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

Re: favorite added scene

[lightningnettle.livejournal.com]

Oh yes! I was thinking I needed to go back to the comic and see if I'd missed it there. I think that's where she starts to really think him special, not just cute.

Re: favorite added scene

[hippogrif]

That scene is what I always thought it was intended to be, but clearer and more complex. I'm very, very happy with that. And I agree with Claudeng: it's the perfect sparky offer, and it shows Agatha a lot about Tarvek. (chuckle) Such a thoughtful boy!

Re: favorite added scene

[lightningnettle.livejournal.com]

Inviting a potential enemy to dine? Make them comfortable by offering a Death Ray! It's in all the best Sparky Ettiquette books.

Another lovely detail was the one about Dimo knitting decorative socks, I really hope we get to see some of these in the comics! Maybe he'll make a pair for Agatha, I seem to recollect that her spiffy white and red pair got torn up or lost somehow.

Re: favorite added scene

[hippogrif]

Oh, lordy, yes. And it's good research, too: a lot of soldiers and sailors took up knitting and fancy knitting: it provided necessary gear and the occasional salable goods, and was easily portable.

Tarvek is a *gentleman* rather than a *gentleman adventurer.* He's also written very clearly as a gentle man. A point I melted over. Even when ready to lynch his father, and coping with far too much new information, he's gentle cleaning off Agatha's face from the torte, among other instances...

A gentle person, when possible. His gentleness with Tinka also melted me.

Re: favorite added scene

[lightningnettle.livejournal.com]

His feeling of responsibility for Tinka and to the Circus for taking her were to me the big, flashing signs in the comic that here was a good guy. Watch how people treat the powerless, and you'll know their character.

Re: favorite added scene

[hippogrif]

Yes. It's part of what set red alerts off for me later, when the story "framed" him as a rotter. He just failed to make sense as an ethically black or even null character. He was too clearly committed to what we'd think of s "good."

Re: favorite added scene

[lightningnettle.livejournal.com]

It rather set up the whole Tarvek is misunderstood theme too. The circus didn't know Tarvek's Very Good Reason for taking Tinka; and they also missed his attempt to make restitution. All they see from their side is theft of a valuable member of their cast.

Re: favorite added scene

[hippogrif]

Yes, and they see him in the context of his father and family, who really are that dangerous and arbitrary. The circus folks are quite right to take every precaution and avoid Balan's Gap when possible.

Re: favorite added scene

[claudeng]

Do you think Anevka underestimated Tarvek as well? I'm really wondering how open he was with her, or whether he was obfuscating with her as well as with everyone else - probably less so, but still keeping things back. I'm not sure we really can tell from the text - she obviously has faith in him, and doesn't seem to dismiss him as simply a tool, but I do wonder who was going to be the dominant power in the long term in their original plan. Not true, I'd be almost certain that each of them intended to be, one way or the other.

Aneveka

[lightningnettle.livejournal.com]

Given how evil Aneveka is; and that he never let her know he built backdoors into her body; I am certain that he obsfucated with her too.

Re: Aneveka

[hippogrif]

Some of the backdoors thing, though, is just Spark caution. Like the (delightful detail) secret hand gesture to let people know there's a crazy machine, or that great discussion between Gil and Tarvek during the Dingbot fight, about "Oh, that never works!"

If you're the sort of spark who makes a robot without overrides, you just deserve whatever happens next!

Re: Aneveka

[sffcorgi]

I really want a demonstration of that gesture now.

Tarvek committed to good

[bunnyjadwiga]

Yes, but the book text makes it very clear that he's been living a bit in a fantasy world where he can fix everything if he just had control. He really only hits the "Ends don't justify the means" point in Castle Heterodyne, when he can find himself surrounded by less-evil characters...

Re: favorite added scene

[claudeng]

Fills a lot of time too. My Navy father-in-law does great cross-stitch.

I think they translated the dinner party beautifully, as well. I love how they wrote Tarvek's spit-take (I laughed out loud, even knowing exactly what was coming) and extending the "you're very cute" line was so sweet.

Re: favorite added scene

[sffcorgi]

The knitting is mentioned for the first time, I think, in the Secret Blueprints but Dimo's thought is the first time it's really been brought up since then.

Re: favorite added scene

[hippogrif]

It's a great little detail. I like it.