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Post by Dante on Jan 14, 2013 10:37:07 GMT -5
To be honest, I think that if people come into the book and indeed the series expecting "an ASoUE prequel" rather than "a Lemony Snicket story," they may be disappointed. There's a reason none of the advertising has used the word "prequel," and it's not just because the main publisher of the series doesn't have the rights to ASoUE.
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Post by Christmas Chief on Jan 14, 2013 13:55:57 GMT -5
Notable is the fact that Egmont does have the rights, and they're not marketing the series as a prequel, either. I agree that we might expect more direct ASOUE references in later volumes, though. The reveal at the end prepares the connections to continue in future installments, and I'm thinking in particular of Kit. As Dante mentioned, it would be strange to mention her and not Jacques - so that's one more character we can bet on seeing mentioned.
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Despair
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Post by Despair on Jan 15, 2013 6:57:44 GMT -5
The fact that it isn't purely marketed as a prequel works to its advantage. It attracts both the new crowd who takes a cover face value, and the hardcores who know what to expect. ---------------------------- It's hard to imagine Kit Snicket looking like she does in ATWQ and her few pictures in ASOUE. The Seth art style gives it a sorta younger look, which is fitting.
This does also mean, given Kit's and Lemony's age, that the VFD schism has long since happened. Could the likes of Ellington and Hangfire be part of the other side without Lemony knowing? The item that Lemony and Kit are trying to dig up is also suspect. Obviously the Sugar Bowl comes to mind, but could it be something new as well? Hard to imagine another item that may be of great importance, especially if it's under a large fountain.
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Post by Dante on Jan 15, 2013 10:44:07 GMT -5
As I understand it, the investigation of the fountain is just to investigate how to tunnel into the city's waterworks so that they can break into the museum from within there. The object in question isn't literally under the fountain, I think.
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Post by Christmas Chief on Jan 15, 2013 14:38:27 GMT -5
I wonder about the timing of the schism in relation to WCTBATH, though. Clearly given the information in TPP, the schism would indeed have happened at this point. However, the organization itself seems strong as ever. Did Kit not imply some sort of deterioration after the divide, more severe than the apprenticeship Lemony is able to fulfill?
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Despair
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Post by Despair on Jan 15, 2013 20:56:27 GMT -5
As I understand it, the investigation of the fountain is just to investigate how to tunnel into the city's waterworks so that they can break into the museum from within there. The object in question isn't literally under the fountain, I think. Oh yeah, I forgot about that detail. It could also be related to the linking of the various VFD related buildings. 667, Baudelaire mansion, etc. ---------------------------------------- As I recall, Kit did mention about a chaotic organization after the schism. Could it be possible that Kit simply over-exaggerated? The power of retcons is in play with this series.
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Post by Christmas Chief on Jan 15, 2013 21:02:08 GMT -5
Another possibility is that this series witnesses the downfall of V.F.D. As you suggested earlier, Despair, ATWQ could contain the first appearances of what we know as the "fire-starting" side of V.F.D. Lemony's relative isolation in Stain'd also helps to disconnect him slightly from what is happening on the grander scale.
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Despair
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Post by Despair on Jan 16, 2013 1:48:28 GMT -5
Yeah, that could work too.
Kit's original schism line may make sense in ASOUE, but in ATWQ it could be taken out of context. The schism may have already started, but the worst of it may in fact happen in the last few installments. ---------------------------------- On another note, I may have missed it in the book, but what does the title "Who could that be at this Hour" actually have any significance in the book? It's kinda lost in the mass of wrong questions asked in this book.
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Post by Charlie on Jan 16, 2013 1:50:45 GMT -5
Some believe it's an allusion to the second book, or the sound sometimes heard outside a window prior to recruitment, or the fact that Lemony and Theodora break into the lighthouse at night... it could be a multitude of things actually
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Post by Dante on Jan 16, 2013 4:21:36 GMT -5
While the question is asked twice in the book, it's also relevant throughout as numerous visits and events occur at unusual hours. Mainly I think it's the title because Handler had wanted to so entitle a book for a while, though. I suspect that the title of ?2 may be a little more crucial to the narrative, but for the same reason I think the title of ?1 may echo on through.
As to the schism, Kit reports in TPP that it worsens with every generation. Given that a good two decades or so pass between ATWQ and ASoUE, I think it's forgiveable that the organisation hasn't collapsed yet. It's merely in danger and in hiding.
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Despair
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Post by Despair on Jan 17, 2013 9:32:05 GMT -5
Have there been any talks of audiobooks for ATWQ?
Even if the ASOUE 3-5's audiobooks weren't all that spectacular, having Daniel Handler himself narrate for all of ATWQ actually makes a lot more sense.
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Post by Kit's tits kick ticks on Jan 17, 2013 10:06:03 GMT -5
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Post by Hermes on Jan 19, 2013 17:12:32 GMT -5
I wonder about the timing of the schism in relation to WCTBATH, though. Clearly given the information in TPP, the schism would indeed have happened at this point. However, the organization itself seems strong as ever. Did Kit not imply some sort of deterioration after the divide, more severe than the apprenticeship Lemony is able to fulfill? I have always supposed that there were two major changes in VFD's history. Before the schism, according to Kit, it was an open organisation; the schism turned it into what we see in TUA, as well as in WCBATH, a secret organisation with codes, disguises and secret headquarters - but still large and well organised. Then there is a decline, which leads to the much more scattered and beleaguered body we see in ASOUE.
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Post by Ellie Spinelli on Jan 26, 2013 17:46:52 GMT -5
I don't think this has been mentioned, but this part in the book:
Moxie: ... And is Snicket spelled like it sounds? Lemony: Yes
Was part of the phone conversation that took place when Handler made up the name Lemony Snicket. Fun fact. I thought it was neat.
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Post by Christmas Chief on Jan 26, 2013 18:07:11 GMT -5
It was indeed. I remember anticipating the follow-up line, "Read that back to me."
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