I figured it out!

[mikkaybear.livejournal.com]

After many hours days months idle moments obsessing over our Book 5 words (dirt, gold, slave, lion, ship), I've figured out what MWT was trying to tell us!

Clearly, it's an anagram for "Sophos Averting Dill Lid." Must be some nasty pickles... or some tightly sealed jars. Sophos can't have that causing problems in Sounis, and he cleverly averts the problem by giving them to Gen, who couldn't open them anyway because of his hand. But Gen realizes their potential and ultimately ends up thwarting the Mede... by sending the emperor a shipment of dill pickle jars that HE CAN NEVER OPEN. THE HORROR. THE CRUELTY. DUN DUN DUN.

More funny Sophos anagrams found here! I also liked the idea of Sophos opening a dental office, but unless the Mede emperor had a lot of cavities, Gen couldn't use that to his advantage. ;)

(In other news, I think I'm going slightly crazy in the interim... anyone else want to analyze animal imagery [especially in ACoK!!! Lions and foxes, oh my!] or cry over potential parallels between the stories of the gods and Gen's fate [WHAT ABOUT GOD EUGENIDES HAVING HIS BROTHER DIE IN HIS ARMS] while we wait for Book 5?)

Book Covers and nonwhite characters

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Great question from an Anon someone, regarding the Queen's Thief book covers and how they differ from the actual description of the characters:

I just closed the last page of ACoK after (another) full retread of the series- so that's what I've been reading! And I've found myself here because I haven't been able to find a discussion on how the covers for the books have been whitewashed, and it's something that's been nagging at me! Is there links anyone could point me too, or fan art of Gen that is closer the MWT's description?

In all the books, Gen is described as having "dark skin."  How do you picture the characters in the books? Do you think the book covers do the characters justice? Were they made "whiter" in order to appeal to the broadest audience? What's your take on these links that talk about the lack of diverse characters in YA lit/fantasy/sci fi?

Post your comments here, and take a minute to read this great article by Deirdre Baker: Horn Book Article: Musings on Diverse Worlds

And this article on "whitewashed" covers of YA books

Also, from sounis :
Discussion of Eugenides as a Nonwhite Hero
Concept Art for ACoK
Artist Vince Natale's drawings for the book covers

On a lighter note, there was a great deal of discussion about the cover of ACoK, just before it was published. The ARC had a mustached Sophos on the cover, which was changed more than once. Check out these discussions as the changes to our buffed-up Sophos were made:
Facial Hair!Sophos
A Conspiracy of Artists
Life At Greenwillow