Dear Mr. Stroud.

My name is Jesse and I've read the Bartimaeus Trilogy through many times. It is an amazing piece of work. Anyways I would like if you would be so kind as to answer some of my questions. The questions are bolded as I include other details

1. In Ptolemys Gate Kitty arrives back from the 'Other Place' in rugged condition with gray hair lines over her face, etc. etc. Why is this if she was only in for a couple of minutes in "Earth time"?

2. Nathaniel is a real inspiring character, it may sound silly but your books ,through reading them, have taught me that if you need something go after it with your full ambition. With Bart in your stories I have also learnt that to succeed you must find an equilibrium. My question here is how did you keep their personalities so cooresponding and equal, an example of this is how they cooperated when together in Nat's body. Is this related to anything in real life? (I realise this question may seem confusing)

3. I would like to propose a continuation of the Bartimaeus Trilogy. I know others have stated this but I have a little change in my thought. I think including Kitty in this one, and making her the main character like Nathaniel. Or something along those lines. I own Buried Fire and I have a hard time getting into the book. With the BT I got right into it. Is there any chance you may make more of the series, by that I mean involving the same, or just some, characters. (No bolding here as I think it all ties together in a way.)


4. I believe this is my final question for now and it is quick and to the point. In Ptolemys Gate at the end I am unsure, is Ms. Piper president? If not what is her status at the end of the book?

Well, thats all.. for now

Hi Jesse,

Thanks for your questions - sorry to be slow replying...

1. Kitty was only in the OP for a short while, but its alien environment had a very rapid effect upon her - creating symptoms like ageing on her skin and hair. It simply isn't very healthy to go across to the other side (just as it isn't for demons to come to Earth). Having said that, some of the effects evidently diminish after her return - she didn't stay as long as Ptolemy did, all those years ago.

2. Almost the most important thing in the books, right from the beginning, is that Bart and Nat have equal and opposite personalities - they are very evenly matched in power and will, while being very different in character. A lot of the tension and drama in the trilogy comes from this balance, and the resolution at the end of PG comes when they (grudgingly) put aside their long-standing rivalry and team up as one. Then their (previously hidden) mutual regard and understanding comes into play and they work extremely well together - because they are so closely tied as well as being so different. From the beginning it was fun to match them up, so that Bart's extrovert energy crashes into Nat's stubborn ambition, time and again. They complemented each other, in narrative style as much as anything. I'm not sure it's related to anything in real life specifically, other than the need for all of us to harmonise our various qualities.

3. It may be that I'll return to the world of Bart at some point - and I've got some ideas about how to do it, but I'm not going to do it just yet. I'm exploring a different world at the moment. Whether or not we'd see Kitty again, I'm not sure. But your idea is interesting, and I'll bear it in mind!

4. Ms Piper chairs the Council, which is now formed of commoners as well as magicians, and which is trying to piece together a new, workable, form of government. I don't think this is quite the same as being president or prime minister: it's probably best to think of her as a sort of 'caretaker' leader, who is trying to get things under control. Perhaps there will be elections for a new government, somewhere down the line - providing the magicians and commoners don't start fighting, that is!

Bye for now,

Jonathan