TODD> All things are true...
Algae
Best Friend Squad!
posted @ Sun, Aug 2, 2020 3:44:38 pm EDT from 86.45.213.181

One obstacle to that; while (as I mentioned earlier this week) it's thought that "The Tempest" was influenced by an actual shipwreck in the Bermudas, the island in "The Tempest" itself is apparently in the Mediterranean, since the cast are wrecked there while on their way back from a royal wedding in Tunis to Naples (Alonso's kingdom).
Todd Jensen
posted @ Sat, Aug 1, 2020 8:59:33 pm EDT from 68.231.65.221

I'm pretty dang convinced Sycorax Island literally IS Sycorax's island.
Algae
Best Friend Squad!
posted @ Sat, Aug 1, 2020 7:30:38 pm EDT from 86.45.213.181

And "Bastian" is short for "Sebastian", which is the name of another character in "The Tempest" (Alonso's younger brother).

The "Bermuda Triangle" setting may itself be linked to "The Tempest"; some Shakespearean scholars think that one of the inspirations for the play was a shipwreck in the Bahamas in 1609.

It's not the only Shakespeare play to get alluded to; note "Goodfellow Lane", presumably a reference to one of Puck's aliases.
Todd Jensen
posted @ Thu, Jul 30, 2020 7:57:04 pm EDT from 68.231.65.221

Yeah it's amazing how many characters get their names from "The Tempest." That also includes Rain's dad Alfonso.
Matthew
Insert Inspirational Quote Here:________
posted @ Thu, Jul 30, 2020 1:03:38 pm EDT from 73.158.223.17

One more subtle allusion to "The Tempest" that I noted, besides the obvious names of "Prospero", "Miranda", and "Sycorax". Rain's mother is named Iris. The original Iris, the Greek goddess of the rainbow, appears in "The Tempest" (in a masque that Prospero conjures up for Miranda and Ferdinand). Presumably Greg had that in mind when he gave that name to Mrs. Cacique.
Todd Jensen
posted @ Thu, Jul 30, 2020 12:38:09 pm EDT from 68.231.65.221

That's true, though I do rather like this bit:
"'So how come you're not happy?'
Rain collapsed into the chair. "I'm thirteen years old and my life is over!" she moaned.
It seemed to 'Bastian that she was auditioning to be the poster child for teen angst and melodramatic defeat. He nodded solemnly. 'I see. And how did you come by this revelation...?'"
Matthew
Insert Inspirational Quote Here:________
posted @ Wed, Jul 29, 2020 6:20:08 pm EDT from 64.85.245.77

"While us adults may roll our eyes at the the pre-teen angst, I'm sure the target audience can empathize with her situation."

I think all it takes to empathize with Rain's situation is, well... empathy. I never rolled my eyes at her angst, it's natural... sometimes when we get older, we forget.
Greg Bishansky
posted @ Wed, Jul 29, 2020 2:26:35 pm EDT from 67.189.162.109

MATTHEW> As someone who actually was working in the tourist industry when the first two books came out, let's just say I found myself sympathizing with Rain a lot.
Algae
Best Friend Squad!
posted @ Wed, Jul 29, 2020 10:49:09 am EDT from 86.45.213.181

MATTHEW - I'd spotted the "Lafitte" reference you mentioned as well. There's also "Rebecca Sawyer", from Hannibal, Missouri, naturally, as one of the guests. (Not to mention Terry Chung as another guest - and I suspect that the two tourists in the first chapter were intended as an older counterpart to Brendan and Margot.) Charlie Dauphin's name might count as another Shakespeare reference alongside the ones from "The Tempest", since Joan of Arc and the Dauphin featured in one of Shakespeare's early plays, "Henry VI Part One", though in an unconventional way - which I doubt influenced Greg at all.

Head-hopping (shifting from one character's point of view to another in the same scene) occurs a lot in the opening chapters, but since it's told from the point of view of a mysterious narrator watching the characters, it makes sense here.
Todd Jensen
posted @ Tue, Jul 28, 2020 9:20:03 am EDT from 68.231.65.221

There's a thing in writing called "The Hook", usually one of the first lines that's meant to grab the attention of the reader. Things like "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" or "There was a hand in the darkness and it held a knife."

Rain doesn't really have that, instead it sets distinct moods across the first three chapters. The faux-tension and exhilaration as Rain and Charlie dodge tourists in "Drums." The apprehension while meeting Miranda in "The N.T.Z." And of course the actual tension and apprehension while meeting Callahan before turning to a warmer, homey feeling as it moves to the Nitaino Inn.

Of course the big concern for every story is getting the reader to care about the characters, especially the central ones. While us adults may roll our eyes at the the pre-teen angst, I'm sure the target audience can empathize with her situation.

One thing I want to emphasize though is Rain's position as being part of the tourist economy and how stifling that can be for someone, especially in the awkward years. I don't know if anyone here lives or has lived in areas that's heavily dependent on the tourist trade but I'd be curious to know what that's like, I've only had passing association with that.

We're also introduced to what we'll later know as Zemis. I can't imagine how unique this sort of thing must be considering it's made of gold, which probably means it was crafted after the Spanish or French arrived. One thing I noted was Bastian and how it looked like age started catching up to him the moment he gave it to Rain, a bit of foreshadowing there...

So I'd like to conduct a little game; instead of putting down my favorite lines, I'd like to challenge the chat to find as many little references as you can in the chapters. And I don't just mean the Shakespeare ones Greg undoubtedly put in but the more obscure ones too. For example, one of the named streets, Rue de Lafitte is most likely referencing the pirates turned privateers Jean and Pierre Lafitte.
Matthew
Insert Inspirational Quote Here:________
posted @ Tue, Jul 28, 2020 6:09:26 am EDT from 64.85.245.77

6th
Demona May - [realdemona at yahoo dot com]
Real Living Insane Gargoyle....
posted @ Tue, Jul 28, 2020 12:41:40 am EDT from 72.28.178.46

Fifth.
Todd Jensen
posted @ Mon, Jul 27, 2020 8:06:25 pm EDT from 68.231.65.221

Adora, Bow, Glimmer and Catra!
Algae
Best Friend Squad!
posted @ Mon, Jul 27, 2020 4:16:16 pm EDT from 86.45.213.181

Third!
Matt
posted @ Mon, Jul 27, 2020 11:03:21 am EDT from 24.107.111.141

Second
VickyUK
posted @ Mon, Jul 27, 2020 10:48:13 am EDT from 109.158.120.93

First.
Phoenician
"The suspense is terrible, I hope it lasts" -- Willy Wonka
posted @ Mon, Jul 27, 2020 1:59:43 am EDT from 68.231.96.196