Now to move on to what's really important: arguing about fanfiction.
Point one: Alex getting lucky
I don't think you really address MadYak's concern.
Yes, a lot of bad things to happen to Alex, most as a direct result of her recklessness and stupidity. However, MadYak wasn't saying she was always getting a happy ending; he was saying, effectively, that she should be dead many times over by now if she wasn't really lucky. And, well...he's kind of right.
In the first book, she would've died easily had Journey been even a little more ruthless, or a little less stupid (at the end). In the second book, she somehow manages to escape from hundreds of pissed-off Generous Ones (this is the biggest example of author fiat in the series so far IMO). In the third book, she somehow manages to convince the Deathly Power to let her leave his realm, and then goes back to the Generous Ones and not only survives but gets a 7-year extension. And in the fourth book she wins fights against Dark Wizards and is saved from John by her pet snake.
Now, the fact of the matter is that the AQ series will always be read in the light of the HP series, for better or worse, and Harry also mostly survives through luck (even moreso than Alex really). That's probably why most people, including me, don't mind it very much. But I think it's fair to say that she's quite lucky to have survived up until now.
Point two: Heroism
I'm going to do the arrogant thing here and quote myself, specifically, my ff.net review of the third book:
Alex hates herself. This is hard to see, considering how high of an opinion she seems to have of herself (witness "Why can't I be as good as my father, or even better?"). However, there is an important distinction to make: Alex has a very high, some might say inflated, opinion of her own skills; her intelligence, magical ability, etc. The opposite is true when it comes to her reality [sp; should be "morality"]. Basically, Alex thinks she's a horrible person, who doesn't really deserve to live, and that her friends and family would be much happier if she had never existed.
There are signs of this throughout the series; her encounter with the boggart in Book 2 is probably the biggest clue. I think she feels this way partly because she's always been treated as an outcast, and partly because self-hatred is probably just part of her nature. Mostly, though, it's because of what Darla said: "People seem to have a funny habit of dying around you." It started with Bonnie at the beginning of the first book (although she barely managed to avert her actual death), and it's only gotten worse as time went on. . . .
But consider: Alex's self-hatred also leads to a rather significant death-wish. In every book so far, she's been willing to sacrifice herself at least once. (Emphasis added just now)
Alex's actions are certainly heroic, and individually she manages to justify them (some times more convincingly than others). But the overall pattern is clear. I don't think she's self-sacrificing because she's a Superman-level moral saint. I think she's self-sacrificing because she hates herself and has a death wish. This certainly did not change in Book 4.
Maybe MadYak would like Alex better under this interpretation...?
no subject
Now to move on to what's really important: arguing about fanfiction.
Point one: Alex getting lucky
I don't think you really address MadYak's concern.
Yes, a lot of bad things to happen to Alex, most as a direct result of her recklessness and stupidity. However, MadYak wasn't saying she was always getting a happy ending; he was saying, effectively, that she should be dead many times over by now if she wasn't really lucky. And, well...he's kind of right.
In the first book, she would've died easily had Journey been even a little more ruthless, or a little less stupid (at the end). In the second book, she somehow manages to escape from hundreds of pissed-off Generous Ones (this is the biggest example of author fiat in the series so far IMO). In the third book, she somehow manages to convince the Deathly Power to let her leave his realm, and then goes back to the Generous Ones and not only survives but gets a 7-year extension. And in the fourth book she wins fights against Dark Wizards and is saved from John by her pet snake.
Now, the fact of the matter is that the AQ series will always be read in the light of the HP series, for better or worse, and Harry also mostly survives through luck (even moreso than Alex really). That's probably why most people, including me, don't mind it very much. But I think it's fair to say that she's quite lucky to have survived up until now.
Point two: Heroism
I'm going to do the arrogant thing here and quote myself, specifically, my ff.net review of the third book:
Alex hates herself. This is hard to see, considering how high of an opinion she seems to have of herself (witness "Why can't I be as good as my father, or even better?"). However, there is an important distinction to make: Alex has a very high, some might say inflated, opinion of her own skills; her intelligence, magical ability, etc. The opposite is true when it comes to her reality [sp; should be "morality"]. Basically, Alex thinks she's a horrible person, who doesn't really deserve to live, and that her friends and family would be much happier if she had never existed.
There are signs of this throughout the series; her encounter with the boggart in Book 2 is probably the biggest clue. I think she feels this way partly because she's always been treated as an outcast, and partly because self-hatred is probably just part of her nature. Mostly, though, it's because of what Darla said: "People seem to have a funny habit of dying around you." It started with Bonnie at the beginning of the first book (although she barely managed to avert her actual death), and it's only gotten worse as time went on. . . .
But consider: Alex's self-hatred also leads to a rather significant death-wish. In every book so far, she's been willing to sacrifice herself at least once. (Emphasis added just now)
Alex's actions are certainly heroic, and individually she manages to justify them (some times more convincingly than others). But the overall pattern is clear. I don't think she's self-sacrificing because she's a Superman-level moral saint. I think she's self-sacrificing because she hates herself and has a death wish. This certainly did not change in Book 4.
Maybe MadYak would like Alex better under this interpretation...?