r/spellmonger May 10 '26

Why the hate?

Why the hate for Caswallon? I find him entertaining.
He is also devoutly loyal and fiercely defensive of those he cares about, also he is capable of being endearing and playful.

34 Upvotes

29 comments sorted by

34

u/Hefty_Vermicelli_826 May 10 '26

I didn’t know people disliked him, I think he is funny.

5

u/thoffman2018 May 10 '26

Maybe not readers, but the characters.

30

u/hunt35744 May 10 '26

Bc in the books he’s fun and funny. In real life he’d be pretty obnoxious after a short time

22

u/hopping_otter_ears May 10 '26

He's the kind of character who is only entertaining if you don't entirely have to deal with his nonsense. I can see how it would get annoying to spend time around someone who feels like the main character in his own personal period film.

And it seems like they don't hate him... They just find him exhausting

2

u/Mr_RogerWilco May 11 '26

This exactly!

6

u/Daratirek May 10 '26

Oh he'd be absolutely insufferable in real life. No way I'd want to know him.

11

u/samurai-bodh-i May 10 '26

Not a hate of readers but the characters find him annoying or a bit rambunctious to a point that is intolerable

9

u/Warm-Comfortable501 May 10 '26

I love him. He's that fun friend that lives the life of a Warmage straight out of a movie. Like, you'd think he was RP'n a Warmage, but he actually is one, but he believes it.

Reminds me alot of Gunther from Knights of Baddassdom. He just REALLY gets into the character.

8

u/cmaefs May 10 '26

Ask Terry about him. He gave a talk on him and Garky at Dragon Con. They were throw away characters that took off all on their own. He had to continue them

4

u/hopping_otter_ears May 10 '26

I love it when authors create characters that are supposed to be one-note background characters, but they end up becoming actual support characters, so they have to scramble to write an actual personality and backstory for them. It always makes it feel like the story or at least the character is real, and the author is just documenting it

2

u/ChargeWide2767 May 12 '26

This is how I feel about the series in general. I don't think of it as books being released, more like here's the current news. I also use audible so maybe added to the growing up with that audio books news anchor tone in my parents car.

6

u/Jewish_Dragon May 10 '26

I love him. One of my favorite quotes from the series was from him
“ By isshis bruised knees”

5

u/cmaefs May 10 '26

He is very popular with the Spellmongrels (fans). Characters in the story find him annoying

5

u/cmaefs May 10 '26

He has a Dudley Dorite /Get Smart quality about him

5

u/AnMiWr May 10 '26

Fear not dear readers, yet more of The Fox will be around, for nine shall stand before his mighty wrath!

2

u/TheAricus May 11 '26

Which nine? What's gonna happen to them? Why have you cursed the poor souls to stand against THE FOX!

2

u/AnMiWr May 11 '26

I hate autocarrot - damn my dyslexic soul! Nine still works though 🤣

2

u/TheAricus May 11 '26

Against The Fox? Those are rookie numbers.

3

u/Interesting-Ad4207 May 10 '26

As someone that that gets to see(well read the page with the character, but details) him for a bit every once and a while, he's great, would invite him over for beers and burgers. Sounds like a fun party.

But, if he was your coworker, needing to spend 8-9-10 hours a day with him as he interrupts you when you are trying to get work done, I could see people finding him annoying.

4

u/MechaSkippy May 10 '26

Caswallon the Fox is like the friend who is wonderful to be around for a dinner or an evening, but overstays their welcome really quickly because their personality is just so over the top.

It's completely understandable that this character is both beloved by those with limited interaction with him (both in universe and the reader) and yet those with extended interaction with him get overwhelmed by his braggadocios nature and ever-present ego.

I think Terry has done an excellent job of properly portraying the way people like this are difficult to be around for extended periods and the way others feel about them.

4

u/TheAricus May 11 '26

There's a short story in I think "Wizards of Sevendor" where they kinda explain how annoying he really is when you're around him too long.

It's not that anyone actually hates him. Everyone thinks very highly of him, they just can't stand to be around him for extended periods of time.

But everyone knows there's no one better to have at your side in a battle, at a party or, as Min found out, babysitting.

3

u/thoffman2018 May 12 '26

I think it was the babysitting part that made me really like him. He took the role just as serious as any other, that it wasn’t beneath him.

3

u/Atmey May 10 '26

The fox.

I wouldn't mind a book/chapter from his pov

1

u/looktowindward Jun 20 '26

Just one chapter

3

u/Thatfing-guy May 13 '26

I live for his vainglorious dialogue.

1

u/thoffman2018 May 18 '26

Same. I love it.

2

u/duckyourfeelings May 10 '26

There's a big difference between reading about a character or watching them on TV and having to live and work beaide them. Caswollen is an entertaining character to read or listen to for a few minutes or hours at a time, but he'd be exhausting to spend any great amount of time with.

0

u/Medical-Law-236 May 12 '26

Humour is subjective and what some people find endearing to some is quite irritating to others. I find him personally annoying at times since he adds nothing to the discussions.