So pop the kettle on
However, on reflection I recalled that the name of
Amalaric's sister was Amalathea, very nearly the same as
that given to the Jovian satellite. When I looked up
Amalthea I was a bit disconcerted to discover that she
wasn't of Germanic origin, but rather the nymph who nursed
Jupiter with goat's milk. I guess those Christian, albeit
heretical, Ostrogoths knew their mythology.
It struck me as interesting to see an unusual name so
similar to that of one of our characters pop up in such an
unexpected and unconnected context. I began to ponder
whether this -- along with the fascinating facts that
Amalthea is the reddest body in the solar system, and little
more than a pile of ice and rubble held loosely together by
gravitational attraction -- might be twisted into an essay
for Orphan Scrivener.
Then it occurred to me. There isn't anyone named Amalathea
in Three For A Letter, because late in the writing Amalathea
and her brother Amalaric became Sunilda and Gadaric.
It was unavoidable. As we approached the end of Threefer, we
realized we had too many characters whose names began with
A, some of whom were, inconveniently for us, graven in
history -- the Ostrogothic queen Amalasuntha and her young
son Athalaric, for instance.
Although we write about a distant era where naming
conventions differed from our own and people commonly
sported tongue twisting, not to mention mind bending,
monikers, we do our best to avoid the 19th century Russian
novel syndrome. That is to say, we try to name our
characters so as not to leave readers -- and ourselves --
permanently confused, an effort in which we are greatly
aided by our editor Barbara Peters. (In fairness to 19th
century Russian authors, I imagine the l9th century Russian
readers for whom they were writing had no trouble sorting
their Vasilies from their Vasilieyeves.)
In addition, we also largely stick to using a single name
per character, pretty much ignoring that the Romans, like us
but unlike Mongolians up until recently at least, had more
than one name. In addition, we give preference to names that
are still familiar today, such as the ever popular John or
Michael or Paul, or shorter names appropriate to the period.
As for longer names, we use them sparingly, for seasoning. A
minor character who appears only once or twice and so will
not be troublesome to recall may be given a longer name. A
ship owner called Theophylaktos appears briefly in Four For
A Boy, but we'd have a difficult time writing, let alone
reading, a novel filled with Theophylaktoses.
Then too that nasty court page known to readers as Hektor
was initially called Victor, changed for reasons I can't now
recall, and poor Leukos, whose murder John investigated in
One For Sorrow, was Lucius until the novel was completed.
Sometimes I worry that in mentioning characters in a new
book or story I'll inadvertently employ the names by which I
know them, rather than those they bear in print. Maybe I already
have, without realizing it!
At any rate, we changed Amalathea's name to Sunilda, but
having spent so many months in her company during the
writing of the novel, she will always be Amalathea to me.
Sunilda is just her stage name!
First, Pamela James interviewed us for The Writer's Room
Magazine, Danish publisher/editor Simona Nielsen's website.
Ingen panik! Det er på engelsk! (Translation: Don't panic!
It's in English!) Simona's site at
http://www.thewritersroommagazine.com provides information
on many topics relating to the craft. We're lurking about at
http://writersroom2.tripod.com/reviewthreeforaletter.htm
and this time around chat about such topics as "backward"
research and how we came to be co-authors.
Secondly, by Debby Alviso, whose Writer's e-Source Directory
(http://pages.zdnet.com/shenachi/wesd/id53.htm) is full of
very useful information on all manner of writing-related
material. Just to keep things from getting too exciting with
everything else going on this month, this interview won't go
on-line until 20th December. At that point it will appear at
http://pages.zdnet.com/shenachi//interviews/id26.htm
and then interested parties can peruse such arcana as
how the Dorj mysteries came about (it all had to do with
Molotov....) and the (dis)similarities in our backgrounds.
There's even a photo or two...
To commemorate this declaration, a statue of a pensive Constantine
The Minster isn't the first religious structure on the site,
but certainly the most impressive and justly famous for its
magnificent stained glass, in particular the enormous Rose
Window. Historical fiction fans will likely be as fascinated
as I was to learn that the Minster's crypt houses the base
of a column originally forming part of a colonnade belonging
to the Roman commanding officer's house, still sitting there
in the very place those long ago builders originally set it.
To think of the conversations that column could report if
only stone could talk!
Reminded recently about Constantine's statue during a
conversation with an old school friend, I began to wonder if
Justinian had also been thus honoured in more modern times.
Surprisingly, given that his codification of Roman law is
the great underpinning of the European system (and by
extension, those of Quebec and Louisiana also) I've traced
only one statue. Not unexpectedly, perhaps, it's among those
bedecking the building housing the Appellate Division of the
New York State Supreme Court.
A quick search of the vast 24 hour library that is the
Internet reveals that Henry Kirke Bush-Brown's likeness of
Justinian is one of nine worthies of the law whose life-
sized representations adorn this turn of the (l9th) century
courthouse. Justinian's companions in jurisprudence
prominence include Confucius, Moses, Zoroaster and Alfred
the Great (he of the allegedly burnt cakes, although so far
as we know his guilt was never actually established). There
are also allegorical figures of Peace, Justice, Wisdom and
Abundance, and other advantages provided by administration
of an orderly society.
Where Justinian is to be found, can Theodora be far off?
Likely not, except when it comes to the work of hammer and
chisel. The mosaics at San Vitale in Ravenna, including a
set showing the imperial couple and their court, are world
treasures. Their fine detail is astonishing, and since
even minor personages portrayed in them have distinctly
different features, one wonders (a) if the portraits of high
ranking dignitaries at least are drawn from life, and (b)
whether the populace had better vision in those days,
because they would certainly need keen eyesight to pick out
all the details of these soaring works of art.
Alas, however, my search for a statue of "our" Theodora has
thus far proved fruitless. Recalling John Wolcot's comment
that the desire so many have for fame leads them to consider
not even being mentioned worse than being damned, and
bearing in mind Theodora's strong character, I'd wager she'd
have had quite a lot to say about that sorry state of
affairs -- and it wouldn't be pass the cakes either!
Best wishes to all for the festive season and new year
Mary and Eric
who invite you to visit their home page, hanging out on the
virtual washing line that is the aether at
Therein you'll find the usual suspects, including more
personal essays and an interactive game as well as an on-
line jigsaw puzzle (at least if you have a java-enabled
browser) featuring One For Sorrow's boldly scarlet cover.
For those new to the subscription list there's also the
Orphan Scrivener archive, so don't say you weren't warned!
ERIC'S BIT or WHAT HAPPENED TO AMALATHEA?
When I read recently about the Galileo spacecraft's fly-by
of Jupiter's tiny, inner moon, Amalthea, I was reminded
immediately of Three For A Letter and the Ostrogothic
hostage whose brother Amalaric was killed by -- well, I'd
better not say!
NECESSARY EVIL or THE BSP TICKER
The ticker's leaping in a lively fashion this month!
NEWS FROM THE NORTH or JOHN RETURNS TO THE GROVES OF ACADEME
We were honoured to learn recently that next year John will
be back in those most enticing surroundings, although not by
returning to Plato's Academy. Beginning in September 2003,
University of Calgary Emeritus Professor of Classics Barry
Baldwin is presenting a l0 extra-mural talk series entitled
When West was East: Highlights of Byzantine Civilisation.
This series is to be offered under the university's aegis to
people 50+ and John's adventures will be part of the
suggested reading. Mystery readers will recognise Professor
Baldwin's name from his nominations for Ellis and Anthony
Awards.
THE SCRIVENERS SPEAK or INGEN PANIK! DET ER PA ENGELSK!
Since the last issue we've been grilled like hot dogs on the
4th of July.
MARY'S BIT or NINE FOR THE WORTHY COMPANIONS
It was in 306 that the local Roman troops proclaimed
Constantine as emperor upon the death of his father, who was
in Bretania campaigning against the Picts further north.
Their loyal declaration took place in Eburacum (York), an
ancient and beautiful city not that far as the raven flies
from my home area.
AND FINALLY
Speaking of cakes reminds us of the sweet confections often
given to friends and family at this time of year. By
coincidence, the next Orphan Scrivener will show up on l5th
February, right after Valentine's Day, another occasion much
associated with this type of gift. As it happens, l5th
February is also publication date for Four For A Boy, or as
was recently noted chez maywrite Fifteenth February Fetches
Forth Fourfer. John's adventures this time around form part
of a somewhat noirish tale, so you might want save a few of
those Valentine choccies in order to fortify yourself as you
discover how he regained his freedom, and along the way met
some of the other characters in the series!
Sunday, December 15, 2002
THE ORPHAN SCRIVENER ISSUE # EIGHTEEN l5 DECEMBER 2002
The festive season draws ever nearer, and if you're feeling
as frazzled as most of the rest of us, this latest Scrivener
provides an excuse to take a break from the current hectic
pace of life, which always seems to leap into frenetic high
gear between Thanksgiving and Auld Lang Syne.
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