Why I Love the Minister of War

[idiosyncreant.livejournal.com]

...or, If Gen's married, well, his dad's a widower, right?

I don't have the Queen of Attolia on me. By this I mean, I really, really hope someyear we will see a gorgeous hardcover in the likeness of the King of Attolia, in fact, a whole set of 'em. Until then, I'll rely on the library. (Librarians, I salute thee!)

And no one will protest too hard if I admit, it makes my light rereading pile less frequently than the Thief does.

But the implication that the Minister of War is less than generally beloved staggers me. Isn't he the one who fights back-to-back with Gen when their camp is attacked? There you go.

Yes, I am a sucker for the reticent, stalwart type. Darcy, Colonel Brandon, out-of-the-closet-with-his-humor Teleus, Barney Snaith (any takers?)... not to the exclusion of the slitherer-outers, the flashy rogues from Robin Hood to Jack Sparrow. But for the man he is, the Minister of War (if we really don't know his name, that's hugely unfair--after all, we know Ornon's. >_< Granted, he's got comic relief) is a great man.

He's negotiating all the overt politics that Gen is using his more fly-by-night skills to manipulate.

He's the one who pays for Gen to keep Eddis out of Sounis' clutches. He's the one who is taking care of him when he's back from the Attolian dungeon, and who refuses to let him take up cripple status. He empowers Gen, in a way, to grow up.

And would Gen be quite the sparkling, sterling character he is, if he hadn't had to stick up for his calling in the face of his own certainly charasmatic father's disapproval?

Not to mention, the dry sense of humor that I believe Gen will be coming more and more to rely on as he ages and takes on the more kingly responsibilities. You see hints of it now, but a man grows more like his father as he gets older, and it will probably blossom in the Annux.

Objections? Affirmations? Carry on, then...

Comments

[idiosyncreant.livejournal.com]

I can't believe I forgot my userpic...my chance to have this one bigger!

[bookaddict88.livejournal.com]

psst...you can edit your post to change the pic!

And I really like the Minister of War. He definitely cares about Gen, doesn't lack a sense of humor, and he can fight. And I agree with your taste in men in books!

[idiosyncreant.livejournal.com]

I'm lazy.

[tiloo.livejournal.com]

Brilliant! The Minister of War is awsome, I just wish we knew his name.

But I think that a lot of people don't like the Minister of War as much because of the fight he and Gen got in when Gen tore up his enrollment papers.

[idiosyncreant.livejournal.com]

Gen was asking for it.
I mean honestly. Tearing them up, in his father's face? Knowing he's minister of war makes that only more incredibly drastic.

[tiloo.livejournal.com]

well in defence for Gen he did just loose his mother. And yes MoW did just loose his wife so I am sure they were both drastic

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I always thought the "last fight with your father" where he tore up his enrollment papers came years later. His mother died when he was ten, and would he have papers to enroll in the army that young? I really have nothing to base that on, though. I assumed they fought about it over a period of years.

[rowana.livejournal.com]

I interpreted it the same way Checkers.

Though the MoW may not have come across too well over that, he's more than redeemed himself. He reminds me of the Magus in some ways.

Plus, I just like the image of him fighting. It's hard to imagine him doing anything as passionate as being angry. :)

[peggy-2.livejournal.com]

WOOT FOR MOW!

*seconds the love*

[scottykarrde.livejournal.com]

Hear, hear!
And, come on! The reaction when Attolia advises him to "drink less"? Or the iron tenderness with which he carries Gen in KoA?

Although, I have to admit, I was surprised to find he was a popular character here, I'd just never THOUGHT of it. Too dazzled by Gen and Attolia, I guess. BUT - once I'd thought of it, I was all for it, of course! Go MoW. (Ugh. We need thy name, MoW. Mow is too cow-sounding. Most unlike thee.)

[cliodna-bright.livejournal.com]

I have always loved the minister. He obviously cares deeply for Gen. For some reason I am always moved at the part when he tried to strangle him before they knew that Attolia was going to go along with their plan. Could you imagine what it would take to do that to one of your own children?

[idiosyncreant.livejournal.com]

Burrr...

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Well, I like him, too, but when I first read Queen, I was surprised at the lack of sympathy he showed when Gen didn't want to go down to dinner. He definitely Takes No Crap from anyone.

I love the part when Gen does go to dinner, and their interaction about the wine cups. Then Gen gets up and his father slides his hand under Gen's elbow to support him. And his wince when Gen makes the crack about wine being a substitute for drugs. *sigh*

Didn't Megan say he and Gen's mother probably fought a lot because they were so different?

[crazyviolin.livejournal.com]

Ah, but Gen Takes No Crap from anyone either. They make a good pair.

[philia-fan.livejournal.com]

I disagree. Gen takes exactly as much crap as he needs to to achieve his goals. He puts up with those misbehaving attendants for months.

[crazyviolin.livejournal.com]

Gen must get that from his mother then lol. But he needed to let people think he was weak. He never really took crap from Ambiades...

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

He takes crap from people when he has to, or if it suits his plans, but he always pays it back tenfold.

[idiosyncreant.livejournal.com]

Exactly.
There's always give and take.

Gen is always dishing it out, honestly. It's more the other way...people being allowed to return it, fractionally.

[hemisofia.livejournal.com]

Love him!! He's the sort of father Gen must have, of course. Any lesser man would fall on his own sword first.

I agree, he must have a name!

[aged-crone.livejournal.com]

Certainly there's a taker for Barney Snaith. If Valency ever gives him up, I'll fight you for him.

[idiosyncreant.livejournal.com]

I will be watching you...
(^_^)

I meant, of course, fellow lovers. Yay! I thought I'd hear from one.

[aged-crone.livejournal.com]

I bought that book when I was in college (from the Curious Book Shop just across the street from the Michigan State University Campus; I *love* that store!) It's got a plain blue cover, as opposed to the really gorgeous copy of Kilmeny of the Orchard that they had, and that I couldn't afford. Having read both of them now, The Blue Castle is miles better, but I wish it had a prettier cover! Maybe of copy of that portrait that the famous artist did of Valancy (I always forget how to spell her name, and it always makes me think of my chemistry classes). Such a wonderful romance.

If anybody else wants to read it but can't find a copy, here: http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks02/0200951h.html

[(Anonymous)]

I thought Barney objected to the painter doing the portrait, and so it was never done.

*laugh* I knew the name Barney Snaith was familiar, but until Valency was mentioned I couldn't place him.

The MoW is an awesome fellow. He needs a particularly awesome name.

-Meltintalle

[aged-crone.livejournal.com]

From very near the end of the book: Barney says: ""And we must see about that picture by Tierney, after all.""

It wasn't painted during the book, but you can bet it was painted!

[idiosyncreant.livejournal.com]

I have the one with the painting by the artist that did so many (all?) Montgomery books, but I don't like it.

I made my own cover print out. Maybe I should take a picture of it. I'm rather proud of the collage I put together for it.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

So, you must not mind the occasional Stony Glare or Basilisk Stare? Hey, that rhymes.

[cyberskiver.livejournal.com]

But the implication that the Minister of War is less than generally beloved staggers me.

I don't remember that being implied. I thought the whole reason Gen's cousins didn't like Gen was because they adored the MoW, and Gen didn't always act so appreciative of him (see RIPPING UP ENROLLMENT PAPERS). It seems to me that (in the beginning, at least) the Eddisians liked the MoW more than they liked Eugenides.

I love the Minister of War. He and his son are alike in enough ways to cause friction, and unlike in enough ways to not be carbon copies of each other.

[idiosyncreant.livejournal.com]

Not in the fictive world, but in the fandom, is what I was referring to.

You really put the essence of it in your last sentence.