that was an incredible chapter

that was a fabulous descriptive chapter

Hm...It seems to have a sort of Peter Pan theme.

Holy shit. Why is British currency so screwed up? 100 cents to a dollar is so much simpler...

The Jews are smart: they don't have a hell.

'Here we go'-a final line that would be very hard to replace. And a mood, largely due to the poem, equally priceless.

It was nice to see Carrie again. Seeing how formal Jane was with her was almost as sad as her regard for the Althiometer. I think you value it more as a focus of emotions than an oracle, so this could be the end of its road, but i'd like to think not. Handing over his kit made a pretty good farewell for Peter, but Arthur and the poem really did it. The bit with Captain Lowther felt very natural, and touching.

It's a pity the concrete consequence of the catastophe aren't really worked out yet, but the emotional consequence are got over. And most of Peter's life-'Mein Gott, who shall govern the world now?' sums up the degree of what I'm feeling at least. It's sad, but complete.

This may be a silly question, but...is Daniel Joyce the cameo you mentioned?

I really shouldn't be trying to second guess you, should I? However, for the minute I'm still convinced that Jesus is lurking around somewhere. We still need to know what he could be like, if he's to be much of a threat. Or course Arthur might have been an imposter, but I don't imagine you'd let your fictional alter-ego die for nothing, after all he's been through. Peter is in some ways isn't he? In fact, the copywrite some things on your website..

If this isn't the climax, it will have to rather gargantuan when it comes...the middle bit, with the rushing around, is very good, as is the ritual. Peter's goodbye was fitting for a character of that scale. I think the energy from the previous chapter got disappated a bit with the initial conversation-I know I've said this before, but at this stage the balance is very fine. The trouble is, all the protagonists keep their characters very well, which I'm sure I'd fall down on in a similar situation. Just see if there's anything at all that could be discarded. If there really isn't, that'd work.

Amazing, the number of past elements that come toghether in these chapters-even a pinch of the original trilogy, with the Witch. Certainly not a deux ex machina; she's got a right to be here. Simply in psycological terms, i'm eager to see how you're going to end this for Sunny.

Suprise! And suprise again, no mistake. How long, pray tell, do deamons gestate for? Without a subsequent line, I think I can guess who's knocking...

It was rather daft of me to expect Sunny to be instantly persuaded-a pretty tense passage. Lots of resolution, but quite a bit still going. Peter-Martin chemistry so good, it's a shame there won't be any more after this...I had just the right amount of foreshadowing of the Jesus theme from your L-world history, but i'm not sure if there's enough in the story itself.

James getting impaled was a bit sudden, but I don't think the climax is over. The boarding school section was an excellent idea, and well done.

Is Peter talking about 'The Man and his Gods' when he mentions an Urth and Sky story?

To mention Angels in passing, the Citagazzeans would see Angels differently from Will or Ruta, and this particular specimen wouldn't be winning modesty prizes. The key thing is, Lucia doesn't know what it can do.

I forgot to add:

'You are a Brighton Rock reference, and I claim MY five pounds.'

Or am I mistaken...?

Hurrah! Another shock-chapter-ending! I do so enjoy 'em. Anyway, its all steaming along nicely what with the characters and all being so well written. Next chapter soon, please :)

Oh no. We couldn't just leave him lost in another universe, could we? I shouldn't think Sunny is going to remember the most noticable event of this chapter with any great joy. Sometimes, you really put your characters through shit, but don't we all. Is The Lay of Imlachoïs a Lyra's-world version of something, perchance?

I'm wondering if that comment last chapter about suspecting a trick was insensitive. The return of the real Gerry would've been a huge narrative discord, the only advantage, which you've managed to infer here, being to show how much their world-veiws had moved apart. The vital thing about the deception is that it patably convinces Sunny. It isn't going to stop moving from here on in, is it...?

Quiet a tense start...and a suspicious ending. I can't help wondering if the Church were one step ahead of them with the ministry of employment, though we're unlightly to find out...

Sunny's last conversation with Alfie was touching, and the interrogation was pretty good. Did you see 'Brazil'? (Has to be the worst Dsytopia, I agree BNW sounded nicer-aren't we lucky it's the nearest to our own world?). Anyway, same sort of emotionless air, with Sunny in direct conflict. She's done so well, I can't help wondering if Gerry's sudden appearence really is a trick...awaiting developements. Exeter is alright, since work hasn't really started in earnest.

'Urth and sky'...It'd need to be a pretty good story, to finish this off.

So Peter might not make it through this one? If his time has come...the Lyra conversation had good feeling, though I wasn't sure if 'won't betray her trust' was about Sunny or Jane. the bit with the dress and smile was nice to read-and wasn't Sunny miserably practical about Dust and Angels? The HDM story gets fainter with each remove, alas. Geneva is nasty, even if the people and clothes aren't those of a really harrowing dsutopia, at least as yet. And an idea to bring us onto the next chapter...

Are P.M.A.L. (aka Cordwainer Smith?) and 'Think Blue, Count Two' connected then? Just a guess, I think I only read one of his stories, where the earth gets invaded by psychic ducks.

Interesting description of scientific knowledge as 'holy word'. A very different world indeed. The description of the journey is wonderful, though it was a little insenstive of Sunny to smoke when Pete didn't his opium. Economy lecture pretty well done.

Very good, very interesting bit about Pete and Sunny swapping bodies. I'm curious as to how it came about, guess that's connected with 'Think Blue, Count Two' as well. Pete and Sunny do have both have a bit to be redeemed from, I suppose.

Here I was thinking a major feature of Geneva would be churches...nice biuld-up to that bit. What are they going to do now they're here...

Very adaptable fellow, our Arthur...and a well done obstructive military bureaucrat as well. I was wondering when the whole religion thing was going to come up; though the arguement Peter mentions is probably more about humans than God, he puts a decent enough spin on it. I wonder what he was saying to himself, seeing that hanging body? Your knowledge of steam engines is good as ever, the decription of the bombardment very good, Arthur had better turn up sharpish this time...