Polls for the traveling author: rate the AQ series and ship Alexandra (again)

[inverarity]

I am traveling. Entertain me.

[Poll #1845386]

Comments

Talkity talk talk

[tealterror0.livejournal.com]

So I spent way more time than I probably should have thinking about this, and then decided to write a loooong post about my thoughts. If you're not interested in listening (well, technically reading) to me ramble, feel free to ignore.

1. Shipping

Okay, so despite previously being one of the most vocal Alex/Anna shippers here...I actually chose "someone else." I apologize for my betrayal, but I really don't ship them anymore. And I think it's because their relationship is just too unequal and always will be.

I like Anna, a lot. But when it comes to Alex, she's a follower. The only time she wasn't a follower was that one time in Deathly Regiment she chewed Alex out for being a crappy friend. On reflection, I actually think their relationship had a chance to be more equal after that--until Anna told the Confederation Alex was meeting with Abraham, which totally reversed that development and made Anna into more of a follower than ever. She showed no sign of growing out of that in Book 4; she developed some Deadpan Snarker tendencies, true, but she still basically did everything Alex wanted her to do without question.

So to pull my vague thoughts together: I think if they got together it'd be cute. But at this point I don't think they'll ever grow out of this messed-up power dynamic. So a romantic relationship would end up being really unhealthy for the both of them IMO. They work much better as friends.

Who am I shipping Alex with, you ask? Well, for guys it's Johnny, who ended up being really awesome (seriously, he took on Dark Wizards with rocks and won). For girls...

...Angelique. I know, I feel bad about it, and it started off as a joke, but I kind of really want to see it now! I don't even know why! *buries head in hands*

2. Favorite/Least Favorite Book

I spent way too much time thinking about this, especially since it didn't really matter.

First, a disclaimer: Since I was a beta reader for book 4 (and only for book 4), I experienced that book in a much different way than the others. Not only in terms of being able to control when I read the chapters and seeing them in an unfinished state (though both are important), but in order to give effective comments I had to read the chapters with a much more critical eye than I did the other books. Therefore, I'm probably judging book 4 more harshly than it really deserves.

That said, my order of favorites is probably:

1. Deathly Regiment
2. (tied) Lands Below; Stars Above
4. Thorn Circle

Deathly Regiment has some problems with pacing (nothing really happens in chapters 10-14) and having too many subplots. But it has a strong plot, Alex trying to resurrect Max, almost from the beginning to the end. Both Alex and Anna go through a lot of character development, and a lot of emotionally compelling events happen. And the Deathly Regiment revelation is inspired.

Lands Below and Stars Above are really close in quality level. The odd thing is they shouldn't be; overall, I think Stars Above is actually much better-written. But the climax of Lands Below is much better--the climax of Stars Above is probably the worst of all the books. Let me explain...in the next post! Yeah, I'm nowhere near done.

Re: Talkity talk talk

[tealterror0.livejournal.com]

The major problem with Stars Above is the segment between when Alex returns from the Indian Territories and Spring Break. This is the final third of the book, and it should be when tension and suspense are being steadily ratcheted upward. Instead, we get shipping and foreshadowing.

I don't necessarily have an issue with shipping and foreshadowing. I have an issue when they take up the entire last third of a book. When the chapters before the climax don't directly contribute to the climax, it's a problem. Oh, and the climax itself? I like the Nemesis Spirit and John Manuelito as antagonists, but it's hard to deny it's a far less epic confrontation than in any of the other books. Probably because it all takes place in one small room in a basement.

Compare that to Lands Below, which probably has the best climax out of all the books, for reasons that should be obvious. My major issues with Lands Below are that its antagonists (Darla, John Manuelito, and the Generous Ones) are rather uncompelling, and it basically has two different main plots (Mors Mortis Society and Lands Below) with little to do with each other.

Honestly, I would've ranked Stars Above as #3 were it not for the last chapter, which was amazing and went a fair distance to make up for the issues with the climax. Not all the way, but a fair amount.

As for Thorn Circle? Well, it was Inverarity's first book and wasn't beta'd so we can cut it some slack. I actually think it has the best pacing and strongest antagonist out of all of them, and it's certainly not a bad book. But it's the worst-written, and some obvious places where a beta would've helped (a lot of irrelevant scenes, some Mary Sue stuff for Alex, etc). And the plot is probably the least interesting out of all of them, though that actually doesn't bother me as much as it might.

3. Ending

I really wanted a "Bittersweet" option, but while you use that word you also have "Tragic" before it, and I'm not expecting a tragic ending. So I chose "Mostly happy, some tears," even though what I really expect is "Half happy, half tears," to be glib.

For the most part, endings should be of the same tone as the rest of the story; a sad ending to happy series or a happy ending to a sad series will feel like an Ass Pull and will tend to (rightfully) get people pissed off at you. So while the question is "What kind of ending are you expecting?", what it's really asking is "What kind of tone does the Alexandra Quick series have?"

Inverarity has talked several times about how his series is "darker," or more tragic, than the Harry Potter one, and it is. But it's not that much darker. Basically, it has more deaths and a more cynical worldview, but that's about it.

There are other aspects that seem like they're darker. Like the government ritually sacrificing children, and racism, and the terrorist Abraham Thorn is somewhat sympathetic, and stuff. But these make it edgier, not more tragic. To explain why, I'll just copy from Dan Hemmens:

Secondly, horrors of actual, non-school-based wars aside, "like the real world but nastier" is yet another way of saying "like the real world but better".

None of the things I listed above make the series more tragic because none of them impact the characters we care about. To put it baldly, they're basically window-dressing. This doesn't make them bad--edgy window dressing is not necessarily any worse than happy window dressing--but they don't impact the "tragicness" of the series. Alex having to deal with people who sacrifice children is not necessarily any more tragic than Alex having to deal with Larry the school bully.

So when you ignore the window dressing and look at the core: both bad stuff and good stuff happens to Alex, and while she does really go through the ringer, each book ends with a generally positive outlook. So I don't expect Alex to fully succeed in her goals and I expect at least one of her friends to die, but it's going to end on a happy note because, despite everything, the series really is on balance optimistic.

[uneko.livejournal.com]

I ship Anna and Alex. Why? because of everyone, of all of her friends, Anna matters most. It's cruel to say that, but everyone else (of her friends) she's been there, repeatedly. She's been persistant and caring and I'm pretty sure that if not for her efforts, everyone else would have left her by now. Anna is the one who keeps reaching out and holding on, even when Alex would push everyone away... Someone else commented that she was a follower... Nah. Anna simply knows that Alex is a leader and can't be lead herself. Can't rely on others. So she's worked to put herself, and her others in a position where Alex CAN turn to them and ask for help. and.. she's succeeded. When Alex has had to go against the trust of her friends, it's most often Anna she thinks about, and it's Anna she worries about. Anna reminds me of a lot of Oriental families I know... where the "man" is the head of household, while the woman quietly controls her husband :3

Though secondarily, Alex and Brian would be cute together one day <3 <3 but right NOW, Brian doesn't have enough play in the series. --at current state, I could see her ending being heading back to Larkin Mills after a long battle and Brian being kind to her.. and... kind of a blooming hope sort of thing before the cover of the last book closed... but he also would make a good 'sacrifice' to the book gods... a character who the audience and main character cares about, but the audience is not deeply emotionally tied into.

Anyway, I picked deathly or lands for favorite, I think. Don't quite remember. Stars didn't get my winning vote simply because I didn't enjoy the pacing at the end so much. all of the stuff out in the desert was exciting and thrilling.... then she came home, was paranoid for a while (which I loved) and then suddenly, plot climax out of left field. I was kinda left going "wait, it's over?" which removed some of the fun for me from the book. Plus, I loved Max <3 The difference might be the difference between a complete book I read over a few days sitting, and a book I started reading 'in progress' and had to wait for several weeks to see the conclusions of. WHile the later is of course VERY exciting, it's a lot harder to become fully invested in a story that way..... I maybe have to go reread in a little bit. :D

for least fave I think I chose thorn circle, but I wonder if I should take that back... thorn circle as a lot of fun for me also because it was the first step. it had all of the magic in it. just like the first few chapters of harry potter, Alexandra at he pond, with the kappa, learning the ins and out of magical school was thrilling. I LOVE the 'discovery' in such stories. Hearkens back, I expect, to my increasingly dwindling hope that an owl will knock on my window some day and go "hi! I know you're nearly 30, but COME TO our MAGIC school and learn how special you REALLY are!" :)

as for endings... well, it does depend on how things keep going. The one difference between Alexandra and Harry is that Harry had Voldemort. a very clear and simple enemy. Alex... does not have an enemy with a face. She fights against the very nature of fate itself, it seems. (there are bad guys with faces, but none of them are "Voldemort") ... thus, i'ts hard to get a feeling for how things 'will' end... So, I think I default to the idea that this is not a story where everyone is doomed. This is not a story where everyone except alex/anna/whatever dies. I COULD see it being a story where Alex dies.... but I don't think so. will someone die? very possibly. Will people be hurt? possibly disfigured? Oh, yes. I think that very much as a possibility. ... but I think the over all tone of the ending will be "we won!" .. but not happily ever after. :C I dunno, I'm rambling :)

[tealterror0.livejournal.com]

Someone else commented that she was a follower... Nah. Anna simply knows that Alex is a leader and can't be lead herself. Can't rely on others. So she's worked to put herself, and her others in a position where Alex CAN turn to them and ask for help. and.. she's succeeded.

That was me! I commented that! :D Validation!

Seriously, though. What you described is exactly what I meant by her being a follower. She's a good follower, no doubt...but still a follower.

Anna's a great friend for Alex, don't get me wrong. But IMO, a romantic relationship shouldn't involve one person being a "leader" and the other person putting herself in a position to be asked for help, should the leader find it convenient to do so.

Like, at the end of Deathly Regiment, where Alex basically goes all JROC and literally gives orders to Anna. (She does something similar when they confront Mary at the 1/3 point of Stars Above.) That kind of thing is disturbing enough when they're friends; if they start dating and Alex still orders her around, it's even worse.

All that said, I wouldn't put it past Inverarity to have them start dating, and it would probably make for an interesting storyline. But I think of "shipping" as wanting people to get together and stay together, not temporarily hook up, and in that sense I can't honestly say I ship Alex and Anna anymore. :(

[uneko.livejournal.com]

See, I don't see that as following. I see Anna being tryign to take control from the back. She places the restrictions she thinks she can on Alex, and slowly is reining her in. the problem isnt' so much that she's a 'follower' as it is that Alex is a rather thoughtless friend.. .and right NOW would be a pretty poor lover. She isn't READY for a relationship.. not even with another "leader'. She needs to start thinking more about those around her :) and that's true for friendships and relationships both... and when she matures like that... I think Anna would be a good pair for her :D Heck, getting together with Anna could be the thing that mellows her out--when she realizes that hurting her loved one REALLY hurts and is bad... encouraging the equalization :)

Yeah.. It's not so much that she's a leader00she is, but it's more that she's thoughtless. SHe's getting better, but isn't there yet XD

[tealterror0.livejournal.com]

You have a point. She always feels bad afterward, but hasn't let that affect her pre-action decision making yet. But I'm still not convinced they'll ever outgrow the unbalanced power dynamic that they now have. It's not a matter of Alex hurting her loved ones; it's a matter of Alex can order Anna around but not the reverse. I don't see that changing. :/

[uneko.livejournal.com]

See, I think you're wrong :) If you look at the different between alexandra in thorn circle and alexandra in stars above, you have two totally different alex's. In the first book she really didn't care much about who she might annoy, now she's deeply apologetic when she can't tell them what her plans are. And she doesn't take nearly as many stupid I DO WHAT I WANT risks either. (she still takes them, but the ones that anna don't know about tend to be fewer and further between... if I recall correctly (and i could be wrong) the biggest 'risks' she takes in Stars Above are when she is HUGELY emotionally distraught, or when she's unexpectedly set upon, forcing her to change the plans they'd worked out ahead of time.

The balance of 'power' has been evening out, as ALex becomes more mature, and as Anna learns to step up a bit and be more independant herself then what she had been at the very beginning of the series.

Besides. Alex doesn't ALWAYS order anna around. It's only in tight tense situations where there's not a whole lot of room or time to debate (I believe they DO debate when there IS time) and where the two of them fighting it out would be bad. Most relationships--friend and otherwise--tend to have a 'leader' anyway... just like my husband and I. he 'leads' for financial matters, I control around-the-house matters like laundry and dishes, He deals with the 'outside' stuff, computer hardware, etc, I deal with finding other assorted types of information and the wrangling of our pets. I don't see Alex and Anna as so different. Only instead of the matter of who cooks dinner, Alex deals in the 'off the cuff life and death' things, and anna doesn't. Anna takes part in the planning of things, plotting and working things out ahead of time. Anna is the one who'd sit there and say "Alexandra, you are sick. You are going to go have a bowl of soup, then get at least 2 hours of sleep. THEN you can resume your planning." Right now, it isn't an equal share of power, no, but I see that changing--compare still to the first book or two where Alex crashed through, looked back over her shoulder at the mess she'd left and yelled back "Sorry!"

Give them time <3

[tealterror0.livejournal.com]

She is better, don't get me wrong. You're right that she talks it out with her friends more (with the exceptions you noted). But if Alex wants to do something, there's never really any doubt that she'll end up doing it. She might talk with Anna (and the rest of her friends) about it, she might even argue with them about whether or not it's the best thing to do, but I don't believe I recall a single time Anna (or anyone else, but especially her) has managed to convince Alex not to do something.

I'm not saying it was immoral for Alex to order Anna around. Given the situation, it was fair enough. But IMO, in a healthy relationship there'd be no need for orders; requests would be enough.

As for the power dynamic issues...well, I think partly we're just coming from different life experiences. A lot of my relationships--maybe even most--don't really have a 'leader.' I've never been married so I can't speak to that. But I don't think the Alex/Anna relationship even has the "different spheres of authority" thing you talk about. Alex is basically in charge everywhere.

Now, maybe you're right that in time, their personalities will change to the extent that a romantic relationship would be healthier. Undoubtedly they are much different than how they were in Book 1. But as they are now, I just can't ship them. :/ Want them to hook up for a time, yes--I think that would be interesting--but stay together forever, no.

[inverarity.livejournal.com]

But if Alex wants to do something, there's never really any doubt that she'll end up doing it.

Do you think this would be different with any partner Alex might wind up with? ;)

[tealterror0.livejournal.com]

Well, at the very least I hope that, should her eventual partner (if she even has one, which is definitely not a certainty) wants her not to do something, that will change what Alex wants to do, some of the time. She'll never stop being reckless and headstrong, but there's a difference between that and "I don't care what you think I should do, I'll do whatever I want anyway."

(And yes, I'm aware your post was mostly a joke, lol.)

[anyareine.livejournal.com]

I have no idea why I ship Larry/Alex.

Favourite is The Lands Below.

Least would be Thorn Circle, but I actually do like it. Just the least out of them all.

And Robots!

Yeah, mostly.

[klaelman23.livejournal.com]

I also have no idea why I think that would be an intriguing matchup.

Well, I DID, until he got his fingers bitten off by a dark creature. Now, Fingerless!Larry/Alex doesn't really intrigue me much anymore :/

I liked Stars Above a lot, but it's also the only one I haven't reread. I reread all the others. Several times, even during publication. To be fair, SA was so filled with astonishing revelations that the slower parts seemed almost dead by comparison. It left SA feeling less climactic, even though the plot climaxes were some of the most far-reaching of the series. I felt like there should have been more energy in the last 4 or 5 chapters; I just didn't feel it.

~DarkSov

Re: Yeah, mostly.

[inverarity.livejournal.com]

Hey, he's still got fingers... on one hand.

Re: Yeah, mostly.

[bridgette dutta portman (from livejournal.com)]

I'm rooting for Alex/Larry too...and come on, he'll get prosthetic fingers. :P

They're both very driven and talented, if arrogant and impulsive. I think they'd be great challenges for each other. That could be good or bad...they'd either end up pushing each other toward greatness, or killing each other. In any case, it would be passionate.

Re: Yeah, mostly.

[graeme sutton (from livejournal.com)]

Larry, Are we going to be a cyborg now?
Yes, yes we are other Larry.

DANGER ZONE!

[shinygobonkers.livejournal.com]

polls are fun.
safe/stress-free travels :]

[klaelman23.livejournal.com]

AH. I remember. I'm supposed to ask you why John didn't fear the circle of protection around Alex. I missed that, or don't remember it being addressed in the book.

[tealterror0.livejournal.com]

I imagine he just didn't know about it. He was what, 6 years old when Alex was born?

[(Anonymous)]

I don't buy that. He associates with Dark Wizards enough to know about some little-known prophecy concerning Alex, but doesn't know about the circle of protection? I find it hard to imagine that it wouldn't have come up.

[tealterror0.livejournal.com]

Point. But given that he knew about the obscure prophecy, it's not unreasonable to assume he knew the details of the Circle of Protection and so figured out that Journey dying broke it.

The Circle of Protection

[inverarity.livejournal.com]

Soooo.... I have my own answer to your question, but it falls into the category of "things that don't have to be nailed down as long as there are one or more plausible explanations, from which the reader can take your pick."

Basically, John had incomplete information (just as Journey did). Alexandra speculated that the reason John (or who she thought was John) didn't attack her directly was fear of the Circle of Protection. But maybe she was wrong and John didn't know about it. Or maybe he didn't believe in it. Or he was really clever and well-informed and had figured out that Journey had already triggered it. Or he'd been watching other people harass and try to kill Alexandra, and figured that if she still had a Circle of Protection, it should have been triggered by one of her other enemies.

Any of those work for you? If not, I can give you the real reason.

(I'm lying. I won't give you the real reason. But there are clues. :P)

[rheymus.livejournal.com]

Alex/Anna would be nice, but it is being continually Jossed. Alex always kisses her friends ON THE CHEEK. A cheek kiss is always friendly; a tongue kiss is always sexy; a lips kiss could go either way; a kiss with no geographical location stated could go either way and let the Audience imagine what they will.

Geming said Alex/Anna friendship was a good thing because Anna needs to be more troublesome and Alex needs to be less troublesome. But it hain't happened. The Story needs troublesome students, because obedient students hain't a story. If Alex/Anna balanced each other, then there would still be enough troublesome to drive the story.

Stars Above, Alex was TOO brattish. Ifn I had been Grimm, I would have expelled Alex in chapter 1.

[inverarity.livejournal.com]

It's not really fair to say I've Jossed (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Jossed) you unless/until Alex/Anna is actually refuted in canon.

Stars Above, Alex was TOO brattish. Ifn I had been Grimm, I would have expelled Alex in chapter 1.

What, you mean after she saved her sister's life?

[(Anonymous)]

I still can't get over how idiotic it was not to pull Alex into the Dean's office a few weeks before the end of the semester and say. "Hey, just so you know we're not doing NOTHING, here's what we're doing to protect you come summer." I mean, I understand where everyone was coming from not telling her anything--with any normal kid that may be a good idea--but they all (ESPECIALLY Dean Grimm) knew what kind of person Alex was, and have no reason to be surprised that she's taken matters into her own hands like OH I DON'T KNOW, EVERY OTHER TIME.

Just common sense, really.

[rheymus.livejournal.com]

But Alex/Anna IS actually refuted in canon. Unless you mean that although canon clearly shows that A/A hain't happening NOW, there is no actual statement in canon that A/A can't happen later?

[(Anonymous)]

In terms of Shipping, I'd probably say that Alex/Brian has the most going for it right now, but of course things could change.

As for books, my Fav/Least Fav are Stars Above And Thorn Circle respectively.

I think Stars Above had the fastest pace and the most energy, and while I certainly liked Thorn Circle, it seemed to be mirroring the plot of Philosophers Stone a bit too much.

As for the ending, I'm expecting something between Bittersweet Ending and Earn Your Happy Ending.

Finally, can I just say how hilarious it is that people seem to think that GIANT ROBOT BATTLES!!! seems MORE likely than Rocks Fall Everyone dies.

Alex: ALEX TRANSFORM TO: SUPER GIGA MECHA ALEX!!

Dean Grimm: (*Has an Aneurysm*)

[kerneyhead.livejournal.com]

Late to the party. I like Anna/Brian because I like Brian basically as the 'Xander' character, basically, the normie who helped save the world. My first Xander even before Xander existed was Cyper in the Marvel Universe (Mutant Power: speak and understand any language).

I've also always loved the idea of a happy Muggle/Witch pairing.

So yes, my choices are all about my personal passions.

Favorite Book: Deathly Regiment

Least Favorite: Thorn Circle

Shipping/Ending

[graeme sutton (from livejournal.com)]

First time posting on your Live Journal, I powered through the books in about a week this summer because sleep and productive activity are for losers who don't have access to such awesome fanfic, And also because I was sort of in a fugue state this summer where all there was to do was put together med school applications.
Anyway, on the subject of shipping, I favor Larry for three main reasons.
1. He is one of my favorite characters in the story and represents one of my favorite archtypes.
2. He's roughly equal with Alex in power and is one of the few who doesn't take shit from her.
3. Alexandra's personality seems like it would be really well-suited to a dark, angry, destructive romance (I'm picturing something like Spike/Buffy but with less annoying double standards) and that's more or less what I picture a Larry/Alex pairing as.

As for the ending none of the categories really fit my preference, but the closest would probably be EPIC GIANT ROBOTS BATTLE! Ever since I realized that a) Abraham Thorn has a wide array of similarities with Julius Caesar and b) Alexandra shares names with Alexander the Great and Gaius Octavian I've been kind of hoping for a fantastic retelling of the end of the Roman Republic, concluding with Alexandra proclaiming herself Consul-for-Life and First Citizen of the new American Empire from atop a throne built from Generous One Bones (If this is not what is going to happen, there is no need to dissuade me from my Happy fantasies). Maybe Medea could play the role of Mark Antony. As for what I acually expect to happen, Alexandra's death has been so heavily foreshadowed that I actually am expecting the story to end with the death of the hero (for realsies, not a cop-out like Deathly Hallows)