[ExVassalOfNemesis2]

Here is the link. What do you think. Personally, I AM EXCITED. Furthermore, I recall reading a couple of short stories online about Bartimaeus that the author put online. Does anyone know where that is? If so, please post the link.

Edit: My mistake. I did not look through the entire site and I found what I was looking for on the same site that I posted the link to.

Edit: My mistake, my mistake. I was a bit lazy on this one. It is found on the website:
bartimaeusbooks.com, which is where I clicked on the link that I posted here.

This post has been edited by ExVassalOfNemesis2: 14 September 2009 - 05:48 PM

[Jazuala]

I am over the Moon!!!!!!!! I didn't think he would write another one since the ending of Ptolemy's Gate seemed to be pretty conclusive but hey Im glad I was wrong! Cant wait!!!

[Jccwzp9484]

SAY WHAAAATTT?!?!?! OH MY GOD.

I'm friggen psyched. But how can Stroud do it though? He killed off mostly everybody, and all the antagonists are dead. I definitely thought that was going to be the end of the series.

[ExVassalOfNemesis2]

I wonder if it will be a sequal or prequal. If it is a prequal, then I do not think it will be a matter of dealing with Ptolemy. The overall understanding of that story has already been told. There is still the times in Prague. That would be interesting. Perhaps when he was in the Americas? If it is a sequal it may have to do with Kitty. THAT would be awsome. There may be other societies she may want to "liberate" from the magicians control. She also, I think, mentioned about traveling to Egypt. Any thoughts?

[Pompoon]

SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!! I can't wait for this. I don't have to time to click the link, but this sounds sweet.

[Jccwzp9484]

I hope it's not about Ptomley. Story's told, done. I think that a sequel would be better than a prequel, mostly because Bartimaeus went into at least like, some detail about his past adventures. I would love it if it were in the Americas. New territory and change of scenery, plus when England's weak from the last book? Sweeeeeet!

[Cielina]

I'm pessimistic, personally.

Nathaniel was one of my favourite characters, just because he wasn't a goody-goody do-no-evil protagonist, but was on the 'evil' side, so to speak. It made it interesting for me. Without him, the book would loose a lot of it's appeal. Also, Bartimaeus' footnotes keep the book fresh, however I feel they will begin to wear thin after a fourth book, and near the end of the third I was beginning to get disgruntled by his static personality.

The book will probably follow in Kitty's footsteps some amount of years after the British Empire has fallen, or at least have a PoV of her in it - to connect the stories together without being woven together like the original trilogy. I don't mind Kitty, but she's not the most interesting character in the world, and it would personally not make up to the first series IMO. Although I am curious to see the progress Britain has made and see how the world is under the American 'Empire'. It will probably introduce a range of characters along the way though, which could go either way. And Stroud will have to come up with a completely separate conflict though - I hate when all things are tied off, and author comes up with another conflict just to make the series continue. It's irritating, personally.

I personally don't see much potential for another series in another time-line - it seems like milking an idea to an extent, and I wouldn't be that interested if the only consistent character was Barty. If it were, it would likely not be Egyptian, but somethign separate. I don't really want to get to know and like another set of characters all over again, I'd rather stick with the remains that we know, and add to them. Characters are tricky things - they can often turn out unintentionally badly, and I'd rather not risk another set of them as there are more likely to be unlike-able ones, and I'll be constantly comparing protagonists and antagonists from the first series to the next series/book. He'll also have to avoid the trap of a formulaic set-up. Although part of me thinks this is exactly what he is planning, hence the pessimism.

If he tries to revive Nathaniel though, I will personally whack Stroud over with a stick for trying one of the most clichéd and terrible plot devices ever.

This post has been edited by Cielina: 15 September 2009 - 03:51 PM

[Behave Yourself]

...and I threw away all of my Bartimeous books because we couldn't afford to move them. (I threw away 90% of my 500-odd books).

Now I must read the books by the time it comes out. But my library system has no selection (they didn't have the sequels to one of my favorite book series, actually. T.T).

Is it now official that God hates me? xD (Kidding. >>)

James

[Stormfire]

Couldn't have agreed more, Cielina. I'm also rather skeptical and wary of this.

I strongly hope this new book isn't suppose to pick up where Ptolemy's Gate off and honestly not very enthusiastic about Jonathan Stroud writing another book about Bartimaeus in general. The trilogy's over and it really should stay that way. The ending to Ptolemy's Gate was well executed and exactly what that series needed; a good closing to a good story that neatly tied up all the lose ends. I can see why a lot of you are excited since I enjoyed the trilogy very much myself, but I see no point in dragging it out anymore. It would be foolish to do so. If you think about it, the three books were almost exactly the same plot and conflict wise. Stroud was actually quite repetitive. It was only clever writing on his part that kept the trilogy from turning stale before it got to its ending. But I don't think he would be able to get away with writing another or a couple of more. Actually, I don't think even the most brilliant authors would be able to do that and expect people to still find it interesting. As witty as Barty is, even his humor and sarcasm would get old after a while.

Also, I find that a lot of series that have gotten to the point where they should have just been left alone produce extremely disappointing spin offs and sequels.

One perfect example of a series that should of ended after the main storyline ended would be the Maximum Ride series. Brilliant well known author (for the most part), decent series. However, the books after Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports should have never came into existence. Yes, I understand that James Paterson was trying to promote global warning and pollution awareness, but between him pulling a complete 360 in terms of the direction of the books and still trying to pass it along as a continuation and him methodically hitting the readers' over the head with the whole "go green" theme, not even mentioning the gaping plotholes and total lack of character development (and the clichéness of the characters was horrible even from the beginning, but it just became unbearable after Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports), really made the story lose a lot of it's charm for me. And not just that one series either.

[ExVassalOfNemesis2]

The general three plots may have been a bit repetitive, but it was part as an overall plot stretching out through the three books, and, therefore, I was fine with it. I can understand the concerns of others, and, thinking about it, Kitty was not exactly my favorite character. Much of what did it for me was the interactions between Natty and Bartimaeus, and with Natty dead, or so we are lead to believe as I have heard of possibilities that he is not, then it may be different. As far as Barty's humour, I do not think it can grow old too quickly. There were plenty of things in the third book, including near the ending of the third book that Barty said that made me chuckle out loud.

This post has been edited by ExVassalOfNemesis2: 15 September 2009 - 06:09 PM

[RenegadeShroom]

I loved the Bartimaeus Trilogy, and I want to read this new book when it comes out, even just to see what it's like. Jonathan Stroud is a brilliant writer.

[ExVassalOfNemesis2]

I loved the Bartimaeus Trilogy, and I want to read this new book when it comes out, even just to see what it's like. Jonathan Stroud is a brilliant writer.

I am of the same thoughts. The time putting in to read the book, regardless of the fear that it will not live up to the original trilogy, is worth, in my thoughts the investment.

[Rinion]

Although I agree with others that there is a risk of the series becoming diluted like, say, the Artemis Fowl series, I'm still ecstatic. Stroud's writing style is superb, and I'd love to read more of it as told from Bartimaeus's perspective. I read Heroes of the Valley recently, but I think the style was adjusted for a younger audience, and, of course, lacked Bartimaeus's witty asides and insights, so it'll be nice to have some new material.

It won't be the same without some of the characters, certainly, but honestly the main attraction to the series for me was Bartimaeus. The other major draw was the setting, and both of those things are a given in any sequels. As Stormie said, plot is not Stroud's strong point but rather his writing style, and that makes me less worried about this new book than I would be if another author were writing it: even with an awkward plot, there's still hope that it could be a thumping good read.

[Palagrin]

Couldn't have agreed more, Cielina. I'm also rather skeptical and wary of this.

I strongly hope this new book isn't suppose to pick up where Ptolemy's Gate off and honestly not very enthusiastic about Jonathan Stroud writing another book about Bartimaeus in general. The trilogy's over and it really should stay that way. The ending to Ptolemy's Gate was well executed and exactly what that series needed; a good closing to a good story that neatly tied up all the lose ends. I can see why a lot of you are excited since I enjoyed the trilogy very much myself, but I see no point in dragging it out anymore. It would be foolish to do so. If you think about it, the three books were almost exactly the same plot and conflict wise. Stroud was actually quite repetitive. It was only clever writing on his part that kept the trilogy from turning stale before it got to its ending. But I don't think he would be able to get away with writing another or a couple of more. Actually, I don't think even the most brilliant authors would be able to do that and expect people to still find it interesting. As witty as Barty is, even his humor and sarcasm would get old after a while.

I think it will be more of a prequel about barty.


Exciting!

I trust stroud to do a good job...

[ExVassalOfNemesis2]

I think it will be more of a prequel about barty.

I think I would prefer it if it was a prequal.