[ Introduction | Contents | Administrivia | Information | World | Trivia | Prophecies | Publishing | Credits ]
One possibility that has been brought up is that he is Ishamael re-incarnated. This would fit criteria 1,2,4,5,6,7 and possibly 3 (we know from the end of TDR that Ishy has a number of abilities from the DO). Furthermore, assuming Aran'gar and Osan'gar are Aginor and Balthamel, this makes us wonder, "If the DO reincarnated those two yutzes, why didn't he reincarnate his greatest servant, Ishy?" Assuming he _did_ reincarnate Ish, then SH is the only new Evil Dude in LoC, besides Osan'gar and Aran'gar. Ishamael's old Trolloc nickname was Ba'alzamon, "Heart of the Dark"; while Shaidar Haran means "Hand of the Dark/Shadow." Pretty similar, although it could very easily be a coincidence. However, Shadar Haran has neither done nor said anything to indicate that he has had a previous existence, and isn't just a new model of Fade. All of SH's attributes can be explained by assuming that he was specially created by the DO to have those attributes.
Yet Another SH theory is that SH is a physical/corporeal manifestation of the DO. This is supported by the fact that the DO refers to SH as "MY HAND." (ACoS: 25, Mindtrap, 414). This theory would satisfy the above criteria, although it raises some quesitons about how the DO can be in two places at once, i.e. in the Pit of Doom and in Shaidar Haran.
Also, SH seems to have an independent will, as evidenced by his
desire to free himself of his bond to SG (ACoS 40, Spears, 637):
"A faint weaknes washed along its limbs. Too long away from Shayol
Ghul. That tie had to be severed somehow." If SH is simply a
manifestation of the DO, then why would it desire to be free to move
around as it wished?
[ Introduction | Contents | Administrivia | Information | World | Trivia | Prophecies | Publishing | Credits ]
This page was last modified on 24-Aug-1996, 15:49. Illustrations © 1989-1996 by Tor Books.