Eddis, Attolia, Sounis

I think we all suspect Gen and Costis will leave Attolia, probably heading for the Mede Empire. My questions:

1. How will Gen and Irene spin his absence? Will they stage a fight? Will they fight in earnest? She may not want him to go....

2. Will Irene be pregnant? It would be really risky for the KoA to travel to the Mede Empire, but *insanely* risky to do so before he has an heir. What do you think?

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Will Irene be pregnant?

That's a question and a half. I think if Gen does leave Attolia (though I can't even see that happening) Irene would have to be pregnant. I don't think the barons would stand for his leaving though - Gen has to be there, or the Nahusaresh will be able to take advantage of the powerful subjects in the kingdom.

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if Gen does leave Attolia (though I can't even see that happening) Irene would have to be pregnant. I don't think the barons would stand for his leaving though

That's assuming the barons know of it. When Gen went to Sounis to steal the Magus, no one in Eddis knew he was gone. Of course, he's got a much higher profile now, and I'm not sure anyone would believe he'd locked himself in his rooms to sulk for months. Maybe he and Irene could stage a fight, and he could withdraw from the capital as a result. Then his disappearance might be easier to conceal.

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:D You've planned it out so thoroughly, it seems to make sense, but I still for some reason can't see Gen leaving Attolia unofficially for a long trip. Kings just aren't supposed to do that. I kind of agree with

sandtree there. The whole business of being king was so important in KoA, the fact that he couldn't go back to Eddis when he felt like it and so on. It limits him so much. And I'll bet if he left the capital the barons would start to try to take advantage of his absence.

I dunno. :)

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I'm actually not so sure about Gen and Costis going to the Mede Empire. I don't know why, because the evidence for that seems kind of overwhelming. But Kings can't just take off from their kingdoms to chase after ambassadors for extended periods of time. I don't know.

If Gen does take off to the Mede Empire, maybe Irene will find out she's pregnant AFTER he's gone? That would be interesting.

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But Kings can't just take off from their kingdoms to chase after ambassadors for extended periods of time.

You're right, but I'm not sure Gen would accept that. His struggle with Nahuseresh is so personal, I just can't see him delegating his revenge to Costis. And though it's a huge risk, he's a huge risk-taker - he could easily have died in Sounis's dungeon, for instance.

If Gen does take off to the Mede Empire, maybe Irene will find out she's pregnant AFTER he's gone? That would be interesting.

You said it. Imagine his shock when he returns!

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And wouldn't a mini version of Gen be charming! Of course, it could be a girl, and a mini version of Irene would really be something. She'd probably poison her dolls.

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Whenever I think of Gen's possible offspring, I think of Penny from 'The Baby in the Night Deposit Box' - MWT's story from the Firebirds anthology. Not sure why. :)

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octopirock.livejournal.com

You're totally right! She would have to be very shore of herself and also a bit sneaky.

And I'm voting for a girl, because a female Gen would be awesome.

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The problem with doing main character's children is that they tend to reflect on their parents in unpleasent ways, or drift into cliches. I'm sure MWT could avoid that, but I can't ever see her covering Gen and Irene's children in great detail.

I could be wrong. Perhaps what happened with the Tamora Pierce's Tortall series just prejudiced me.

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Yeah, it definitely depends on how it's handled. As a writer myself, I know how tempting it is to give the main characters offspring, but you really shouldn't do it unless it has something to do with the plot. But then, at the same time, you shouldn't NOT give them kids just because you're worried about falling into cliches. I mean, it's fairly obvious that Gen and Irene have to have a kid. They need an heir, it's as simple as that. Of course, they don't have to have a kid within the timespan of the series. Still, if cliches are avoided, it could be done well. As long as the kid isn't annoying. I hate those "OMG so cool" kids you sometimes get in books.

...If that makes any sense at all.

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Yes. :) I used to write but stopped when I realised that all I had time for was reading. You've made a lot of sense and I agree with you. I've never actually seen the kids thing done well, but I'm sure it could be. And Gen and Irene do, of course, need to have an heir. I hate it when you get kids in books who say meaningful and wise things, and manage to be poignant and innocent at the same time. Most of the kids I know are usually embarrassing or a bit pathetic rather than poignant. Which is harsh, but true. :)

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I hate it when you get kids in books who say meaningful and wise things, and manage to be poignant and innocent at the same time.

That's exactly what I was trying to say about annoying kids, you hit the nail on the head there. Kids in books can be great... if they act like real kids.

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checkers65477.livejournal.com

Amen to all of that. Although an heir is essential for them, I hate the thought of it changing the dynamic and focus of the books. They are very much Eugenides's stories.

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They are very much Eugenides's stories

*nods* Though characters like Irene and Eddis and Sophos and Costis will carry a lot of the focus, the books will always be about Gen.

Re: And I forgot to say...

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sprite6.livejournal.com - Date: 4/26/06 09:21 pm (UTC) - Expand

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Perhaps what happened with the Tamora Pierce's Tortall series just prejudiced me.

*laughs* Tamora Pierce is the published writer who somehow gets away with using every Mary Sue cliche. Violet eyes? Check. Ability to talk to animals? Check. Characters whose only serious flaws are a hot temper or being too idealistic? Check and mate.

But I'm still kind of a fan.

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*laughs* Tamora Pierce is the published writer who somehow gets away with using every Mary Sue cliche. Violet eyes? Check. Ability to talk to animals? Check. Characters whose only serious flaws are a hot temper or being too idealistic? Check and mate.

:D That describes it perfectly. I used to adore Kel (in all her Mary-Sueness) when I was younger, but Aly put me off the whole series. Adventurousness just shouldn't run in families.

But I'm still kind of a fan.

*whispers* I just finished 'The Will of the Empress'. And I enjoyed it.

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mandasarah.livejournal.com

Why shouldn't adventurousness run in families?

I think that The Circle Opens and The Will of the Empress are some of Tamora Pierce's best work. In fact, I think that the evolution (for lack of a better word) in her writing is very clear. If you look at all her books from Alanna: The First Adventure to Will of the Empress you can see very clearly the improvement in her writing style and story telling ability. It's kinda nice.

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Why shouldn't adventurousness run in families?

I just feel that it doesn't reflect reality. To me it seems like TP getting away with another cliche (albeit, a cliche which she writes pretty well). I just, feel everything would have stood better if Aly hadn't come along, and been the daughter, overshadowed by mother, who managed to luckily find her purpose in a distant land.

I agree though, her writing has evolved. And the Circle Opens books were what got me inerested in her writing in the first place. :) he Wil of the Empress I liked mostly because it involved the four, who aer old favourite characters, coming back together. I really loved most of the characterisation and general writing. I think Berenene could have been better done. The novel didn't quite feel substantial enough to me.

But that's just my take. :)

Re: And I forgot to say...

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mandasarah.livejournal.com - Date: 4/26/06 10:02 pm (UTC) - Expand

Re: And I forgot to say...

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rowana.livejournal.com - Date: 4/26/06 10:33 pm (UTC) - Expand

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dh684.livejournal.com

Yes, I tend to agree with you. They halved the guard and I was under the impression that Gen intended to personally safeguard the queen himself and I don't see him easily delegating that to someone else especially if she's pregnant without good cause. Perhaps, if things have stabilized signficantly from their end. Do Baron Erondites and Sejanus still present a threat? If Gen is going after Nahuseresh (sp?)and the Mede Empire, it's because of more than just a personal vendetta.

Someone on another list described KoA as a holding book and I agree with that in the sense that I suspect that it's the lull right before the storm. (Not that Gen's navigating the pitfalls of the Attolian court wasn't a challenge). But now that Gen is king in name, I think in the next book, we'll begin to truly discover the scope of his powers. Can that happen without him truly being in the thick of the action? That I don't know.

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mandasarah.livejournal.com

Do Baron Erondites and Sejanus still present a threat?

Baron Erondites probably does since he hasn't got much left to lose besides his life. And since he just might hate Gen, just a little, he might think it worth his life to exact revenge on Gen.

I don't think Sejanus poses much of a threat though, since he's locked away and not allowed news of the outside world.

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checkers65477.livejournal.com

Excellent points, dh.

Ah, but Megan said it's hard to get rid of those Erondites. Sejanus is too great a character to just rot in prison.

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Yes, I tend to agree with you. They halved the guard and I was under the impression that Gen intended to personally safeguard the queen himself and I don't see him easily delegating that to someone else especially if she's pregnant without good cause.

Excellent point. Hmm.

What if they went to war? Helen leads her troops in battle, and I imagine Sounis does too. (Irene can't in the same way, which is one reason she was jealous of Helen.) Wouldn't the Attolian barons expect Gen to lead? Wouldn't Teleus and the guard expect it? If that happened, he might have to be separated from Irene anyway.

If Gen is going after Nahuseresh (sp?)and the Mede Empire, it's because of more than just a personal vendetta.

True, but there's plent of reasons beyond the personal. The Mede is a huge threat to Attolia; if Gen could neutralize that threat by going into the Mede empire, he might think it worth the risk.

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