Ahira's Hangar

There's no way the reread didn't help you. It's just that six more readings would be needed to get a significant percentage of what's going on. Honestly, as we know, these books are riddled with characters and plots! Heck, just tracing the histories of the many different cultures would be a heck of a project! Of course, all that is what makes them the most enthralling books I've ever read. I'm a slow reader, and have to put LOTS of time into books. Rereads are not easy, since it takes so much effort, and I already know what's going to happen. I've never come close to doing something like reading as many pages as there are in the first four books ; reading them again; going on to as many pages as there are in the next four books; and have already started this chronological reread. It's because there's SO much stuff going on, it's such cool stuff, and it's all tied together so well!

Did anyone else who has read the book gotten the vibe that the Emperor and Dancer were/are...really close friends?

Oh, I've always thought they were BFF, and I haven't reak NoK.

I'd agree that Shadowthrone should be committed, at the very least....

Well, they might well be gay. I'm not ruling it out.

And to answer your earlier question -- no, I've never seen an explanation (that I remember, anyhow ) for why Kellanved and Dancer did what they did. (Or why they deserved to Ascend, come to that.) "Naked power grab" is
probably the closest to the mark, tho.

I haven't seen any indication that Shadowthrone is aligned with the Crippled God -- I think they're on their own side in that war.

Does Dancer wear leotards a lot in NoK?

According to Amazon, this book will have its USA release in May, 2009. In hardcover.

So you will be paying hardcover prices for a rather short book with huge margins.