Discussion thread for Agatha H. and the Clockwork Princess. Beware, Here There be SPOILERS

[hippogrif]

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.

Comments

Tarvek as ruler

[claudeng]

I agree, I'm seeing Tarvek less and less as a ruler type as they go on. I could really wonder if "chief advisor" works out to a good place for him - he understands governance, he likes the twisty backroom stuff, but do we really think he has the ruthless side the Baron has? Eh, maybe we just haven't seen it yet, but I'm not sure.

Thanks for the idea of what Tarvek's brooding about - I've been pretty blank on what that was all about. Maybe it's time to think about it some more.

I really do love that they've written one man who thinks he's a villain, but every time push comes to shove, he's trying to protect or save someone, and one who really believes he's a hero but has done some pretty scary and/or questionable acts. Both definitely have means vs. ends issues.

Re: Tarvek as ruler

[hippogrif]

I see him as a ruler -- very much as Andronicus or as Vetinary in Discworld. But that said, I also see him as having mixed feelings about it.

Ruthless? I'm less convinced he's not...though he's still young and squeamish. But he was able to grit his teeth and steel Agatha's voice, trick Anveka and then turn her off, juggle with Lu, plan something with the broadcast beacon, betray Agatha even if it was to rescue her ultimately...

He's got a tough core. He's a bit like a hobbit: there's a core of wiry, resolute strength that allows him to go through with things he clearly does not like if they have to be done.

What we still don't know in full context is what his ultimate motivating concerns are. If he's ultimately most dedicated to saving Europa from itself, he could choose to promote Gil, Agatha, himself, or a complete random new character, based on whomever he assesses as most able to reign, keep the peace, and develop a stable and self-sustaining system.

Re: Tarvek as ruler

[claudeng]

I think I was conflating "ruler" and "conqueror" when I wrote that. Ruler, definitely. And yes, things are definitely going to get interesting when he either explains himself to someone or further events force him to reveal what he's actually after.