Conspiracy's Perspective?

[wondersuntold.livejournal.com]

I've been stalking this community for a while now with some friends, but I've finally created a lj account, so I had to join this! The Thief series is one of my favorite series ever. I read The Thief probably about 10 years ago now and have been obsessed with it and Eugenides ever since. MWT is a genius and I love her books. :) Please feel free to add me as a friend. I'd love to get to know more Thief fans! 


-Possible SPOILER ALERT, depending on how much of the series you've read-
Anyway, with that said, I was wondering what people thought about the changing perspectives offered in each of the books. In the first one, the story is told fantastically in Gen's perspective. I say fantastically because even though it's narrated in first-person, as readers we are still left in the dark with the Magus when Gen reveals his alliegiances. In the second, we are slightly more distanced from Gen because it's told instead in third-person, though Gen is still the subject of the third-person perspective. In The King of Attolia I nearly cried at first when I realized Gen was not either the narrator or even the main character. But I grew to love it and Costis...somewhat. The perspective was useful in showing how clever Gen is at portraying a supposedly inept king while actually hoodwinking everyone. Anyway, this led me to wondering what sort of perspective we should expect in A Conspiracy of Kings. I don't see how MWT can distance us further from Gen and yet have Gen still be a central character. I personally hope we once again have Gen as a narrator. But that's wishful fangirl thinking on my part. Maybe, since it seems as though Sophos will play a huge role in this new book, it will instead be told from his perspective. Any thoughts of what people think about the changing perspectives and predictions for the fourth book?

Comments

[ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com]

Welcome to Sounis! It's great to have you. I stalked the comm for nearly six months before I joined.

*is shameless*

I do think, "A Conspiracy of Kings", will be told from Sophos's perspective. Probably in third-person, though not in first.

I also was surprised when the shift was made from first to third between "The Thief" and "The Queen of Attolia", and when Gen's perspective was rarely used in "The King of Attolia".

I can't deny the fact that I missed Gen; but as an aspiring writing (has made several attempts at fan-fiction), I understand why Mrs. Turner made the shift. Third-person broadens the readers perspective, and allows them to see other characters more clearly. Also, since the two latter books cover much longer spans of time and deal much more with different people all in different locations, third-person was the best choice.

I love Gen, but I find it refreshing to change perspectives in a story.

[wondersuntold.livejournal.com]

haha thanks! I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who stalked before joining.

And yes, I agree with you. I also write and though I initially did not like the shifts she made in each book, I understood the necessity for it. That doesn't mean I still can't be a little bitter about losing valuable Gen time though. I didn't even think about how the second two books cover longer spans of time. That's an interesting observation. Since Attolia is much more involved in those, it makes sense that MWT would want to also give her some time (and Costis, I guess).

[adalanne.livejournal.com]

Well, she's changed pov each book (first, third-omni, third-limited), and it would be neat if she did something playful, like go back to first person but tell it from two people's pov. Gen and Sophos would be my vote. That would be a study in contrasts indeed.

[rosalui.livejournal.com]

I really, really, really, really, really want Gen to narrate again, because I just LOVE his voice, and that's how I first fell in love with the book. :)

..........But it probably won't happen. :(

[inkasrain.livejournal.com]

Pain me though it does to say this, I wouldn't be surprised if Gen is missing entirely for at least for part of "Conspiracy". If you think about it, the progression in perspective away from Gen-- from his own awesome but limited perspective, to a slightly wider view of him and his actions, to an almost exclusive focus on effect rather than motive from a close observer-- makes a certain symmetrical sense. My guess would be that we will hear and see Gen from a very distant and shallow perspective for most of the book; we will get to know him as the laypeople of these three nations do, as a king, not a person.

But I would also be *very* surprised if Sophos doesn't meet up with Gen toward the end of the book (and the summary implies as much) so we should get at least a taste of him. (And much as as I adore Gen, I am ridiculously excited to get inside Sophos's head!)

[ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com]

I agree with you, IR. Gen will probably be absent for the first part of the book.

*notice icon*

That magazine did say..

*Warning Spoiler Alert*

...that the book was about 400p long. So, my guess is Gen will probably be absent for the first 150 to 200 pages. Although, I would hope for only 50 to 100, but I don't think that's right.

Yes! I too am so excited about getting inside Sophos head, even though I think the book will be in third-person. It would be neat if it went back and forth between Gen and Sophos in first person, but we shall see.

One thing is for certain I miss Sophos so much! I will be very happy to see him again.

[wondersuntold.livejournal.com]

I think you may be right, inkasrain. It would make logical sense after everything that has been done so far. But as much as I love Sophos, he's just not the same as Gen. It would be weird reading a book from Megan Whalen Turner that doesn't feature Gen very prominently.

[thelasteddis.livejournal.com]

It would be yet more symmetrical for us to now get closer and closer - one more book like KoA, then one like QoA, and then the last one in Gen's pov once again.

NOTICE THE LOGIC MWT PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE???????????????????S

[rosaleeluann.livejournal.com]

Like others have said, Sophos's perspective seems likely, especially since it seems that the POV of the series has been gradually moving away from Gen. But if we do in fact have a few more books in the series, I wonder whether it might not start getting closer to Gen, going away and back again, full circle... but maybe this is just wishful thinking :-)

[ladymoon-kora.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I am pretty sure it's going to be Sophos, unless she introduces some totally new, but I don't think that's likely.

Welcome to Sounis!

[wondersuntold.livejournal.com]

Thanks! And I love your icon, btw.

[zumie-ashlen.livejournal.com]

Welcome! Always nice to have more.

I liked Gen's narration in The Thief, but I have to say, it's QoA that won me over to the series. So I was really sad when it moved to entirely Costis' pov in KoA. But then I absolutely adored him, so that was good too. Honestly, I'm going to miss Costis, but I love Sophos too, so I'm sure it'll be an awesome read.

[rosaleeluann.livejournal.com]

I'm really hoping that Costis will remain a prominent figure in the next books. Because he's awesome.

Hi -- delurking

[katewaits.livejournal.com]

I can't tell you how excited I am to find fellow MWT fans. I've been plugging this series to everyone I know since I discovered it. It's really one of the best things I've read in the past decade.

Anyway -- I agree that this book could be totally in Sophos's POV -- maybe even first person. Now that I've read the summary and it's called a "companion" I do think it's someone else's story entirely (besides Eugenides, I mean). It seems like the action overlaps everything we see in KoA until about halfway through and then he hooks up with Eugenides. I hope we see what's going on with Costis because I just fell in love with him (I'd thought I might be disappointed that there wasn't more Eugenides, but Costis just really grew on me).

So that's my thought on the POV. I'm so excited about this book. I just finished my fifth reread of the QT trilogy -- for this year. I don't think I'm exaggerating, either. LOL. The books are always within arm's reach so I can grab one and open to any page and read a bit at any time. I just wish they would come out on Kindle so I can bring them on vacation with me. :^)

Re: Hi -- delurking

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Welcome to you, too, katewaits! Huzzah for rereads!

[openedlocket.livejournal.com]

Hey welcome to Sounis. I actually wrote something really long to welcome you but my Internet provider just had to interrupt my posting, so anyway... Hi! *holds out hand to shake* I'm being to formal again, so excuse me...

On the next book, I find myself asking plenty of questions. One. Has the issue of heirs come up in Attolia? I can only hope, I mean come on they need a successor sometime. Two. Will Helen and Sophos get their happily ever after? Or will there be some really big plot twist that will turn everything upside-down? *hint, hint Magus* Anyway, since I ask to many questions, don't bother answering if you don't want to. Welcome, again ;).

[katewaits.livejournal.com]

Oh, the Magus. I was wondering about him, too. He's quite infatuated, I think. He's older, but I get the sense he's younger than the Minister of War. He'd work well politically, too, I think, especially if Sophos takes the throne in Sounis. But I want Sophos to have the love he wants, as well. :-/

But ... what about Agape? I'd hate for her to disappear entirely. I thought she was actually very intriguing in QoA. I can't say exactly what Sophos is going to be like all grown up, so it's probably not fair to pair them up, but it's a possibility. She was introduced fairly specifically.

It's funny, these books are not romances, but they're so romantic. Especially KoA. To me, anyway. That's why I can't help looking for the romance HEA for each character. Even Costis, although I think Eugenides's plans for him may take him out of any romantic running for a long time.

Thanks for the welcome *shakes hand*. :D I'm so excited to finally have someone to chat with about this series!

[wondersuntold.livejournal.com]

Nice to meet you!

I love your questions as well! I really hope they do discuss the issue of Attolian heirs in the next novel. My friend and I were initially hypothesizing what events could happen in the next book - before we knew anything about "Conspiracy," and one thing we thought of was if Gen and Attolia would have any children. Can you imagine the two of them attempting to raise a child? It would be priceless.

I agree it's quite obvious that the Magus likes Eddis. They would be sort of cute together. But I can't really picture her with him instead of Sophos. Since the possibility was first mentioned, I can't see Eddis with anyone except Sophos.

[ballet2nite.livejournal.com]

In the KoA when Gen is destroying the house of Erondites, he mentions the word heir.

[diadactic.livejournal.com]

I think I actually had a better understanding of what was happening in the second and third books. And I almost fell in love with Attolia myself in the second. Yeah, anyways, I think I like the third person.
Also, if Megan Whalen Turner is reading this- please let us know what happens to Costis!

[sgwordy.livejournal.com]

Hello! Nice to meet you. I love your question!

I also love the changing perspectives and feel they are part of the great appeal that the series has for me. Actually, I don't consider myself quite the Gen fan that most others are - *gasp* say it ain't so! :) Of course, I think he's a great character but I must be more of a mwt fangirl than a Gen fangirl because it's her whole world that I love. Each character is so well done and so interesting for me that I would hate to be stuck with Gen the whole time (hope this isn't too blasphemous;). The changing perspectives have opened up the three countries in a way that I don't think would be possible through only one character.

Additionally, I think the alternating perspectives actually increase the development of the characters (including Gen) because I get, well, perspective! Seeing through only one pair of eyes can color every other part of a story with that character's specific make-up, since I love mwt's entire world I want to see as much of it as I can.

So it wouldn't bother me at all to be further distanced from Gen. Not because I am tired of him as a central character but because I can't wait to read what's been cooked up for the rest of this world that I have come to love.

[wondersuntold.livejournal.com]

Nice to meet you too and thanks! It's just something I've been wondering about. I spend too much time obsessing over things like books, I guess.

Not a Gen fangirl??? Just kidding. I totally understand where you are coming from there. I do love MWT's whole world. It's so well created. The detail and such reminds me of the worlds that JK Rowling and JRR Tolkien created. They are all so vivid and real. Though I can freely admit that if it weren't for Gen, I would not find the series as appealing.

[tiegirl.livejournal.com]

Welcome to you, Wonders, and you, Kate! How nice to be such a growing community. I won't answer any questions since everyone else is so eloquent. I'll only warn you to back off Costis (he's MINE!)

Just kidding!
...not reaaaaaaaaally though...;-P

[katewaits.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the welcome. I love that quote in your avi. It's one of my favorites. :D

[wondersuntold.livejournal.com]

Thanks!
And wow, I had no idea there was so much Costis love going around. I'm probably going to have like 20 people at my throat (or maybe not), but I really don't like Costis that much. I first disliked him because he became the main character instead of Eugenides. And then...well, he's nice and all, but kind of bland. Let's just say I like many other characters far more than him.