Hi there Mr. Stroud! I just finished reading Ptolemy's gate last week (I know it's late, but great books take zillions of years before reaching us here in the Philippines) and I must say, I totally loved it! I love trilogies, especially because it's not hard to find them all, and I can easily squeeze them into my budget. By the way, the ending totally rocks! I can't imagine better ways of ending it. It's sad that Bart and Nat didn't have time to settle their conflicts and tell each other how they really value each other, and that's what makes it so heartbreaking!

Sentimental foolishness aside, I have some questions for you, in relation to my other post in the book discussion forum.. It's been discussed, but I just wanted to hear what you have to say..


1. I just wanted to know how exactly did Honorius the Afrit got himself bound in Gladstones bones?

1.a Is he summoned by Gladstone himself? Like what Makepeace and the others did? I remember Honorius saying something like "Mr. G will not be pleased"..
1.b Or is he fused in there by a servant of Gladstone? And if so, is his binding the same as those entities bound in artifacts as the Amulet of Samarkand or the Staff? If so, why can he manipulate the object he is infused with to his own will, aside from doing just what he is bound to do? I'm confused, since in PG, Faquarl was only able to manipulate Hopkins because he has taken over his mind, and therefore, his will. But what about Honorius? Sorry for blabbering. :X

2. On a related subject, in PG, when Nathaniel and Bart (as one) is about to enter the Glass palace, Bart mentioned something about not being worried about all those iron because he is protected inside Nat's body. Are beings infused in objects or bodies invulnerable to such weaknesses i.e. silver and iron? Or is it only temporary? Honorius seemed to be affected by the silver spears Bart and the other djinni used against him. And Nouda, too, perished because of all those iron.

3. When Nouda's essence started breaking out of Makepeace's body, did the Makepeace die? If he did, isn't there a rule somewhere (I don't know if this is correct) that when the master dies, the spirit is free? Then why is it that Nouda still remained on Earth after that? Or are there other rules of binding when it comes to summoning entities into your own body? Sorry if my questions are rather confusing..

4. Did Jabor die? I read that the rift that is caused by Ramuthra's arrival leads to the other place. If this is the case, those beings that were sucked into it, will they just return to the Other Place? Or did they die? Jabor seems to be seriously weakened by the rift, his essence split into fragments...

5. I just noticed that when it comes to spells and commands you didn't bother to describe the details (e.g. the exact words said, the exact rune drawn, etc.) , very unlike some authors that I encountered.. Did you do it on purpose so that the action will not slacken?




That's all and many thanks for answering you fans' questions despite your busy schedule! We really appreciate it!

Kudos to you!

Jessica Nasayao

P.S. : I hope I can get my hands on a copy of Ring of Solomon soon! It just pains me that I couldn't join in all the excitement.

Gladstone summoned it into himself.
His charge is to kill the intruders, keep all possessions. He can do anything else also, though.
Honorius is in the BONES, not the body entirely.
Nouda and Honorius were exposed, Bart was not.
It's like Confinement, even after the Magician's death, the spirit is trapped. Makepeace did die.
Jabor died.
Ues, action doesn't slacken because of this.

Good questions, by the way.