Reread the intro to Clockwork Princess and I wondered if Thinkomancer something new, or just a new word for Spark? It's also interesting that the fighters have madboys. Sparks are subordinate to the politicians in this time.
It's also interesting to see that, in the book, it's very clear that Andronicus and Klaus have figured out the same method for keeping Sparks/Thinkomancers busy and safe for the rest of the world. Give them a place to putter and acknowledgement of their work and they're happy.
My feeling from the intro is also that Andronicus cannot be Tarvek somehow moved to the past; he just seems too unfamiliar with Balan's Gap and Sturmhalten, there's not Tarvek's possesiveness about *my* castle.
Thinkomancer
It's also interesting to see that, in the book, it's very clear that Andronicus and Klaus have figured out the same method for keeping Sparks/Thinkomancers busy and safe for the rest of the world. Give them a place to putter and acknowledgement of their work and they're happy.
My feeling from the intro is also that Andronicus cannot be Tarvek somehow moved to the past; he just seems too unfamiliar with Balan's Gap and Sturmhalten, there's not Tarvek's possesiveness about *my* castle.