So we've reached the end . . . of this book, at least.
How was it? Leave you hankering for more?
Here's some questions.
Nick's transformation is unsettling, no doubt, but did you think I would completely obliterate the old Nick? The Old Nick however is referred to in The Jade Owl as The One. Are The One and Po-huai the same entity?
always seemed to me like Nick was sort of possessed. Possessed with a purpose, but possessed none the less. I did hope that once the task was complete that the old Nick, more or less, would be back. Seemed like he had to still be there or he wouldn't have told them about his 'living sign' or the silk lady.
Ch'i, in many ways, can be likened to The Force (may it be with you); however, actually it's the other way around. Lukas should have said - "May the ch'i be with you." All those kungfu movies leverage the manipulation of ch'i. So whether ch'i is real or not, it is an important element in Chinese culture. (ie. Tai-ch'i).
Okay a question: What Chinese cultural trait do I express in the scene between Rowden and Lu Xing, given the Magistrate's nickname?
no clue. Though he is rather inscrutable.
Mei Lin comes into her own in the book's latter passages. As an author, why would have I had a non ch'i-t'ang member on this last tour in the tomb.
I don't
know but it seems like she was instrumental in keeping them on task. Plus, since you never intended them to come back out of the cave, she had to go with so she could be with Sidney.
Can you sing the Song of Sinology (and chew gum)
um. . . .no. . . .
Did the Lady of Silk catch you be surprise? Maybe a tear of joy?
not a bit. Sorry, but as soon as she was gone I though that she'd have to come back and be useful some way later. If I'd thought harder about it I probably would have expected her in the cave, but as soon as 'lady of silk' was mentioned and they were wondering if it could be the old queen (Wu whatever, not you
) I thought it was probably, somehow, Rose
Po-huai is based on Shiva, which is a Hindu god and concept, however the Buddhist's a well grounded in the Hindu faces of their gods, considering that Buddhism is godless (sans deity). Can you name the 2 other faces in the Hindu trinity.
no. . . you told me I didn't need to go back to my "Oriental Philosophies" text.
But I'm happy to be edumacated. . . . .
What do you think that Betsy the Quilter would do with a ch'i banner?
nah, they're too pretty to quilt. . . besides, the hole poking might damage the people therin -- if I understand them correctly, which I may not
The raucous scene in the Hall of Fire combines may elements. did you wonder how the adventurer's would escape? Did I surprise you?
I did wonder, but since they'd gone through the wormholes before it made sense when they realized they could go through one to get the
joy of finches So I hadn't already thought of it, but did not find it jarring.
Speculate (for the next book). Old Nick's ch'i is regained, but via what vessel and does that last minute hint give you a clue as to The Jade Owl's purpose?
they still have that pin and the ring and the owl. . . .dunno. . . .the feathers will probably play a role or you'd not have drawn attention to them there at the end.
Why would I have such a loony exit from the elevator in front of the school children?
I don't know, and, frankly, it struck as a very false note to me. I'm not sure of the year this is meant to be, but there is no way every thing would just be able to be smoothed over. They'd all be out on their butts for appearing unclothed to little kids. . .and likely on sex offender registries. Plus, they went through portals before and didn't lose their clothing, why this time. It made no sense. I think the scene would have been just as slapstick if they'd shown up dressed in their scorched and frozen clothing; Rose, after all, was in a buddhist monks robe.
The epilog is brief (unlike The Jade Owl's, which had a wedding). Did you catch who Meng Ka-bao really is?
yep. another John Battle son. What a randy fellow he was.
Well, I hope you enjoyed The Third peregrination even more than The Jade Owl. The Dragon's Pool builds upon these mountains and will take you to the same old places in new ways and new places in old ways. Hope everyone stays with me. Feedback is welcomed. Reviews and recommendations help (I'm Shameless when it comes to that), and encouragements to get you Books 4 & 5 is greatly appreciated.
I expect I will go on. . .but have a bunch of other things to get through as well. . . not expected before the new year.
Thanks for some great stories, though! And, yeah, if there are to be two more you better get on to writing them. . . I hope Peg is prodding and poking with her red pencil. . . . . .
Dilber MC Theme by HarzeM
