James
asked
Scott Hawkins:
This question contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)[Some serious questions!
- What does Margaret actually _do_? Is she useless in the normal universe?
- Why did Margaret not find Adam Black in the underworld? (I forget what you named it)
- A super pedantic point: You mention at one stage a catalog of 'mercy', was this just meant to be part of the healing catalog? (hide spoiler)]
- What does Margaret actually _do_? Is she useless in the normal universe?
- Why did Margaret not find Adam Black in the underworld? (I forget what you named it)
- A super pedantic point: You mention at one stage a catalog of 'mercy', was this just meant to be part of the healing catalog? (hide spoiler)]
Scott Hawkins
This answer contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)[Hey James,
What does Margaret actually _do_? Is she useless in the normal universe?
Margaret had a couple of purposes. The first one is kind of spoilery for a sequel I may never write. Read this paragraph at your discretion, I guess. Margaret was a research project. The main reason Father kept killing Margaret over and over was that she was building a map of the path back from the Forgotten Lands. The idea was that if Father ever got killed in a way he didn't approve of, Margaret could help him find his way back to the world of the living.
Second, Margaret was a warning. Remember in the end how she tells Carolyn a whole bunch of stuff like "we're sisters, you and I" and "you're like me now". The point of all that was that Carolyn was in serious danger of reaching no-going-back levels of dissociation (or whatever the medical term is). Becoming like Margaret, in other words. Father was, in his own way, trying to point her away from that. Steve was the carrot in this endeavor, Margaret was the stick.
Also, I would argue that aving somebody around that you could send to ask dead people questions would definitely come in handy sometimes.
Why did Margaret not find Adam Black in the underworld?
Yeah, good question. I sweated that a little bit. There is an answer in the text, but it's kind of buried. Remember, Father got killed in the Library. And, as we learn later, the Library is a separate universe. As such, it has its own afterlife.
When they're all standing around at the end chapter 1, somebody asks Margaret what happens if you die inside the Library. She dances around the question because it's one of the secrets of her catalog, but she doess say something along the lines of "when you die inside the library, it's different." At that point Carolyn interrupts and aggressively changes the subject, because the line of questioning is a little too close for comfort (this is around page 19 in the trade paperback version)
You mention at one stage a catalog of 'mercy'
It's probably a distinct catalog, but not a very big one. Father didn't spend much time on mercy--maybe like a couple lines on the back of a CVS receipt, or something. But it had to be shelved somewhere.
Michael is in charge of the catalog of "mathematics and cooking" for similar reasons. (hide spoiler)]
What does Margaret actually _do_? Is she useless in the normal universe?
Margaret had a couple of purposes. The first one is kind of spoilery for a sequel I may never write. Read this paragraph at your discretion, I guess. Margaret was a research project. The main reason Father kept killing Margaret over and over was that she was building a map of the path back from the Forgotten Lands. The idea was that if Father ever got killed in a way he didn't approve of, Margaret could help him find his way back to the world of the living.
Second, Margaret was a warning. Remember in the end how she tells Carolyn a whole bunch of stuff like "we're sisters, you and I" and "you're like me now". The point of all that was that Carolyn was in serious danger of reaching no-going-back levels of dissociation (or whatever the medical term is). Becoming like Margaret, in other words. Father was, in his own way, trying to point her away from that. Steve was the carrot in this endeavor, Margaret was the stick.
Also, I would argue that aving somebody around that you could send to ask dead people questions would definitely come in handy sometimes.
Why did Margaret not find Adam Black in the underworld?
Yeah, good question. I sweated that a little bit. There is an answer in the text, but it's kind of buried. Remember, Father got killed in the Library. And, as we learn later, the Library is a separate universe. As such, it has its own afterlife.
When they're all standing around at the end chapter 1, somebody asks Margaret what happens if you die inside the Library. She dances around the question because it's one of the secrets of her catalog, but she doess say something along the lines of "when you die inside the library, it's different." At that point Carolyn interrupts and aggressively changes the subject, because the line of questioning is a little too close for comfort (this is around page 19 in the trade paperback version)
You mention at one stage a catalog of 'mercy'
It's probably a distinct catalog, but not a very big one. Father didn't spend much time on mercy--maybe like a couple lines on the back of a CVS receipt, or something. But it had to be shelved somewhere.
Michael is in charge of the catalog of "mathematics and cooking" for similar reasons. (hide spoiler)]
More Answered Questions
Sean M.
asked
Scott Hawkins:
wow man..just wow! You have a winner here! I am not at the end of this just yet. I love these Characters! You tell one damn good story my friend! Please keep this world alive. Like I said I have not finished so if you don't demolish everyone I would love to see this keep going! I can't put this one down! Do you plan on sticking with this genre in the future? dark/gritty/fantasy
Ceyda
asked
Scott Hawkins:
I'm about half way through The Library at Mount Char and starting the book has been the best decision I've made recently. I really cannot put it down. A sequel or a second novel will be really appreciated:) I always prefer reading the book rather than watching the movie, so don't get me wrong, but I was wondering if there will be any movies or maybe animations (or just something visual) based on the novel?
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