Oh No! I like Rayno! (SPOILERS)

Is it just me or was Rayno written up a lot more sympathetically in this book? I found myself strangely warming to the guy, at least a whole lot more than before. It's something to do with him having to cope with Clyntahn every day I think, and getting more insight into the way he, sometimes desperately, tries to manage his boss. On the other hand, it may just be that Clyntahn is getting so loopy that Rayno begins to look like the voice of reason and sanity compared to him.

Rayno is the quintessential SS officer. Well, inquisitor, but they're cut from the same cloth. Apparently, many of them were really nice guys, when they weren't out obeying orders. And any harried bureaucrat stuck with a superior who doesn't believe in the Art of the Possible draws a certain amount of sympathy - most of us have been in that position at one time or another.

Randomiser wrote:Is it just me or was Rayno written up a lot more sympathetically in this book? I found myself strangely warming to the guy, at least a whole lot more than before. It's something to do with him having to cope with Clyntahn every day I think, and getting more insight into the way he, sometimes desperately, tries to manage his boss. On the other hand, it may just be that Clyntahn is getting so loopy that Rayno begins to look like the voice of reason and sanity compared to him.

IMHO...

Rayno is a snake.

Off with his head...

Randomiser wrote:Is it just me or was Rayno written up a lot more sympathetically in this book? I found myself strangely warming to the guy, at least a whole lot more than before. It's something to do with him having to cope with Clyntahn every day I think, and getting more insight into the way he, sometimes desperately, tries to manage his boss. On the other hand, it may just be that Clyntahn is getting so loopy that Rayno begins to look like the voice of reason and sanity compared to him.

Gotta say, I also found myself liking Rayno more in HFQ than I did before. I think he's simply gaining from contrasting him with Clyntahn, especially as the latter is diving deeper and deeper into flat-out lunacy. Compared to this, Rayno's starting to look like this "supercompetent sidekick" archetype (this is one of my favourite archetypes ever, which may explain my growing fondness for Rayno). Not to mention that Rayno is actually competent, and this bit with him figuring out that FoG has demonic assistance was interesting. He's clearly genre savvy, only it's the wrong genre.

Seeing how he's the bad guy and just as responsible for the atrocities as Clyntahn is, I find myself mildly uncomfortable with liking him.

Nod, which IMO is why some people are wondering if he's working for somebody besides Clyntahn.

IMO it is somewhat reasonable to hope that a Bad Guy you like isn't really a Bad Guy. [Sad Smile]

As far as I'm concerned all of his POV scenes establish that he's loyal to Clyntahn, at least from the start of the series.

It's possible that he's coming around to the idea that Clyntahn's personality is a danger to the success of the Jihadi but that's far from making him a "Good Guy".

Of course, his possible course of actions even if he really believes that Clyntahn "has to go" are limited.

I don't think there's anybody within the Inquisition who could easily step into Clyntahn's position in order to continue the Jihadi.

While Clyntahn believes that Rayno would not have the support to take Clyntahn's position, he could be mistaken but it depends on if Rayno thinks he could take over from Clyntahn.

I've suspected for sometime that Rayno could take over and would be a greater danger for the Good Guys than Clyntahn.

Mind you, it may be too late to save the Jihadi even if Rayno could take over.

Kakai wrote:

Randomiser wrote:Is it just me or was Rayno written up a lot more sympathetically in this book? I found myself strangely warming to the guy, at least a whole lot more than before. It's something to do with him having to cope with Clyntahn every day I think, and getting more insight into the way he, sometimes desperately, tries to manage his boss. On the other hand, it may just be that Clyntahn is getting so loopy that Rayno begins to look like the voice of reason and sanity compared to him.

Gotta say, I also found myself liking Rayno more in HFQ than I did before. I think he's simply gaining from contrasting him with Clyntahn, especially as the latter is diving deeper and deeper into flat-out lunacy. Compared to this, Rayno's starting to look like this "supercompetent sidekick" archetype (this is one of my favourite archetypes ever, which may explain my growing fondness for Rayno). Not to mention that Rayno is actually competent, and this bit with him figuring out that FoG has demonic assistance was interesting. He's clearly genre savvy, only it's the wrong genre.

Seeing how he's the bad guy and just as responsible for the atrocities as Clyntahn is, I find myself mildly uncomfortable with liking him.

DrakBibliophile wrote:Nod, which IMO is why some people are wondering if he's working for somebody besides Clyntahn.

IMO it is somewhat reasonable to hope that a Bad Guy you like isn't really a Bad Guy. [Sad Smile]

As far as I'm concerned all of his POV scenes establish that he's loyal to Clyntahn, at least from the start of the series.

It's possible that he's coming around to the idea that Clyntahn's personality is a danger to the success of the Jihadi but that's far from making him a "Good Guy".

Of course, his possible course of actions even if he really believes that Clyntahn "has to go" are limited.

I don't think there's anybody within the Inquisition who could easily step into Clyntahn's position in order to continue the Jihadi.

While Clyntahn believes that Rayno would not have the support to take Clyntahn's position, he could be mistaken but it depends on if Rayno thinks he could take over from Clyntahn.

I've suspected for sometime that Rayno could take over and would be a greater danger for the Good Guys than Clyntahn.

Mind you, it may be too late to save the Jihadi even if Rayno could take over.

I totally agree, Drak. I actually wish that would happen. That Rayno, Magwair and Duchairn could put together a worthy opponent for the Allies.

WeberFan wrote:IMHO...

Rayno is a snake.

Off with his head...

And bury him at the crossroads with a stake in his heart and a brick between his teeth.

Just to make sure.

I can't give Rayno any sympathy at all, even if he has turned his coat like Peter thinks. You know the old saying, you make your bed, you got to lay in it. He helped create the monster that could to turn around and take his head off at any time, so if it happens it's just desserts.

PeterZ wrote:

DrakBibliophile wrote:Nod, which IMO is why some people are wondering if he's working for somebody besides Clyntahn.

IMO it is somewhat reasonable to hope that a Bad Guy you like isn't really a Bad Guy. [Sad Smile]

As far as I'm concerned all of his POV scenes establish that he's loyal to Clyntahn, at least from the start of the series.

It's possible that he's coming around to the idea that Clyntahn's personality is a danger to the success of the Jihadi but that's far from making him a "Good Guy".

Of course, his possible course of actions even if he really believes that Clyntahn "has to go" are limited.

I don't think there's anybody within the Inquisition who could easily step into Clyntahn's position in order to continue the Jihadi.

While Clyntahn believes that Rayno would not have the support to take Clyntahn's position, he could be mistaken but it depends on if Rayno thinks he could take over from Clyntahn.

I've suspected for sometime that Rayno could take over and would be a greater danger for the Good Guys than Clyntahn.

Mind you, it may be too late to save the Jihadi even if Rayno could take over.

I totally agree, Drak. I actually wish that would happen. That Rayno, Magwair and Duchairn could put together a worthy opponent for the Allies.

I suspect that given Rayno's talent at cost-benefit analysis,
The death count in the camps would probably go down, though with the allies starting to liberate the camps anyway, that might be only a temporary benefit. But it's something, anyway.

Don

We'd be less sympathetic if we saw what Rayno does when he's not trying to manage Clyntahn.