You gave me a whole lot to think about in that review. Oh my goodness. More than anything else is that this chapter has pointed out how much I am stumbling around in, for lack of a better word, Ed-meta. There are certain things I've thought about a lot -- a place where the citizens are really animals and trees and how that would affect you; trying to communicate or govern when there are beings who are so culturally different; the succession; what happens next; aspect of medical care; how to cope with "guerilla" and insurgent forces vs conventional forces; colonialism, etc. I have thought a lot about Susan's meta and Lucy's.
What I have not thought about, at all, are the things you raise in the review and which readers are pointing out. For isntance, how this experience will have ramifications for Edmund back in spare oom other than his lingering regret regarding Morgan. You point out Morgan's lack of conventionality as contrasted with Edmund's uncertainty and maybe this is because he does not yet understand what is important to her? I **think** there's a part of him that doesn't quite believe that he deserves this.
I've been mulling over as well the idea that this Edmund characterization still has some of the same characteristics that made him turn to Jadis and how fandom tends to pick the approach of either everyone knows everything or nothing. I have not thought about either of these before. Edmund does tell Morgan that he is content with his titles and place, and I think he is. This isn't an Edmund characterization from the DT film where, in the Goldwater cave he emotes about wanting to be ruler, High King, etc. Errr, NO. A segment written later in their relationship, and which I use in one of the TSG flashbacks and is that he isn't necessarily dwelling on what he isn't and doesn't have, until Morgan says these things that are so supportive, they fill up a hole he really isn't even aware of. I do think her unconditional affirmation is important and that's what I've been aiming for which means, I suppose I've backed into why it is important.
And yet, there is a real utilitarian feel to that. He cares for her in large part because of what she does for him. There's an egocentricity to it that I think is consistent with this characterization.
As for the general knowledge of his betrayal, what they remember, and the Turkish Delight and such, I know I've read some fic dealing with these things. Cap Red says that I frequently purposefully subvert tropes and I know I do in some instances (e.g., love triangles) but I had not really consciously thought of any of it. Turkish Delight is Turkish in origin, Aslan means Lion in Turkish, rahat is the Turkish word for it, and the Lone Islands have this tie to Calormene, and... well, you see where I'm going. It fit, with the added bonus that Edmund isn't so much traumatized by its appearance as it is that having been thinking of magiked Turkish Delight, he is instantly alert to a danger when it does appear. Thank you for the trope of Aslan to provide helpful foreshadowing. (Mental note, need to have him acknowledge that in the next chapter). I knew for months and months that the story would involve poisoned food. So I just blunder along, writing what seems to work at the moment and it's really, REALLY interesting to read what readers are pulling out of it.
no subject
What I have not thought about, at all, are the things you raise in the review and which readers are pointing out. For isntance, how this experience will have ramifications for Edmund back in spare oom other than his lingering regret regarding Morgan. You point out Morgan's lack of conventionality as contrasted with Edmund's uncertainty and maybe this is because he does not yet understand what is important to her? I **think** there's a part of him that doesn't quite believe that he deserves this.
I've been mulling over as well the idea that this Edmund characterization still has some of the same characteristics that made him turn to Jadis and how fandom tends to pick the approach of either everyone knows everything or nothing. I have not thought about either of these before. Edmund does tell Morgan that he is content with his titles and place, and I think he is. This isn't an Edmund characterization from the DT film where, in the Goldwater cave he emotes about wanting to be ruler, High King, etc. Errr, NO. A segment written later in their relationship, and which I use in one of the TSG flashbacks and is that he isn't necessarily dwelling on what he isn't and doesn't have, until Morgan says these things that are so supportive, they fill up a hole he really isn't even aware of. I do think her unconditional affirmation is important and that's what I've been aiming for which means, I suppose I've backed into why it is important.
And yet, there is a real utilitarian feel to that. He cares for her in large part because of what she does for him. There's an egocentricity to it that I think is consistent with this characterization.
As for the general knowledge of his betrayal, what they remember, and the Turkish Delight and such, I know I've read some fic dealing with these things. Cap Red says that I frequently purposefully subvert tropes and I know I do in some instances (e.g., love triangles) but I had not really consciously thought of any of it. Turkish Delight is Turkish in origin, Aslan means Lion in Turkish, rahat is the Turkish word for it, and the Lone Islands have this tie to Calormene, and... well, you see where I'm going. It fit, with the added bonus that Edmund isn't so much traumatized by its appearance as it is that having been thinking of magiked Turkish Delight, he is instantly alert to a danger when it does appear. Thank you for the trope of Aslan to provide helpful foreshadowing. (Mental note, need to have him acknowledge that in the next chapter). I knew for months and months that the story would involve poisoned food. So I just blunder along, writing what seems to work at the moment and it's really, REALLY interesting to read what readers are pulling out of it.
OK, time to catch a plane. Thanks so much!