Red Seas Under Red Skies read along, part 3

Posted by: Redhead on: May 12, 2012

• In: read along | Scott Lynch
• 34 Comments

artwork by Windfreak

We’ve finally go some nice weather, so that means it’s time to read a story about pirates, right? If this weather holds I’ll be chilling in my garden all weekend doing the (Totoro) happy dance for my sprouting seeds.

it’s the midpoint of our Red Seas Under Red Skies read along, and if you can believe the plot is even more complicated than before. More than one reader has mentioned the similarities between Red Seas and Lies. I can’t argue with much of that, but right about now is the point where this novel goes off on it’s own direction to do it’s own dastardly dance. and I am loving every minute of it.  This week’s questions were provided by Ashley who blogs over at SF Signal and tweets at @ohthatashley. Shout outs to my read along co-hosts  as well, Dark Cargo, Lynn’s Book Blog and My Awful Reviews!

1. Locke and Jean’s ability to find themselves at the center of a serious mess seems unparalleled. At this point, do you think that Stragos will get the return he expects on his investment in them?

2. Merrain’s activities after our boys leave Windward Rock are interesting. What do you think her plans are?

3. Does anyone know why having cats aboard the ship is so important?

4. The word “mutiny” creates a lot of mental pictures. Were you surprised? Why or why not?

5. Ah, the Poison Orchid. So many surprises there, not the least of which were the captain’s children. Did you find the young children a natural part of the story?

6. Jean is developing more and more as a character as we get further in to the book. Ezri makes the comment to him that “Out here, the past is a currency, Jerome. Sometimes it’s the only one we have.” I think several interesting possibilities are coming into play regarding Jean and Ezri. What about you?

7. As we close down this week’s reading, the Thorn of Camorr is back! I love it, even with all the conflict.  Several things from their Camorri background have come back up. Do you think we will see more Camorri characters?

Let’s go visit all the other interesting conversations!

All I Am – a Redhead
Genkinahito’s Blog
Lynn’s Book Blog
Paperless Reading
Kaitharshayr’s Musings
Akki’s Arcanum
The Sleepless Reader
Dark Cargo
I want Life In Every Word
Scruffy Fiction
Coffee Cookies and Chili Peppers
Books Without Any Pictures
Tethyan Books
Real Books 4 Ever
My Awful Reviews
Beware of the Froggies
Central Neural Pathway Station

NEW!
Nashville Book Worm

1. Locke and Jean’s ability to find themselves at the center of a serious mess seems unparalleled. At this point, do you think that Stragos will get the return he expects on his investment in them?

Stragos thinks he will. I’m sure the boys will come up with some kind of plan that pretty much screws the Archon. or at least I hope they do!

2. Merrain’s activities after our boys leave Windward Rock are interesting. What do you think her plans are?

ooohh, I totally forgot about that from last time I read this!  Who the hell is she working for??? My money is on that she words for the Bondsmagi. I can’t imagine that Stragos sent her to Windward Rock to do that, so when he finds out the guards are dead, I think we know which two Camorri he’s going to be blaming.

3. Does anyone know why having cats aboard the ship is so important?

In real life it would be a great way to take care of the rats, but I suspect the poor cats would be so damn seasick they wouldn’t be able to stomach a rat. I think in Lynch’s world it’s just a wry way of adding in an interesting local custom that you must never, ever, break. and kitties are just so adorable!!

4. The word “mutiny” creates a lot of mental pictures. Were you surprised? Why or why not?

Well, I didn’t think Locke could keep up the Captain act for very long, especially not with the loss of Caldris.  So I guess I wasn’t surprised by the Mutiny, but what funny luck is that, that the mutineers get picked off by pirates that afternoon? and at least it was a bloodless mutiny, which was nice.  what is it Locke says, something about how they just missed the very pirates they were out there trying to shake hands with?

also, the naked dancing.  that was fucking brilliant!

5. Ah, the Poison Orchid. So many surprises there, not the least of which were the captain’s children. Did you find the young children a natural part of the story?

they were a happy surprise.  Zamira Drakasha has figured out how to have it all: a rewarding career and a healthy work/life balance with her family.  Of course her children would be traveling with her, how else are they going to learn the family trade!  Although i’m a little worried about that little boy of hers, he seems awfully quiet.  Interesting dynamic on any kind of ship where there are children involved: watch your language around them, and protect them with your life, and I’ve got to wonder what it was like to be a pregnant pirate captain. Those kids are definitely going to be raised by a village, that’s for sure.  It would be really neat to meet up with them again later in their lives.

I LOVE that first scene in her cabin where she has her daughter on her lap and they are playing a word / counting game. How perfectly realistic that was!  the only thing better than awesome lady characters is lady characters who act like real women raising real children. women who kick ass is lovely and all, but women who act like real actual women is better.

Back in January of this year, I went to a sci fi con (many of you remember me refusing to shut up about it, in fact), and Lynch had some very interesting things to say about his experience writing strong female characters in Red Seas.  one of the things he said was that fantasy was all about wish fulfillment. We all enjoy seeing ourselves in fantasical characters who do amazing things, even if that person is a different gender or doesn’t look anything like us.  so why shouldn’t a middle aged black lady be able to open a fantasy novel and see herself?  He also said that he got some pretty nastily written e-mails from fans who didn’t like to see so many women in men’s roles.
6. Jean is developing more and more as a character as we get further in to the book. Ezri makes the comment to him that “Out here, the past is a currency, Jerome. Sometimes it’s the only one we have.” I think several interesting possibilities are coming into play regarding Jean and Ezri. What about you?

le sigh.  I’m really coming to love Jean.  fangirl moment: in the first book, Locke was totally my book boyfriend. Jean was just a brawler who knew out to do sums. But now? get out of the way Locke, I need to spend some quality time with your taller friend.  Reminds me a little of a fellow I knew in high school. He was a brawler and completely not my type.  We had a short lived but intensely hot fling. he was a surprisingly good kisser. Wait, what was that about finding some level of wish fulfillment in fantasy?

that phrase “the past is a currency”, I just love that phrase. Something i’d seriously consider having tattooed on my body. and I’m not into tattoos.

Also, Ezri rocks. go short people!!
7. As we close down this week’s reading, the Thorn of Camorr is back! I love it, even with all the conflict.  Several things from their Camorri background have come back up. Do you think we will see more Camorri characters?

out on the open seas, anything is possible! What great’s about Lynch’s world building is that every region has it’s own culture, it’s own style of dress, it’s own traditional foods.  Sort of what they attempted to do in Game of Thrones on HBO, with characters suddenly having different hairstyles and wearing different color clothing and types of clothing depending on their location. . .  except Lynch does this better.  I feel like I’d know a Camorri or a Vadran just by their choice of clothing, food choices, and verbal mannerisms.

that didn’t really answer the question, did it? I think the Camorri I’d most like to meet would be anyone who might recognize Locke from one of his previous “jobs”!

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Tags: Locke Lamora, pirates, read along