This is an asking post, a post in which you ask

[stillsostrange]

Any questions you may have about The Drowning City, that is. I am moving the questions that were asked in the last post here, so they don't get eaten by the large and moving Torb.

le_marquise_de asks: I'm interested in the geography, curiously. Inspired by your experiences in Indonesia?

It isn't, actually, because I have only vague memories of Indonesia and none of them geographical. Sivahra is mostly a great smooshy amalgam of southern and southeastern Asia. Lots of rain forests and mountains, and the fictional version of Ha Long Bay. The Sivahran kris is totally the Indonesian kris, though. The hill in the forest where Xinai heard pigs being slaughtered comes from Yap. That is really not a pleasant sound.

[Bad username or site: manifesta.dreamwidth.org @ livejournal.com] says: I really enjoyed Adam and Xinai. Will either of them be making a reappearance in The Bone Palace?

No. They are busy with other problems. Right now I think that Adam will come back in Kingdoms of Dust, but I've been wrong about these things before. If he doesn't I will definitely write him a short story or something, because he's one of my favoritest characters ever. I would kind of like to come up with a spin-off book about Xinai and the Sivarhan crew post-TDC, but that may just be a pipe dream. Especially since I can't call it The Bone Stair.

And txanne says: ..I liked the food. Are there Earth analogues? Sure. Green curry, tom yum goong, lassi, and century eggs I remember off the top of my head. Cardamom cream cakes were probably just wishful thinking on my part. Everything is better with cardamom.

Ask me questions! I can only procrastinate with Bookworm and Tetris for so long.

Comments

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Why can't you call it The Bone Stair?

Also, what characteristics do cardamom cream cakes have? I have very nice cardamom cookies that are not the least bit creamy, but I can make an attempt at a cardamom cream cake recipe if you describe them for me. (The book in question will probably go to Michigan with me on Friday, so, "They're described extensively in the book," is good enough here.)

[stillsostrange.livejournal.com]

I think I shouldn't have The Bone Stair and The Bone Palace. I would probably confuse myself.

The cakes are only mentioned in passing, but I imagine they're little chai cakes with a creamy cardamom frosting. I just found such a recipe (and will be testing it this week), but if you also came up with a recipe there could be even more cardamom cake, and I can't see this as anything but positive.

[britmandelo.livejournal.com]

Oh, you should totally post the recipe if it works out. That sounds delicious.

[manifesta (from livejournal.com)]

That sounds amazing. If the recipe is as yummy as it sounds, would you mind linking it for us?

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

The Ivory Stair? No, too soapy. Hmmmm. papersky had The King's Name and King's Peace. But I see your point: I had some difficulty remembering which one I owned, until I owned both.

[desperance.livejournal.com]

The hill in the forest where Xinai heard pigs being slaughtered comes from Yap. That is really not a pleasant sound.

Indeed. I heard it in the mountains of Andorra, and it is still in my head. Waiting for a story, I guess.

That sneaky Mris stole my initial question, so I'll have to come back later - but all this talk about cardamom cream cakes has left me aghast. I make vanilla sugar as a matter of course; why have I never thought of making cardamom sugar?

*goes off to do that thing*

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

Once you have heard a pig squeal, the phrase "squeal like a pig" takes on a whole new meaning.

Pigsqueal is an area effect weapon.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Thank you!