Hi Mr. Stroud
I came across the Trilogy in my School Library at least 4 years back and I have read it around 4 times. The trilogy/series is BRILLIANT! I love the depth of character and the plot and the big questions the characters ask themselves.
That being said, I would like to ask you a few questions:

1) If the spirit is being summoned the very first time, what is the spirit's reaction in general? I mean, I get the pain part but how does the spirit react to it?

2) What is Bart's true form? I mean we get hints here and there, but still we never actually know.

3) I know its early to ask this but are you planning to write another Bart book? I would absolutely love that idea, although I was not expecting a prequel to it and the Ring of Solomon is brilliant, but I can still hope right? Bart has so much Potential, I wish there was a book just about Bart and Ptolemy! We could see him change instead of just knowing the difference!

Thanks in advance

Hello there and thanks for your questions. Sorry about the slow reply. Glad you like the Trilogy!

1. First summons: it is probably not unlike the reaction of a baby being born: a mix of bewilderment, outrage, pain, annoyance... It's the most important moment of all, because it defines that spirit ever after - the amount of essence they have, their resulting power and status...
2. Well, his true form is a wishy-washy fluid kind of gas/liquid - i.e. as part of the pure essence of the Other Place. As for his infamous 'seventh plane' true form, tentacles and all, it's probably best to leave it to our imaginations...
3. Hmm. I'm not sure about a Ptolemy novel. I sort of feel that I've said all there is to say about him (mainly because he's a nice guy and therefore not likely to have lots of comic hissy-fit arguments with Bart). But I do have a file by my desk with a few thoughts for another Bart book... It's sort of sitting there while I work on other things, but I'll keep you posted in the months ahead.

J :)

*sigh We're going to have to wait…but Lockwood and Co. is brilliant, too!

Could we maybe have some short stories of bartimaeus through the centuries?