History Literature / DyingOfTheLight

* BitchInSheepsClothing: [[spoiler: Arkin Ruark. He was the one t]]

* ManipulativeBastard: [[spoiler: Arkin Ruark, who sought to ultimately get into a romantic relationship with Gwen by playing Jaan and Dirk against each other. According to Garse, this is the [[PlanetOfHats hat]] of the planet Kimdiss, Arkin's homeworld, as they profess to be non-violent but will happily sell weapons to both sides in a conflict or instigate a war between two other worlds if it will benefit Kimdiss.]]

* BitchInSheepsClothing: [[spoiler: Arkin Ruark]]

* ManipulativeBastard: [[spoiler: Arkin Ruark.]]

* {{Gendercide}}: OnlyFatalToAdults

* UngovernableGalaxy: As with Rome, size is where the Empire ran into trouble. The Double War, in which the Empire battle both the Fyndii and the Hrangans on separate fronts, did much to hasten its breakup.

* UngovernableGalaxy: As with Rome, size is where the Empire ran into trouble.

* TheGhost: Kirak Redsteel.

* TheFundamentalist: Braith is a rather conservative holdfast, and ones that travelled to Worlorn are Fundiest Of All.

* InfoDump:

* DuelToTheDeath: High Kavalaan has a rather elaborate system for dueling. The duelists must decide on the weapons used, the location, the mode, and whether or not they fight with a teyn. The challenged gets the first choice, any of the four, followed by the challenger, the challenged again, and finally the challenger. The dueling code also covers special circumstances, such as if one party is young, sick, or without teyn.

* HiddenDepths: [[spoiler: Bretan Braith, despite the fact that the other entries on this page make him out to be a frothing lunatic. He was a true teyn to Chell, and, unlike every other Braith in the novel, recognized that Dirk was a human being. By his culture he had perfect right to kill him on sight after he ran the first time, but was still willing to duel him in Challenge, and then outside the spaceport. This is foreshadowed early on, after Garse points out to Dirk that the proper address for him is "Garse Ironjade", and even that is being generous. When Dirk nervously calls Bretan by just his first name, Bretan sharply tells him that it's "Bretan ''Braith''."]]

* FreakingLaserBeams: Ubiquitous among the Kavalar. It adds to the seventies feel of the novel.

* FrickenLaserBeams: Ubiquitous among the Kavalar. It adds to the seventies feel of the novel.

* ContemptibleCover: [[url: http://www.georgerrmartin.com/cover-art-gallery/?id=238 Compare the more modern covers to the older ones.]]

* DuelToTheDeath: An acceptable way of solving disputes, although how deadly the duel is depends on the participants.

* HiddenDepths: [[spoiler: Bretan Braith, despite the fact that the other entries on this page make him out to be a frothing lunatic. He was a true teyn to Chell, and, unlike every other Braith in the novel, recognized that Dirk was a human being. By his culture he had perfect right to kill him on sight after he ran the first time, but was still willing to duel him in Challenge, and then outside the spaceport. This is foreshadowed early on, after Garse points out to Dirk that the proper address is "Garse Ironjade", and even that is being generous. When Dirk nervously calls Bretan by just his first name, Bretan sharply tells him that it's "Bretan ''Braith''."]]

--> "He has a violent way of mourning," Dirk, on Bretan [[spoiler: who just burned down an entire city.]]

* HiddenDepths: [[spoiler: Bretan Braith, despite the fact that the other entries on this page make him out to be a frothing lunatic. He was a true teyn to Chell, and, unlike every other Braith in the novel, recognized that Dirk was a human being. By his culture he had perfect right to kill him on sight after he ran the first time, but was still willing to duel him in Challenge, and then outside the spaceport. This is foreshadowed early on, after Garse points out to Dirk that the proper address is "Garse Ironjade", and that is being generous. When Dirk nervously calls Bretan by just his first name, Bretan sharply tells him that it's "Bretan ''Braith''."]]

* AndYoureLittleDogToo: When Jaan's less-than-wise attempt to [[spoiler: help Dirk]] leads to Chell fre-Braith challenging him, Bretan starts raving that now they're going kill Jaan and Garse and Dirk and then they'll wake the hounds and hunt Gwen and Arkin through the forest. Jaan ignores him.

* HiddenDepths: [[spoiler: Bretan Braith, despite the fact that the other entries on this page make him out to be a frothing lunatic. He was a true teyn to Chell, and, unlike every other Braith in the novel, recognized that Dirk was a human being. By his culture he had perfect right to kill him on sight after he ran the first time, but was still willing to duel him in Challenge, and then outside the spaceport. This is foreshadowed early in the novel, after Garse points out to Dirk that the proper address is "Garse Ironjade", and even that is generous. When Dirk nervously calls Bretan by just his first name, Bretan sharply tells him that it's "Bretan ''Braith''."

* HeManWomanHater: The Kavalaan, except Jaan Vikary.

* ProudWarriorRace: The Kavalaan.

Her marriage is the type to raise eyebrows. She is a ''betheyn'' in the custom of High Kavalaan. A warlike culture high on dueling and honor, the men are in the habit of pairing off into ''[[HeterosexualLifePartners teyns]]'', while the native-born women (''eyn-kethi'') are essentially community breeders with the occasional betheyn belonging to a teyn-pair. Gwen had agreed to this arrangement out of love for [[AGentlemanAndAScholar Jaan Vikary]], but year after year of dealing with [[StayInTheKitchen his society]], as well as his teyn {{Jerkass Garse}} [[TheGadfly Janacek]], has worn her down. Yet, she doesn't ask for help, nor bring up the summons, but Dirk understands. He's ready to do anything to help her escape the situation she's found herself in. But other things are happening on Worlorn.