Happy Birthday, Sounis!
Nov. 2nd, 2016 08:04 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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queensthief
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sounis is 11 years old, and Ornon's sheep are dancing!Eleven years ago today Queen
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rowana and the elusive eddis started up this wonderful community, while we were waiting very impatiently for Harper Collins to finish knitting The King of Attolia. So much has happened over the past 11 years. We've grown up and grown older while getting to know other QT fans around the world who love Megan's books and want to share questions, answers, and insanity with others.Sounis members have come and gone over the years. Some of us have been around since the beginning, and others are brand new. What has never changed is that this online community welcomes everyone. We're the nicest fan community out there!
So, whether you're a oldie or a newbie, it's time for introductions! Leave a comment and tell us
- How long you've been a sounis member
- A little about yourself, including where you live (country, continent, city, anything is fine)
- How you found Megan's books
- Which book is your favorite
- Why you love the books with the heat of 1000 suns
- Something you *hope* happens in Thick As Thieves
Or, anything you want to share. C'mon folks! It's been quiet around here for too long. Let's hear from you. Happy Birthday to us!
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no subject
Date: 11/3/16 01:06 pm (UTC)1. I've been a Sounis member since October 2010, I believe.
2. I live in Canada, and I'm a student right now.
3. Short version: I found them on Amazon.
Long version: I wasn't a book-reader as a teenager. The thing is, I used to read a lot of books when I was a tween, until my eyes started getting bad, so then my parents told me I shouldn't read books anymore for fun, unless it's for school. So instead of reading books, I took to reading fanfiction online, because FF.net looks like a typical website for school research, plain and simple. When I turned 17, I had a part-time job, and I could pay for my own glasses, so I decided to start reading books again. One of the earliest books I read that got me back into the wonderful world of books was Shannon Hale's Goose Girl. I loved the series so much that when I wanted to read more that was similar, I found Queen of Attolia recommended on Amazon. I found out it was the 2nd book in the series, so I started with The Thief. And the rest is history. =D
4. The King of Attolia!
5. At first it was just Gen's characterization. He was just so amazing and admirable and even relatable, and I just rooted for him throughout the 4 books. And then I found Sounis, and I realized there was more going on in the books. Overall, I just became a better reader because of this series.
6. That's hard, because I wish for so many things: more Gen/Irene smooching, more Costis, more Buff!Sophos. I don't know what to expect from Kamet, so I just hope he surprises me. =D
introductions :)
Date: 11/3/16 04:54 pm (UTC)So 1. I'm a very newbie :)
2. My name is Alyssa, I live in Canada, in the beautiful prairie province of Manitoba. Currently I'm an undergrad student, with only a few more years left.
3. I found Megan's books a few years ago (2011 I think?) because I'd run out of books from the library to read so I was scouring my bookshelves of old children's books and stumbled across The Thief. I read it and the twist ending hooked me, so when I ended up finding out there were sequels (!) I quickly got them from the library and devoured them, and by the time I read KoA I was in love. I have since read all of them multiple times.
4. King of Attolia is my favourite because it's what made me fall in love with the series (Costis <3), but each time I reread, I grow to love the other books more.
5. Well I just finished my maybe 5th reread? And I was still finding out new things. The layers of trickery MWT pulls off is amazing (I always think there can't be anyone more clever than Gen, but it's not true because MWT is). Like there's some scene in KoA that you take one way because you're in Costis POV, but if you read it again, you realize there is something completely different going on. And also, the characters, she fleshes out her characters so well. They are all so flawed and complex, even down to her most minor characters (Kamet has like 4 lines maybe in KoA? And he is so interesting already?? And there are a lot more... all the attendants, Sophos' mother and sisters... etc). Anyway. I could go on for a long time.
6. I hope we get to see Costis again, I missed him in ACoK, and Costis with Gen, too. Also some happy friendship moments between Sophos and Gen, those are fun too.
Re: introductions :)
Date: 11/3/16 05:39 pm (UTC)Re: introductions :)
Date: 11/3/16 09:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 11/3/16 04:56 pm (UTC)2. I haunt and call the greater Chicago area home. I got to speak with MWT over video call in April of 2012 and met her in person at a book signing in August of that same year. (I can't believe it was that long ago... It wasn't the best year for me altogether, but these two occasions were definitely highlights!!)
3. I saw the (jaw-droppingly gorgeous) cover for KoA on Amazon and took myself to the library straightaway to investigate the series further. DESTINY.
4. Probably KoA... though it pains me to choose.
5. *bursts into tears* #blessed
6. Honestly, all I want is to see my homeboy Costis again. I hope he's happy and drinking enough water and documenting his adventures in the form of sarcastic letters to his sister.
no subject
Date: 11/3/16 05:22 pm (UTC)[any allusion to Sophos?!!!]
Please, Checkers, if I answer nicely may I really truly have a copy of that avatar, just to put away in my file of stray adorable images collected on the internet? =)
So, here goes...!
1. I think about a year, although I'd been hanging around watching ever since I read The Thief the previous (2015) spring
2. I live up a Welsh mountain, with a bunch of goats. They are all fairly good at stealing things ... buttons are their favourites!
3. They were pressed on me by a very wise friend, who knew I liked Rosemary Sutcliff. "This author does too," she said. "You'll love them!"
4. King of Attolia!
5. Why does Gen love Irene?
6. I'm hoping Costis features! Also, I'd like to see Dite again, happily married to a Ferrian girl so Gen's no longer jealous, and with an infant son called Eugenides! But I know that's verging on the saccharine :)
ps. If anyone had warned me 'Our Birthday' was coming up, I could have baked another batch of cakes, Nanowrimo or not!
Happy Communal Birthday!
Date: 11/3/16 08:20 pm (UTC)Re: Happy Communal Birthday!
Date: 11/3/16 08:21 pm (UTC)Re: Happy Communal Birthday!
Date: 11/3/16 10:14 pm (UTC):)
Re: Happy Communal Birthday!
Date: 11/3/16 11:43 pm (UTC)Re: Happy Communal Birthday!
Date: 11/8/16 08:12 pm (UTC)Thanks for the idea! XD
no subject
Date: 11/4/16 08:27 pm (UTC)2. I currently live north of Boston, MA. Until my husband graduates from seminary in May and we move to Great Britain for his PhD. Clearly, this is going to be a tragic move. (*cough* or the opposite)
3. How DID I find the books? I think a couple of friends recommended them, and then a couple more, and then they kept recommending them, and I found myself at Barnes & Noble with a gift card, and I saw The Thief and thought ah-ha! The perfect time to start the series. And the rest is history.
4. A Conspiracy of Kings, because I adore the understated romance between Eddis and Sophos (even a little more than the epic romance between Attolia and Gen, gasp!).
5. Because they are full of tricksy little details which you can only get on a second, third, fourth reading; they are full of finely-crafted characters and rich settings, and the prose is beautiful without being pretentious.
6. Oh goodness. You know, I am coming in with no hopes or expectations? Each book has gone in a completely different direction than I would have guessed, so I am content to sit back and see where this one goes. I would maybe hope to see Costis again, but if he's not there I know it'll be for a good reason, so I'm not even too worked up over that.
Happy Birthday, Sounis! Thanks for letting me drift into your community.
no subject
Date: 11/5/16 03:44 am (UTC)2. I live in California and am a stay-at-home mom to 4 kids, but my former career was in science, and I'm married to a writer.
3. I think I saw "The Thief" in the library not too long after it was published and picked it up and read the jacket, but I don't think I took it home - but I had this vague memory of the cover and the title (sadly, I think that original Hephestia cover made me reject it! Then, years later, KoA caught my eye at the bookstore. I saw that it was a later book in a series and then remembered seeing the first book years earlier. So I went back to the library for it, loved it, and then had to buy all three! And I was in luck because it was only a few months later that ACoK came out.
4. King of Attolia, with Queen of Attolia a close second. We have done a fair amount of international travelling, and I always load up my iPad with reading material, but I also always bring a paper book or two for times like take off and landing or when my kids have stolen the iPad to play games, and KoA and QoA have been my choices for several trips, because I never get tired of them!
5. too many reasons to list them all! Probably the biggest reason is the way Megan's writing is so skillful that I can read the books over and over and get something new out of them each time. I so admire the way every word in her books has the feeling of being carefully chosen, giving her writing such density, for lack of a better word :) I love how each of her characters is so rich and so real - even characters that take up very little page space leave the impression of being real people and leave me wanting to know more about them. I loved the Minister of War so much when he appeared so briefly in the first book and was so thrilled as we got to see more of him in further books.
I love the way Eddis and Attolia are such amazing examples of intriguing powerful female characters while being so different - and I love the way Attolia, the stern, ruthless woman of power is externally beautiful and feminine, while Eddis, who looks and acts like a tomboy, embodies a warm and maternal ruling style. And I love the way Gen's and Attolia's love story turns the typical gender roles of "the love of a good woman redeems a cold and embittered but essentially good man" on their head, even to the age and height differences between them! And I have an equal love for the partnership of the more kind and gentle pair of Helen and Sophos.
6. My main hope is just to have more time with all the characters I love so much :) But I'd like to see more of Gen's father, maybe even learn his name :) and learn something about his relationship with Gen's mom. And I would love it if we got to see some of the sisters - so many are mentioned - Gen's mostly honest sisters, Sophos' adorable sisters who inherited the spine his father thought he lacked, Costis' sister, or even Helen's! And I am very intrigued to learn more about Kamet and the Mede empire.
no subject
Date: 11/5/16 04:08 pm (UTC)2. I'm 31 years old, and live with my husband on ten acres in Maine. We've got a dog named Buford, and two cats: Ollivander and Mr. Stobie. Also about twenty egg-laying chickens. Since college I was an animal control officer, but about eight months ago I took a drastic switch to be true to my inner bookwormand started working full time at a public library. Booksss!!! All day bookssss!!!! Yes, I'm still excited about it.
3. I assume I found The Thief at my school library when I was in middle school. Alas, I don't recall the exact first time I read it, but I know by the time I was in high school I was already nostalgic about it.
4. My favorite is The Queen of Attolia. Hands down.
5. I don't think there are words to describe why I love these books. I just DO.
6. What I hope to have happen in TaT? Whatever MWT dreams up is sure to be brilliant.
no subject
Date: 11/5/16 08:36 pm (UTC)How long you've been a![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
sounis member
Hmm, I've had an LJ account since 2nd January, 2010 ( I found that handy info hidden on my profile page!) and found Sounis around March of that same year. It was one of the best times to be on Sounis as we were gearing up for the release of aCoK and I'm pretty sure we got some input on the lovely covers ... ( including making sure Sophos didn't have a beard .....)
A little about yourself, including where you live (country, continent, city, anything is fine)
Well, I live in New York State, unfortunately far from any city that would host an author :( When I'm not working, I'm trying to get back into being active in fandoms and writing some fanfiction.
How you found Megan's books
My sister,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
booksrgood4u found them through Amazon. I feel like when she told me she was getting them I was like 'meh' and when she finished TT she told me I HAD to read it and explain the end to her .... the rest, as they say, is history.
Which book is your favorite
KoA. By this point you know enough about Gen to never trust him, and it is absolutely hilarious to see Gen bullied around by his attendants as he tries to fix the mess he created for himself. And all the amazing Gen/Irene bits, Gen and co being snarky ..... the list goes on.
Why you love the books with the heat of 1000 suns
The surprises, the dialogue, the jokes within jokes, the references to things you thought were inconsequential..... and one of the best quotes, which will someday find its way onto a tshirt for its awesomeness:
I'm not as dumb as you think I am even if you are!
Something you *hope* happens in Thick As Thieves
More Costis? Just why does Gen ask Costis to serve *his* god? What is he about to do that it is so imperative that Costis knows about the god of thieves??
no subject
Date: 11/8/16 01:50 am (UTC)2. I'm in the southern US in North Carolina. I'm a middle school librarian. I didn't grow up with Gen, but certainly have grown older with him.
3 & 4. I read a review of QoA which totally spoiled the chop-chop part, and it just sounded like such a great book. I saw that it was second in the series but TT was checked out from the library, so I just grabbed QoA and loved it so much. I read it first, and it's still my favorite although when I read KoA I waver sometimes.
5. What everyone has already said.
6. I worry there won't be enough Gen but am really looking forward to learning more about Kamet. I do hope that Kamet and Costis meet up and kick some Meade ass.
Fashionably late...
Date: 11/8/16 08:10 pm (UTC)How long you've been a Sounis member?
Err... I had to look this up on my account. March, 2009. Yikes! That's eight years!
A little about yourself, including where you live (country, continent, city, anything is fine)
Lake Superior's south shore. It's practically Canada. I'm almost 25 years-old, and I manage a small, historic art gallery. I'm a YA literature and classical literature nerd, and am also obsessed with a lot of popular cult television and movies, SuperWhoLock, PLL, HG to name a few. I'm also getting into gardening, strange I know? But I've always liked botany.
How you found Megan's books?
My local library when I was in high school. It was the ugly Hephestia cover from the 90's. I remember it didn't have a summary, so I read the first few pages, and was instantly hooked by Gen's voice. I think I only picked it up, because it had such a strange cover. I remember thinking, "What is this about? People stealing ugly paintings of Jesus?"
Which book is your favorite?
KoA. I love Cosits, getting the outsider PoV of Gen, and Irene and Gen's relationship throughout the book.
Why you love the books with the heat of 1000 suns.
Twisting plots, amazing characters, beautiful writing, hidden details, great surprises, original setting, strong female characters, and crafty political intrigue. Gen, Irene, Helen, Costis, Sophos, the Magus, insert the names of the entire cast of characters.
I remember when I read The Thief, I was having a long reading slump or a "show hole" as those Amazon TV adds have been calling it. I hadn't read a book I'd truly loved in quite some time, which I think helped to cause a long lasting impression.
I found Sounis while looking for any clues about the release of what would become ACoK, and I joined a few months later. I hadn't been involved in internet fandom before, but that was pre-Tumblr days, so it wasn't as main stream as it is now.
I soon started writing fan fiction, and getting more involved in other fandoms.
Something you *hope* happens in Thick As Thieves.
Costis, Costis, Costis, and more Costis. Also, the main character (censored for spoilers) and Costis being BFFs.
I'm actually really looking forward to seeing Nahsersquish from the main character's POV. I'm really curious about that, and I hope it's an important part of the story.
I've always had theories that the main character is super smart and interesting, and I hope we get to see a lot of him being awesome!
no subject
Date: 11/10/16 03:13 am (UTC)I think at least a year or two before ACoK came out. I remember reveling in the gradual build-up of anticipatory squee.
2. A little about yourself, including where you live (country, continent, city, anything is fine)
I live on the south side of Atlanta, Georgia, with a spouse and a cat. Our small brick house is well-insulated by walls of books (not enough of them by mwt). I may have a bit of a hoarding problem wrt books & cds.
3. How you found Megan's books
Lois McMaster Bujold enthusiastically recommended Megan on her list. I'm a "whither thou" sort, especially when wonderful writers are concerned. Like knows like, so when one rich, dense, complex, satisfying writer recommends another, it's well to take notice.
4. Which book is your favorite
Probably _The King Of Attolia_. I love the gradual reveal of the overall pattern, as the dominos start falling, & the (metaphorical) camera pans out on Eugenides, a "god revealed." Tee hee hee.
5. Why you love the books with the heat of 1000 suns
Rich, dense, complex, heart-stopping, gut-punching--these books are both gripping and at times granching.
6. Something you *hope* happens in Thick As Thieves
Can Kamet push Nahuserfish overboard? Pretty please, with ruby earrings on top?
no subject
Date: 12/11/16 08:49 pm (UTC)1. How long you've been a sounis member
I've known about Sounis probably since around CoK, but don't follow it regularly.
2. A little about yourself, including where you live (country, continent, city, anything is fine)
Inland Southern California, but originally a Buckeye (Columbus, Ohio). I just turned 50 this year and have two 4-2/3rds yo boys.
3. How you found Megan's books
Anyone old enough to remember the little magazine stuck into a Sunday newspaper? There was a review/promo for Queen of Attolia. I thought it looked interesting and got the book. Even knowing QoA, I was still surprised all the way through TT! Then I had to wait and wait until KoA.
4. Which book is your favorite
By a hair KoA, followed by QoA.
5. Why you love the books with the heat of 1000 suns
I love books with smart and/or brilliant characters. If they make a mistake, it's not because they're stupid! Martha Wells does a good job with this type too.
6. Something you *hope* happens in Thick As Thieves
No idea. I'll be happy with anything!
no subject
Date: 4/23/17 07:33 pm (UTC)I live in upstate NY, as someone else said, too far from a major city for MWT to do a book signing. I'm divorced and live with my two feline companions in a small village. I like to read, garden, and grow and use herbs.
I first encountered this series when I worked at a library in the Finger Lakes region of NY. (My favorite job ever! I got paid to have fun). I listened to Jeff woodman's narration and fell in love with The Thief (none of the others had been written at that time so my fandom goes way back!) right away. I had our requisition clerk order the book for me and have since bought every edition available.
On a side note, I am so disappointed that Jeff Woodman isn't the narrator for the new one. As soon as I found that out, I cancelled my audiobook on CD orders; (I had pre-ordered both the new one and The Thief) I have all the rest, with him as narrator. Once one gets a "voice" in one's head, a new narrator ruins the story. I found this out when I tried to listen to an Amelia Peabody audiobook narrated by someone besides Barbara Rosenblat. The new narrator didn't pronounce the names right and messed up the pronouncements of so many other things that I gave up on listening to it and returned the audiobook.
As to favorite...a hard choice. It's a tie between TT and KoA. I love the whole series but TT was my first encounter with this world and I love seeing the story through Costis's viewpoint.
Why I love these with the heat of a thousand suns? What's not to love! Megan continuously surprises, enthralls, and draws us in,until we don't know if we're coming or going and we don't care.
As to the new one, I don't know what to expect; I know it's Kamet's story but I hope it has at least a token appearance by Gen, Costis, and other characters I have grown to love.
no subject
Date: 4/24/17 12:47 am (UTC)I hope you join our crazy group, whether it's anon or with an LJ account. It's always great to see new folks.
You've been a fan for a long time! Patience is a virtue, when it comes to Megan's book, right??