Dear Mr. Stroud,

I really, really love the BT. I recently reread the series, and I have to say- you score better than Rowling (and coming from me, that's quite a big thing!).

So I have a few questions:

1) When a djinni knows a magician's true name, he can repel spells from that magician. Is this possible the other way? i.e, if Barti shoots a detonation towards me, if I say "Bartimaeus" and the counter spell, will it be countered?

2) How did you think of the name "Verroq"?

3) Have you read the Harry Potter series? If yes, do you like it?

4) What made you choose "Samarkand"?

5) Exactly how does Bartimaeus "dismiss" Kitty from the Other Place? After all, he doesn't know the words of dismissal. Is there some other way?

6) Nat dismisses Ramuthra in AoS. Is it possible to dismiss djinn other than one's own, or is it only possible when a summoning horn is used?

7) How does the summoning horn work? Is there a spirit trapped inside it?

Thank you so much for answering our questions,

With love from a budding author,
Count

Hi there,

Glad you've enjoyed them. Sorry to be so long answering your questions.

1. No, knowing a djinni's name allows a magician to summon the spirit and bind it to his/her will - but only if the rigorous rules of summoning are followed. A shouted command like that would have no effect and you'd be blown to smithereens.

2. Hmm. I'm sorry to say I can't remember. It just sounded good and menacing.

3. I've read the first 4 and enjoyed them very much. My favourite of them was number 3.

4. I liked the melody of the name.

5. When in the Other Place Bart is part of its very substance and so able to expel Kitty when she is ready to go.

6. Excellent question. Ordinarily you can't dismiss someone else's slave, but when it's been brought over by the summoning horn, it IS possible, essentially by breaking the horn, and saying the correct counter-summons at the same time.

7. There are several pretty potent spirits trapped inside, forced to open and maintain a portal to the OP when the horn is blown.

Good luck with your writing!

J