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Discussion thread for Agatha H. and the Clockwork Princess. Beware, Here There be SPOILERS
Welcome.
This is a thread for discussing the Girl Genius novelization Agatha H. and the Clockwork Princess, as well as all Girl Genius in general. The subject matter is the property of Phil and Kaja Foglio.
No spoilers are required in this thread. The assumption is you've read the material already. That is why this thread exists--to provide a place for people to talk without having to try to avoid giving away secrets.
I own this account. If you're rude or a jackass, I will delete your post. If you're debating in good faith and not annoying the natives, I won't. If people really can't behave, I'll delete the whole fershlugginer thread.
Have fun. Talk at will. If you don't want spoilers, run away now.
Hippogrif.
This is a thread for discussing the Girl Genius novelization Agatha H. and the Clockwork Princess, as well as all Girl Genius in general. The subject matter is the property of Phil and Kaja Foglio.
No spoilers are required in this thread. The assumption is you've read the material already. That is why this thread exists--to provide a place for people to talk without having to try to avoid giving away secrets.
I own this account. If you're rude or a jackass, I will delete your post. If you're debating in good faith and not annoying the natives, I won't. If people really can't behave, I'll delete the whole fershlugginer thread.
Have fun. Talk at will. If you don't want spoilers, run away now.
Hippogrif.
European Marriage Habits
We already know that there has been a problem with Valois heirs. They would seem likely to be genetic problems, in that they could be addressed by the Mongfish through prenatal tampering: cleaning up the gene pool sounds probable.
We know now that Selnikov is related to the Sturmvoraus ruling family...and going back I was able to see that he does indeed look like a younger Aaronev, and he has the family red-into-black hair in at least one frame. We also know, though, that he's married to Aaronev's sister. So we've got stronger evidence that the family marries within their own gene-pool.
Then there's Vi. She's of a related family that, on the one hand, has served House Sturmvoraus for generations. But she's still close enough by relationship to call Tarvek "cousin," and vice versa. And she and Tarvek are clearly genetically related...they've both got the hair, eyes, and the same skin tones, if nothing else. We still don't know her surname. It would not, at this point, surprise me if it's Selnikov.
The thing is, I've always wondered a bit about the degree of consanguinity. The way the term "cousin" was used through much of European history, there didn't have to be a very close relationship. But the way most of the world, including Europe, has tended to favor cousin-marriages for social, financial, and political reasons ups the odds of a very inbred household. Indeed, Tarvek may be unusual specifically because ANYONE did a genetic clean-up on him.
In any case, on the one hand, knowing that the Sturmvoraus do seem to marry in ups the questions about Tarvek and Vi's relationship. But knowing how closely they seem to marry in ups the concerns over the whole idea. One cousin-marriage per generation or so does't rock the boat and can even strengthen positive family traits. In livestock it's called "line breeding," and it is a useful technique when used within reason. But get too many generations of too-common and poorly selected in-breeding and you get an ugly mess.
Re: European Marriage Habits
On the other hand, if the Mongfish could clean up Tarvek's genes prenatally; perhaps someone else also has that skill? That would make genetic problems moot.
Myself, I think neither Tarvek nor Violetta would be happy married to each other. Tarvek is considerably smarter than Vi (witness her inability to see past his previous mask, even with demonstrations) and I suspect that like Gil he needs a woman who can at minimum follow his ideas. Vi also doesn't share his interests (muses) or appreciate sparkiness (twisted courtship rituals) unlike Sleipnir's appreciation for Theo's sparkiness. Tarvek also goes so melty gooshy when he gets to snuggle Agatha, that I think he would want a softer more supportive type of relationship than he'd get with Vi. He's had enough of prickly difficult family, and I don't think he likes it.
She's a very straightforward girl, who likes pretty things and obstacles she can see how to overcome; Tarvek frustrates her no end and sets off her temper, which I don't think she enjoys either. She will be much happier with a non-spark fellow. I like her with Moloch because he has much the same straightforward solutions to problems; and I think he'd not provoke her temper nearly so much. Back to back in the service of her lady and his, clear goals and a path to get there; that's what Vi wants.
They do love each other under it all; I just really see it as a sibling relationship, not romantic in the least. One that most definitely is better with a fair amount of space available to get away from the other when needed.
Re: European Marriage Habits
Re: European Marriage Habits
If Gil were not to end up with Agatha and Tarvek really is planning to resurrect Anevka and get Lu out of her head too, Anevka would be a politically useful alternative. She's royal and Sparky, and marrying the opposition is often a useful part of ending wars. Marrying into the recognized Storm King bloodline could only help, too. Not that I think this is in any way likely, but interesting for speculation.
Re: European Marriage Habits
On that note...
It's been part of the subtext from the very start that royals make royal matches. Yes, Klaus wanted to find Gil a wife partly to provide him with a bit of bedroom fun...but also to make a proper royal match for him. He wanted Gil to marry "the right kind of girl."
It's been made clear in a number of ways that if Agatha is the right kind in some ways, as a Heterodyne, she's also the wrong kind because she's a Heterodyne AND a dark horse.
So I've wondered if the possible intended final outcome is Agatha married to neither, and the two boys matched to "fitting" political wives. And in that context it has occurred to me that the novelization makes clear that, at least at one time, there was a Princess with a brain but no body, and also a body with no brain. I can honestly see an outcome with Tarvek married to Zulenna--a loyal vassal of House Wulfenbach under most circumstances--and Gil married to a Sturmvoraus who allows him to avoid the genetic burden of House Sturmvoraus: Anveka's brain in Olga's body. Especially as Olga was retrieved and revived under the belief she was the Heterodyne Girl.
(Shudders) Which suddenly leaves me wondering whose brain Klaus intended to put in that reanimated body, and what he then hoped to accomplish. Somehow I hope he was smart enough to know that convincing Gil to marry the body of the girl he loved without the brain to go with it would have been essentially impossible or inhuman.
Re: European Marriage Habits
Who could Vi marry besides Moloch? Hmm. Van could probably handle her, though I'm not sure he likes that much drama in his life. I really can't see her with any of the other prisoners. The jaegers might actually like her style, but I'm not sure they're available. Maybe some of the other members of the town council have children or grandchildren; the lady with the crush on Klaus might have the appropriate sort of offspring.
Re: European Marriage Habits
I think her attraction to Moloch is cute, but in the long run I think she'd scare him. Moloch doesn't get a lot of control in his life - having a girlfriend/wife who could turn him into a pretzel does not like something he'd enjoy in the long run. I do wonder if he realizes how scary Sanaa actually is. If Violetta gets to make it to those parties she's hoping for, lets Tarvek (in a good mood, hopefully) at her wardrobe, dances with the boys too, and she'll find a better match.