If the Lady is Mother Earth, perhaps the dog represents a sort of "force of nature". We think of Mother Earth as being a cradle of life, but there's the other side to it, too: earthquakes, floods, volcanoes, and all the other things that can take life away in an instant. Given the way the Lady talks about what the dog can do in Harbingers, maybe it's the other side of her "personality," or whatever you want to call it. She's the nurturer while the dog is the force to be reckoned with.

I'm sure this is far too simplistic a view, but it's a thought.

Blake

Oooo - I like that thought too! It has a ying/yang sort of feel.

If the Lady is Mother Earth, perhaps the dog represents a sort of "force of nature". We think of Mother Earth as being a cradle of life, but there's the other side to it, too: earthquakes, floods, volcanoes, and all the other things that can take life away in an instant. Given the way the Lady talks about what the dog can do in Harbingers, maybe it's the other side of her "personality," or whatever you want to call it. She's the nurturer while the dog is the force to be reckoned with.

I'm sure this is far too simplistic a view, but it's a thought.

Blake

I really like that connection. Dogs can be the "bite" to the Lady's force of word and deed.

My post is more a speculation on why FPW wrote it that way, than on why it is that way in the continuity of the story-world.

Here there be Dragons and wild-eyed speculation. Ye have been warned...

I've often thought the dog was there as a sort of male counterpart, keeping the balance, so to speak. Kind of the female Mother Earth "Yin" always wandering with her small but loyal male "Yang". (Try to keep a straight face when you read that!)

But then another part of me doubts this Yin/Yang element was anything FPW intended, and more likely, he wanted (consciously or un-) for the Ladies to be associated in the reader's mind with unconditional love. (And what better living symbol of unconditional love than a dog?)

I guess the biggest reason I doubt FPW's going for a planned Yin/Yang association is [spoiler omitted] in Conspiracies would perhaps have been female if FPW wanted any kind of opposite symmetry.


EDITED TO ADD: I should really try to post faster! All my points magically appeared in between starting the post and finishing it.

My post is more a speculation on why FPW wrote it that way, than on why it is that way in the continuity of the story-world.

Here there be Dragons and wild-eyed speculation. Ye have been warned...

I've often thought the dog was there as a sort of male counterpart, keeping the balance, so to speak. Kind of the female Mother Earth "Yin" always wandering with her small but loyal male "Yang". (Try to keep a straight face when you read that!)

But then another part of me doubts this Yin/Yang element was anything FPW intended, and more likely, he wanted (consciously or un-) for the Ladies to be associated in the reader's mind with unconditional love. (And what better living symbol of unconditional love than a dog?)

I guess the biggest reason I doubt FPW's going for a planned Yin/Yang association is [spoiler omitted] in Conspiracies would perhaps have been female if FPW wanted any kind of opposite symmetry.


EDITED TO ADD: I should really try to post faster! All my points magically appeared in between starting the post and finishing it.

As I've stated elsewhere my views are along the lines of the woman being an embodiment of the Earth as Gaea, a living thing which includes the living things on Earth, which also includes man. I did favor the dog as a connotation of the "man's best friend" angle, in other words he is known as the friend of man for his loyalty etc., and what better way for "the lady" to approach humanity but with a dog, the very symbol of something that is attuned to man. It is worthy of note that dogs are often depicted in paranormal like scenarios as being able to "tell" if something is right or wrong about something or someone, even if no one present gets it. Perhaps dogs are just good at picking up traces of the "otherness" and also have a natural aversion and hatred for it. Having said all that (whew), I am also liking the idea that the dog may be a kind of representation of the wild forces of nature angle too

It is worthy of note that dogs are often depicted in paranormal like scenarios as being able to "tell" if something is right or wrong about something or someone, even if no one present gets it. Perhaps dogs are just good at picking up traces of the "otherness" and also have a natural aversion and hatred for it. Having said all that (whew), I am also liking the idea that the dog may be a kind of representation of the wild forces of nature angle too

Another good thought!

Cats can see "otherness" or paranormal things too, but they will more likely stare at it in fascination until the last possible moment to flee.

Another good thought!

Cats can see "otherness" or paranormal things too, but they will more likely stare at it in fascination until the last possible moment to flee.

Yeah. Cats make great "burglar alarms."

You know something's wrong when they go ripping around the corner and dash under the bed.

Or fluff up and growl at the door.

Ken V.

Yeah. Cats make great "burglar alarms."

You know something's wrong when they go ripping around the corner and dash under the bed.

Or fluff up and growl at the door.

Ken V.

Hide under the bed for my Smokey! Especially when young kids come over. But if there is something going on outside he is racing back and forth between window vantage points to stay on top of it!

Yeah. Cats make great "burglar alarms."

Except my Tinky (Tinkerbell). She is pretty unusual for a cat because every time someone comes in the door, even new people, she sees an opportunity to be petted. She just fully expects that anyone who sees her will instantly love her and not be able to resist petting her.

You know something's wrong when they go ripping around the corner and dash under the bed.

Or fluff up and growl at the door.

Ken V.

It always scares me when they do that! Most of the time it's nothing at all, but it gives me the creeps anyway.

Hide under the bed for my Smokey! Especially when young kids come over. But if there is something going on outside he is racing back and forth between window vantage points to stay on top of it!

And if it's small and edible . . . "quacking" at it.

Ken V.

Except my Tinky (Tinkerbell). She is pretty unusual for a cat because every time someone comes in the door, even new people, she sees an opportunity to be petted. She just fully expects that anyone who sees her will instantly love her and not be able to resist petting her.

And she's probably right too . . . isn't she?

It always scares me when they do that! Most of the time it's nothing at all, but it gives me the creeps anyway.

Nothing that we know about anyway.

One of the things that makes me come running is when I hear Amy yowling at the patio door. Mostly it's just another cat outside, or a 'Possum or skunk, but that yowl really sets my hair (what little of it there is) standing on end.

Ken V.