The Suvudu Cage Match has reached its semi-finals and this week’s contenders are Perrin “Goldeneyes” Aybara from The Wheel of Time versus Quick Ben from the Malazan Book of the Fallen. Read Jennifer Liang’s case for voting Perrin as the victor. Here, with a counterpoint, are the Tor.com Malazan chroniclers Amanda and Bill.
Amanda’s Reaction on the Cage Match between Quick Ben & Perrin
Quick Ben versus Perrin Aybara?! Why not give Ben Adaephon Delat a proper opponent? Our man is a genius of swift thought, a battle ready and battle hardened mage of supreme skill, who can wield seven warrens at once! And who is he up against? A puppy. Not only that, but a puppy who hasn’t learnt to bark yet.
Quick Ben has gone toe to toe with gods, Ascendants and monumental bad asses. Perrin is unable to stand up to his own wife. *smirks*
However, Perrin seems to have an unseemly number of rabid supporters, and Quick Ben needs our help… Well, doesn’t need our help, but we all like to feel useful, so let’s pretend that he can’t defeat Perrin and all his supporters on his lonesome. We are the Bridgeburners, guys, and we always stand behind our comrades. Vote for Quick Ben!
Bill’s Commentary on the Cage Match between Quick Ben & Perrin
Quick Ben has gone toe to toe with gods, Ascendents, and monumental bad asses. He takes on three dragons (Beowulf did one and it killed him); an entire army of giant reptiles who fire lasers and live in flying mountains (Yes, flying freakin’ mountains), and a 900,000-year old guy who’s so can-cause-the-end-of-the-world-badass his own father wants to put him down like a rabid dog. Quick Ben threatens the God of Death. Yes, Death. Perrin fights “Whitecloaks.” (Oooh, imagine how angry they get at a little dirt.)
Perrin gets called “Goldeneyes,” like a 50’s era singer/crooner in a movie vehicle. Quick gets called “desert snake” and “shape-shifting bastard.” Who would you rather have fighting on your side? Vote for Quick Ben!
Bill Capossere writes short stories and essays, plays ultimate frisbee, teaches as an adjunct English instructor at several local colleges, and writes SF/F reviews for fantasyliterature.com.
Amanda Rutter contributes reviews and a regular World Wide Wednesday post to fantasyliterature.com, as well as reviews for her own site floortoceilingbooks.com (covering more genres than just speculative), Vector Reviews and Hub magazine.
