Dear Mr Stroud,
I finished the books about a week ago and I'm really impressed by them. This is the best fantasy trilogy I've ever read. I hope your other books will be translated to Hungarian too! The ending was really shoking. I hate Mandrake but I relly like Nathaniel so I was really sad at the end. :'( The world's not perfect, right?
I have some questions:
1. What Queezle's name means? Where did it come from? (Queezle's one of my favourite characters so I want to know everything about her ^_^ )
2. You once mentioned the Hungarian magicians. Can you tell me about them? Are they an ally of Prague? Is Austria-Hungary still exists?
3. Kitty said she wanted to travel to Egypt. What other countries did she visited?
4. Kitty's outside became old. What's with her insides? Did her little traveling to the OP shorten her lifetime?
That's all the questions (right now) I wanted to ask. Answer them whenever you have enuogh time to do it! No problem if it won't happen is the near future. I can wait ^_^
Hello Yana,
Thanks for your questions - sorry to take such a long time. Glad you enjoyed the Trilogy so much.
1. Queezle - Her name doesn't come from anywhere, I don't think. I just made it up! It was kind of meant to make her sound nice. I feel a bit sorry that I killed her off so fast; she is an interesting character.
2. Hungarian magicians - can you remind me where I mentioned them? I've been thinking hard but I can't recall the place. Politically speaking though, yes, you're right: in Nat/Kitty's world central Europe was dominated for centuries by the Holy Roman Empire centred on Prague - the region of Austria and Hungary would have fallen under their influence, and either be allies, or controlled by Prague, depending on the period. I guess that by Nat's time Prague's influence will have been diminished, so probably Austria and Hungary will be self-governing in some form. Budapest, being a great and ancient city, will have had plenty of magicians in its time, and in some periods might have been an important power in the East of Europe.
3. Kitty's travels: I can't tell you too much about them. She would have begun by going to see her friend Jakob in Belgium, but I think would then have gone off to some of ancient centres of magical power - so Egypt for sure, but I suspect also places in the Middle East.
4. Kitty's body and mind: Unlike Ptolemy centuries before, Kitty didn't stay in the OP for too long, so the damage to her body was limited. Some of the aging that she endured was probably temporary - Nat notices that she is looking better and stronger even after a really short time. I don't think that she is likely to die young - perhaps the reverse, because of the new power her visit to the OP gives her aura. She may always look slightly different - old and young at the same time -but she is spiritually very formidable now, as any passing djinni would at once see.
Hope that's ok, Yana. Tell me about where the Hungarian magicians are, and I'll give you more information if I can!
Jonathan
Dear Mr Stroud,
I'm sorry for the really really really late reply! Thank you for answering my questions!
I brought "Salamon király gyűrűje" (the Hungarian 4th book) not long ago and I decided to read the books again. I'm reading the 2nd book right now. I also lent the first book to my colleague and she really likes it too.
The Hungarians as "Magyars" are mentioned by Kitty in The Golem's Eye, part two, first chapter, as one of those who could have destroyed Pinn's shop and the other buildings. Thinking about it a little older and as I know our history, I think the Bartiverse Magyars are also very free spirited who are fighting against those empires who try to rule them (like we fought against Austria - two times - and Russia) so I can imagine them joining Gladstone when he attacked Prague. But that's just my theory.
And since I mentioned it... What about Russia? I don't remember reading about them. Do they have any power or are they gaining it behind everyone's back? Will it oppose America (when it becomes the new empire) in the future?
And one last question. What do you think about fanworks? I read you liked the animation made by whitepandamedia. What about the fanarts and fanfictions?
Sorry if anyone asked already my questions! Thank you for the answers to my first questions and again, sorry for the late reply!