The Third Peregrination Week IV Part IV

[Edward C. Patterson]

So was everyone surprised by the little turn of events at Old Sheep?

I will be posting some discussion questions here tomorrow, but I was wondering where readers are in the book - ahead of me, behind me?

Thnaks
Ed Patterson

[Ann in Arlington]

Obviously completely caught up:  I came here for questions before I start reading this section and you haven't any yet. 

[Edward C. Patterson]

I will try later on. I'm at work, but I need to leave early with the car (had some problems). So once I get clear of that, we'll get back in the goove.

Ed P

[Edward C. Patterson]

Here I am.

The Secton known as "The Ch'i-t'ang" is the subject for week IV-V.

After the stress of Old Sheep, we take the characters to a new level - their destiny in this series - a ch'i-t'ang, which means "Spirit Union" - if I am forced to translate it.

Better than Guns demonstrates Rowden and Nick's psychic powers. However, has anyone noticed that the meaning and purpose of the jade Owl is becoming complex? What is this happening? Why has logic taken a left turn?

Does the theory that the triangulation feeds off the audience satisfactorily resolve the logical inconsistencies?


The House of Green Waters is the name of a Chapter and a Painting (one of the sisters) but it is also the title to the last book of the Southern Swallow series. Why do you think I have set this triangulation on the Chang-an Rutter? (Note: for those of you who think I've spelled Rutter wrong, know ye this - a Rutter is an old sea map as oppose to its steering device).


The intrusion of Bao Ben-ch'u through the "sister" tells us something about the "sisters." Can you guess. Le me say that in the Southern Swallow series Bao Ben-ch'u this scene is seen from the opposite side of the painting - in 12th Century China.

Did you note the location (place setting) of Mr. Firestone's Quagmire. What's unusual about it?

Did Rose's balcony scene catch you by sirprise?

The unstated violation of the Chinese rule of only one child per couple by Mrs. K'ao (and for that matter for Thomas Ch'en) will pay a role later in the series. Can you guess?

As Crazy as Pigs on a Cliff is one of my favorite scenes for its claustrophobic writing. Why would I switch the style here?

The Voice of the Five is a crucial chapter, because all the logical questions are put to rights. Howeve, for every one settled, I've created  new set. We have two new and essential relics in this chapter like you didn;t have enough to keep track of, h he). The World Egg is what? In your own words. And how about them Tears of Guan-yin?

What is your impression of the fifth member of the ch'i-t'ang?

Did you note the panel bas relies? What do they echo? What do they foreshadow?

Lung-hua Temple is my chrysalis, but before the ch'i-t'ang enters their cocoon to learnmore about their powers and gifts, we have another triangulation. Why do they see what they see?

Note that all the triangulations have differed from each other - so that the rules that guide them seem to be less formal and more volatile as those who undertake the ritual change.

Last but not least, before you enter the next section (which makes this author's heart pitapat), are you having fun yet?

Ed P

[Ann in Arlington]

After the stress of Old Sheep, we take the characters to a new level - their destiny in this series - a ch'i-t'ang, which means "Spirit Union" - if I am forced to translate it.

Better than Guns demonstrates Rowden and Nick's psychic powers. However, has anyone noticed that the meaning and purpose of the jade Owl is becoming complex? What is this happening? Why has logic taken a left turn?
obviously there's much more than meets the eye. . . . .I was interested to learn it's not really jade, though I had some suspicion already

Does the theory that the triangulation feeds off the audience satisfactorily resolve the logical inconsistencies?
seems to. . . . . but not completely as the one at the temple only featured Nick's and Rowdy's memories

The House of Green Waters is the name of a Chapter and a Painting (one of the sisters) but it is also the title to the last book of the Southern Swallow series. Why do you think I have set this triangulation on the Chang-an Rutter? (Note: for those of you who think I've spelled Rutter wrong, know ye this - a Rutter is an old sea map as oppose to its steering device).
Well, both the rutter and the owl are connected to the tomb. . .so it makes sense in that way

The intrusion of Bao Ben-ch'u through the "sister" tells us something about the "sisters." Can you guess. Le me say that in the Southern Swallow series Bao Ben-ch'u this scene is seen from the opposite side of the painting - in 12th Century China.
Seems like the paintings are not just paintings but portals, some to the past, some to the present. . . presumably some to the future. . . .

Did you note the location (place setting) of Mr. Firestone's Quagmire. What's unusual about it?
Shang-hai?  the Ch'en House? . . . . not sure what you're getting at here. . . . .

Did Rose's balcony scene catch you by sirprise? Yeah, it did.  Surprise, even.   On further thought, though, it made sense that the others were being affected as well.  It just hit N. and R. first because they'd had more overall contact with the owl and all.  Kind of like radiation poision. 

The unstated violation of the Chinese rule of only one child per couple by Mrs. K'ao (and for that matter for Thomas Ch'en) will pay a role later in the series. Can you guess? Pretty sure I asked about this in the last book and you explained something. . . . .nope. . .no guesses.

As Crazy as Pigs on a Cliff is one of my favorite scenes for its claustrophobic writing. Why would I switch the style here? See, again, I was just enjoying the story and not paying attention to a change in style. 

The Voice of the Five is a crucial chapter, because all the logical questions are put to rights. Howeve, for every one settled, I've created  new set. We have two new and essential relics in this chapter like you didn;t have enough to keep track of, h he). The World Egg is what? In your own words. And how about them Tears of Guan-yin?  O.K. blanking on the Tears of Guan-yin -- I remember the phrase but not what it referred to.  The World Egg. . . .hmm. . .another piece of the 'radioactive' rock. . . . not sure what else except that it obviously is a further catalyst to all that is going on.

What is your impression of the fifth member of the ch'i-t'ang?  rather inscrutable. . . also seems like he might have his own agenda which may or may not completely mesh with that of Rowdy and gang.

Did you note the panel bas relies? What do they echo? What do they foreshadow? Sorry, missed that -- I guess you're just too subtle for me!

Lung-hua Temple is my chrysalis, but before the ch'i-t'ang enters their cocoon to learnmore about their powers and gifts, we have another triangulation. Why do they see what they see? Well, the one with the prison guard is probably a warning. . . they'll likely have to actually go to that island and he'll be there and, patently, NOT on their side.  The one where N. & R. see the history of their original meeting seems meant to inform the others of the full story.

Note that all the triangulations have differed from each other - so that the rules that guide them seem to be less formal and more volatile as those who undertake the ritual change.

Last but not least, before you enter the next section (which makes this author's heart pitapat), are you having fun yet?  I am certainly enjoying the story so far. . . . .I like a complex story

[Edward C. Patterson]

Ann, you right on track, and some of my questions are arcane anyway.

The Quagmire chapter change is a bit of a trick using flashbacks. I want to change he location from Bei-jing to Shang-hai and rather than belabor the story in one place or another, I dump y'all (readers) in Shang-hai and use a flashback through Rowden's sequelling (mental kvetching) to cove the last Beijing bits.

The love affair between Sydney and Mei Lin is essential to the works balance. I didn't bring Audrey along and in many ways Mei Lin is a surrogate, but NOT - as I never have a character that can't stand on their own (as you shall see).

Meng IS inscrutable, but there's a reason for it . . . . (no spoilers)

Portals. Right on.

The World Egg is one of those items that lets me have the reader think harder than should . . . I'll say o more. The Tears of Guan-yin is a very special concoction, as you shall see.

The bas reliefs in the ante chamber are exactly like the ones in the Red Chamber and the Upper Tomb and depict the story of the first three book in detail (encapsulated). Curious readers can return to these images and identify parts of the story forshadowed here.

The revelation during the triangulation that Nick reconnected the Jade Owl to the Joy of Finches is significant.

I'm glad you are enjoying the story.

The next Part is my heart stopper. One beta reader wrote to me that they had rarely encountered a suite of chapters like these and called them (and I blush) a string of pearls. So I now proudly refer to these upcoming chapters as my "string of pearls." In fact, Peg of the Red Pencil and I refer to them all the time. I'll be writing a chapter in The Nan Tu and Peg will say, I like the connection in this chapter to the string of pearls. In any event, you have reached the top of the hill, and the string of pearls in a long, dizzy drop. Enjoy the plunge.

Ed P

[Ann in Arlington]

Dude. . . .I just finished part V and there are no questions!    



(you might want to go ahead an post part VI as I'm just starting it. . . . . .)

[Edward C. Patterson]

Ahead of me, eh? 

I'll post some questions for V and VI now.

Ed P