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: Agatha and Sexuality

[claudeng]

She obviously finds Tarvek comforting, and I'm pretty sure uses that exact word in the novel. Gil is exciting, an adventure, but that's a bit scary. Tarvek is comforting, which is plenty seductive in its own way, but might not be as exciting. (A gross over-simplification, I'm sure)

I'm crossing my fingers that Tarvek gets a "you're alive!" kiss when Agatha sees him again, although depending on the circumstances I could definitely imagine plenty of other reactions. It should be interesting and informative.

Re: Agatha and Sexuality

[hippogrif]

(Chuckle) Yes. Comforting. Also tingly. I tend to read this and think that Gil's your first ride on a roller coaster, assuming you like roller coasters. Tarvek's your first ride on a gondola at midnight on the canals in Venice.

Re: Agatha and Sexuality

[hippogrif]

Here's the thing: they're definitely writing two distinct relationships with the two boys. She's actually better at communicating with Tarvek: they fight less, talk more, and seem to understand each other better. She turns to Tarvek when she wants comfort or reassurance. The novel does make it clear she also finds him not just cute, but sexy...but it's a dark chocolate thing, not a brass band: seductive and lower key than Gil's Big Brass Band effect on her.

Gil's sexy, fun to work with and fight with, charming, maddening, fascinating, confusing. She and he love to spark together, that's really clear. They're the two hot-heads, they're both inclined to action. He's a sunshine lover: if Tarvek's smoke and candlelight, Gil's rainbows and parades.

If Tarvek and Agatha do get that kiss, I am not sure how either will react to it...and frankly, from what I think I see, his "best" kiss may prove to be something slow, sexy and quiet when they're neither of them under too much other pressure.

I felt a little for the poor boy when he was talking to Violetta after The Great Kiss. It nearly melted his glasses... and he felt he had nothing to offer that could top it.

That does make me tend to think Lu is right about his lack of experience, and feel strongly that he still thinks Gil's got more practice in than he really does. It sounds too much like an inexperienced and insecure young man who figures he's just not in the same ballpark: between sensing that Agatha's more interested in Gil, and fearing he's not nothing to match his rival's abilities, he's counting himself out of the running.