating in friendly speculation (only as I believe Robin would feel the same), but understand that others may not feel so comfortable. In fact, I love the show of loyalty and understanding.

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If she gets bored and has the feeling to make a change - well, I will gladly follow her to whereever she wants us to go.

I agree. We can specualte all we want but the story is not ours...we are but the readers and listeners, following along with a tale being woven and told by a storyteller. We don't write the story, we don't get to contribute to the story, our opinions don't matter (no matter how much of a fan we are or how loyal we have been or how long we have been reading)...we are but here to listen and enjoy. If we don't enjoy, we can choose not to read or not to listen. Simple as that. Yes, we can say what we do or don't like about it but that all doesn't change a thing. Good or bad, the story is not ours. I am happy to listen to this tale and await whatever twists and turns it takes.