Mr. Stroud,

I found myself hoping that Kitty, Nathaniel, Ptolemy and Bartimaeus would at some point directly and vocally express their "love" for one another (viz. "I love you!", exclaimed Kitty, launching herself into Nathaniel's arms.) You seem to have deliberately omitted the word "love" from the book.

At the end, I appreciated the power of how you illustrated their love by their deeds, exchanged looks and sarcastic remarks. Plus I think you maintain the integrity of their personalities and current relationship. I'm just wondering if you have a specific reason beyond these for not using the "L" word.

One other question. In PG, when Kitty picks up the silver disk you make a point of letting us know that it was uncomfortable for her. Are you suggesting that she is now somewhat of a hybrid herself? That she is, in essence, both a spirit and a human? This would make a GREAT story for the next book!

Best regards,

Erik

Hello Erik,

Many thanks for your questions, and apologies for the LONG delay in replying. In a way, I think you've answered the first question superbly yourself - I avoided the L word because I think to use it would have been to gravely jeopardise the 'integrity of their personalities': it simply wouldn't have felt right for any of my three main characters. And, as you say, I think it's more powerful to suggest the emotions underlying their actions through fleeting actions, looks, phrases etc, than it would be to bring it clumsily out into the open. But I didn't have any other reason for avoiding the word - if it had been appropriate to the characters and as an aesthetic choice I'd have happily used it, loud and clear!

Question 2: that was very well spotted. I'm not sure I'd go as far as to say she's a 'hybrid' exactly, but yes, she's definitely been affected by her time in the Other Place, and isn't quite the same as the other humans any more. Bart's aware of this too, thanks to the radiance of her aura.

As for the next book, well... maybe not in this one.

Jonathan