Natasha
asked
Scott Hawkins:
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(view spoiler)[Thank you, sir, for providing something so original and unique. Loved it all and I especially appreciated the refreshing details, e.g. not resurrecting characters like the cool President (a lot of -especially American- authors would, I believe). A question, if/when you find some time: Why did Carolyn feel she had to kill all the librarians? Those that posed a threat I understand, but Peter, for example? Others? (hide spoiler)]
Scott Hawkins
This answer contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)[Hey Natasha,
Thanks, glad you liked it! I'll just say that I was never tempted to resurrect that president and leave it at that. ;-)
As far as why do away with the others--well, part of it was ruthlessness, obviously. By the end of the book Carolyn was defrosting at least a little, but when it opens she was pretty much a human wrecking ball. For her it was probably a no-brainer.
But I'd argue that even a nicer person might, in this case, be wise to err on the side of ruthless. The stakes were just too high. On the plus side, you have the library, which was effectively absolute power over everything, everywhere, forever.
It's a nice prize, but you could also see where her fellow librarians might be jealous of a prize like that.
On the down side, think about what she's risking. Yeah, Father probably wasn't anyone's favorite, and Carolyn could probably expect at least a brief honeymoon period during which all the other librarians loved her for deposing him.
But memories fade. And if you've ever had a roommate, you probably get how little irritations can add up. Let's fast forward (I dunno) a thousand years into Carolyn's reign. Jennifer, stoned as usual, is suddenly gripped with an epic case of the munchies. She goes to the fridge only to find that someone has eaten her last pepperoni Hot Pocket.
Again.
It's the last straw. Jennifer, sweet but addled from a millennium of wake-n-bake, decides she actually liked things better off under Father. So she digs up one of Father's bones and does the resurrection thing.
We saw what Father did to David for sharing his catalog. Can you imagine what he might do to someone who assassinated him? The mind reels. A bull ride would likely be the least of their worries.
From Carolyn's POV, any risk at all was too much. (hide spoiler)]
Thanks, glad you liked it! I'll just say that I was never tempted to resurrect that president and leave it at that. ;-)
As far as why do away with the others--well, part of it was ruthlessness, obviously. By the end of the book Carolyn was defrosting at least a little, but when it opens she was pretty much a human wrecking ball. For her it was probably a no-brainer.
But I'd argue that even a nicer person might, in this case, be wise to err on the side of ruthless. The stakes were just too high. On the plus side, you have the library, which was effectively absolute power over everything, everywhere, forever.
It's a nice prize, but you could also see where her fellow librarians might be jealous of a prize like that.
On the down side, think about what she's risking. Yeah, Father probably wasn't anyone's favorite, and Carolyn could probably expect at least a brief honeymoon period during which all the other librarians loved her for deposing him.
But memories fade. And if you've ever had a roommate, you probably get how little irritations can add up. Let's fast forward (I dunno) a thousand years into Carolyn's reign. Jennifer, stoned as usual, is suddenly gripped with an epic case of the munchies. She goes to the fridge only to find that someone has eaten her last pepperoni Hot Pocket.
Again.
It's the last straw. Jennifer, sweet but addled from a millennium of wake-n-bake, decides she actually liked things better off under Father. So she digs up one of Father's bones and does the resurrection thing.
We saw what Father did to David for sharing his catalog. Can you imagine what he might do to someone who assassinated him? The mind reels. A bull ride would likely be the least of their worries.
From Carolyn's POV, any risk at all was too much. (hide spoiler)]
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