The Battle of the Naupent approaches. We discuss following Dad's advice, keeping a cool head, Sophos getting left out, and chess.
Gen scoffs at fate (and finally gets his elephants). We discuss the stories-within-the-story (or the lack thereof), clashing gods, helpful treason, kingly authority, and defending Irene.
Pheris gets mixed up in some serious business. Gen has a weird dream. We discuss hypostatic union (?), killer mic drops, and doing therapy in your sleep. Featuring special guest Phil!
While Eugenides plays host to an unexpected guest, we discuss sucking chest wounds, ruining the villain monologue, random acts of kindness, and a very terrifying 40 seconds.
In this episode, we finally see the long-awaited elephants. Oh yeah, and Nahuseresh is back or whatever. We discuss Henry the 5th, Kamet's "death", battlefield mud, and the value of heroes. Transcript coming soon.
The army marches to war. We discuss imaginary birds, divine luck, self-doubt, self-indulgence, and drunk bird fashion goals. Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LOqF3iNO6AxRTenR0IOhJAMukSHfj5xVym8jUE3gdWc/edit?usp=sharing
Everyone lets off some steam before bottling it all up again to go kill people. We discuss indoor plumbing, Gen’s overnight popularity, Fordad’s motives, and the meaning of Teleus’s advice about love. Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Oe76tnv5_pAM0dy6-ljGxdjcjH3zQkW1YNCeC25SgcY/edit?usp=sharing
Gen accomplishes his goal with the max amount of damage to himself and the max amount of distress to those around him. We discuss self image with disability, the RotT audiobook accents, Gen’s convoluted don’t-steal-Eddis plan, and the absurdity of violence. Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wSqYA-PxVLSd4z9HIf5lFCkE6z7iNUWnQYIYAWGATbA/edit?usp=sharing
Eugenides and Irene make a serious threat, and we discuss the centralization of power, risk-taking, new avenues for Pheris, the idea of an inverted tragedy, and, as always, love.
War comes to the Little Peninsula. We discuss the logistics of killing people, Fordad’s fake surprise, Eddisian tattoos, prophetic headcanons, the iconic sleeveless leather vest, and Moira’s Pen. Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EYdHrnSfPfyp0BNzxSk-_KipBAm_E6p4ZeU6s8asq0c/edit?usp=sharing
Pheris gets to know his new tutor and we see the last of Melheret. We discuss the Greater Peninsula, Attolian history, Erondites’s plans, the only illustration in the series, and changes in the YA industry. Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-_mTxblLTBAoT0anqhC9ESaKE4zVZnDeKYvfnevtKVs/edit?usp=sharing The Attolian Archives is a chapter-by-chapter Queen’s Thief reread podcast by two overgrown library rats named Noelle and Caitlin. New episodes every other Sunday. Subscribe on iTunes Find us on Anchor
Pheris saves the day! We discuss ghostly messages, new relationships, narrative overlap, and the value of kindness. Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mve2zeQaJ-kwNm7-B1IiqM0sIC3yeqGr1R9nZ3A4jCc/edit?usp=sharing
Pheris sees a terrifying apparition after his cover is blown. We discuss war prep, what makes monarchs popular, how not to punish children, and why Gen is a public jokester. Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/131u7I0t5YwgppJQwWsdIPWERFIe7w2I1tTvORpGfM-A/edit?usp=sharing
In this episode, the Pent's script goes off track. We discuss Cenna's daring theatrical performance, what's in a name, and mercy versus justice. Trigger warning for discussion of sexual assault. Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O0jCAeD93tVM2G9GgGsoF-m4fqTdizPFPHwgzXVfqwc/edit?usp=sharing
In our story, we find a prophecy, a garden, a lot of personal drama, and, oh, also a death. Meanwhile, we discuss interior design, Attolia's brothers, Gen seeing Pheris, Pheris seeing Gen, and Attolia's garden as a locus amoenus. Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QzPf8U76AqBd9bZUxSVmdJkgXPiS9Li1aDnFyM0uv3M/edit?usp=sharing
Eugenides gets a bow, a decorative pomegranate, a horse, and the stomach flu. We discuss oaths, names, childhood, and back references. transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QUD-VK3x6U7Ic17t3YqTgMBZ2lFK4ll9AGpapcAm49M/edit?usp=sharing
Pheris adjusts to his new home. We discuss adult supervision, Gen's master plan, Eddisian accents, the psychology of Helen's clothing choices, and confusing banquet hall seating arrangements.
Here’s what we thought of Return of the Thief! Warning: we talk about the whole book, so if you haven’t finished it yet and don’t want to know what happens, hold off! Spoiler: WE LOVED IT. Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qZinSgS1_tmCovBh0FScBH87f2gB2MkRyba8j8rqOlc/edit?usp=sharing Become a sponsor here (if you want!): https://anchor.fm/attolian-archives-pod/support
Pheris is minding his own business when he's pulled into a story more epic than he ever could have imagined. We discuss beehives, calendars, prejudice, hair, and secret sisters. transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1L-kTFWs4PfqHDEv9HrKDKdMDKG5LE-i6wTMjzGjZEvY/edit?usp=sharing
Secrets are revealed, and we discuss the advanced reader’s copy, errand boys, secret identities, trust, and sandals. Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GfAlh4sLT_fzEHokRWwtIewU7oP2CyT7G9H2d3XsbU4/edit?usp=sharing
Janet Lafler
Years ago I got together with some friends to read of Lysistrata aloud. For some reason we had a couple of different translations. In the British translation, the Spartans had Scots accents; in the American translation, they had "hillbilly" type accents. Presumably there is something in the original Greek that indicates a comic "hick" quality to the Spartan characters' speech.
Janet Lafler
FWIW, I think it's pretty clear that the first-person sections are the ones in which Sophos is telling the story to Helen; everything else is third person.