The Jamey Dodger Society

[ninedaysaqueen]

For prevention of cruelty to reprobates.

Current Members
ninedaysaqueen
smallsotong
inkasrain
an_english_girl
dannybailey
filkferengi
mikkaybear
agh_4
frosted_feather

*rings gong*

I call to order the first meeting of the Jamey Dodger Society, a group for those who have read a "Thick as Thieves" arc or want to become as spoiled as Varuca Salt.

Comments

Timeline

[smallsotong]

Where do you think this fits into the timeline with respect to ACoK? I was trying to figure this out, because it doesn't seem that Kamet is aware of any of the events in ACoK that involve the Medes. It seems like it would have to be some time after ACoK for Attolia's pregnancy to fit into the timeline. Maybe because Nahuseresh was in disgrace, he didn't know much about the Mede involvement in Sounis (and therefore Kamet was also out of the loop)? What do you think?

Re: Timeline

[inkasrain]

Being terrible with timelines, my only contribution here is a literary consideration. I'll admit that the latter half of the travelogue had me kind of... well, a little bored. I was waiting for Something To Happen Already (and maybe to not spend so much time tinning a pot.) The only literary reason I can think of for such a long journey is the progress of Irene's pregnancy -- that she had to carry to a certain point, and that Costis and Kamet couldn't arrive until then.

Why that is exactly, I'm not sure... but I assume it must be important.

RE: Re: Timeline

[ninedaysaqueen]

But we now know Costis can tin pots! XD

I personally found the later parts the most exciting. I only ever started to get a little bored when they were traveling with the caravan. The length of the journey is parellel to Kamet's personal journey. By the time he gets to Attolia, he's ready to help them and genuinely wants to be free. Megan had to take her time with making that transition believable. The Kamet that escaped from the port with Costis wasn't anywhere near that point. He probably would've given them false information or something...

While this is definitely a travel book like Thief, the stakes are much higher and the danger far more at their heels. There is also the struggle for survival against the elements while avoiding a man hunt. Unlike Thief which is much more meander-y? for the first half. Though the Thief has a similar reason for all that traveling, stage setting and character development.

Re: Timeline

[smallsotong]

I actually really liked the tinning pots part!! :D :D

Mostly I enjoyed seeing Costis interact with the family...and Kamet got to experience how normal people live and interact.

RE: Re: Timeline

[ninedaysaqueen]

Costis is a man of many skillz! :D He can even sing!

I liked the detail that he learned from a friend's family but his father dissaproved of him learning an oklie trade.

RE: Timeline

[ninedaysaqueen]

I'm working on that too. Melehert arrives when Sophos is at the Attolian court, and Costis is familar with Melehert and knows about the statue. Thus, he is either still at court during that time or is training in the hinterlands and is recieving letters from Aris.

My conclusion is that eveything takes place after Cok or Costis's journey to Medea overlaps with the end of Cok.

Kamet doesn't appear to know much about the current Little Pennisula politics beyond QoA. He doesn't even mention the assasssins Nahuseresh sent in KoA. My theory is that he either doesn't have access to this information because Nahuseresh was away from court or he wants to forget all about Attolia and is ignoring anything that has something to do with it. Since he is also busy with his own work and has his own problems, my money is on the later or it's a little of both.