N.K. JEMISIN: One Hundred Thousand Kingdoms

[NKJemisin]

Testing... poke poke.

Hi, folks.  I'm not "here" yet -- don't want to bug you guys while you're reading.  Just saw Paul's link to this pop up on my Facebook, and remembered I should create an account.

Oh, and as for breaking points for discussion -- there aren't a lot; the whole story takes place over only about 2 weeks' span.  But I would say there are natural breaking points in these places:

Chapters 1-5 Introduce Yeine to life in Sky;

Chapters 6-11 cover her first few days, where she meets other significant characters and figures out what's really going on;

Chapters 12-18 cover her reaction/action in response to the revelations of the previous set;

Chapters 18-22 take a dark(er) turn;

Chapters 23-25 are... hmm.  Don't want to spoil. But are best read together.

Chapters 26-29 are the finale.

Though really, an arbitrary chapter breakdown works just as well.  The story isn't fully linear.

Hope that helps. Looking forward to our discussion in March! =)

[Nelsmom]

Welcome N.K.,

Thank you for your suggestions of breaks.  I am looking forward to reading your book and hope that I get my copy sometime next week.  I will go along with whatever the rest of the group decides.

Toni

[pen21]

Welcome N. K.! Thanks for dropping by.

I am open to whatever breaking points are chosen.

Nelsmom glad to see you are on board too.

We have a nice sized group, so there should be lots of discussion and lots of ideas and conjecture on where the book is going.

I am into Chapter 4 and will wait to hear where the breaking points are before continuing.

I like what I have read so far.

pen21

[Nadine]

Welcome aboard, Nora. Don't worry about bugging us -- we will be reading your book all through March. We like to take a book in parts without knowing the end and discuss it up to that point. We do a lot of speculating as to where we think it is going. You will be surprised how inventive we can be and any similarity between your outcome and our speculation is purely coincidental! It is fun.

Thanks for the breakdown. That is going to be a big help.

---

NKJemisin wrote:

Testing... poke poke.

Hi, folks.  I'm not "here" yet -- don't want to bug you guys while you're reading.  Just saw Paul's link to this pop up on my Facebook, and remembered I should create an account.

Oh, and as for breaking points for discussion -- there aren't a lot; the whole story takes place over only about 2 weeks' span.  But I would say there are natural breaking points in these places:

Chapters 1-5 Introduce Yeine to life in Sky;

Chapters 6-11 cover her first few days, where she meets other significant characters and figures out what's really going on;

Chapters 12-18 cover her reaction/action in response to the revelations of the previous set;

Chapters 18-22 take a dark(er) turn;

Chapters 23-25 are... hmm.  Don't want to spoil. But are best read together.

Chapters 26-29 are the finale.

Though really, an arbitrary chapter breakdown works just as well.  The story isn't fully linear.

Hope that helps. Looking forward to our discussion in March! =)

---

[Nadine]

I've been thinking about Nora's breakdown and it looks to me like Chapters 1-11 establishes the basic story and introduces all the characters. Maybe we would want to discuss that part of the book the first week in March. It is 139 pages. Is that too much for any of you? I haven't actually started reading yet, I kind of wanted to wait until we were closer to the discussion date so everything was still fresh in my mind.

After that it looks like Nora's divisions would work well.

Chapter 12-18 - 98 pages

Chapter 19-22 - 63 pages

Chapter 23-25 - 41 pages

Chapter 26-29 - 53 pages

What do you say Lord Moderator Ruler?

Toni, It looks like you were just about right on target -- only off by one chapter through all your break suggestions:

============================

How about the first ten chapters than the next seven, six and then finally the last six chapters.  I plan on joining in the discussion if school work doesn't get in the way.

Toni

Toni L. Chapman

[paulgoatallen]

---

NKJemisin wrote:

Testing... poke poke.

Hi, folks.  I'm not "here" yet -- don't want to bug you guys while you're reading.  Just saw Paul's link to this pop up on my Facebook, and remembered I should create an account.

Oh, and as for breaking points for discussion -- there aren't a lot; the whole story takes place over only about 2 weeks' span.  But I would say there are natural breaking points in these places:

Chapters 1-5 Introduce Yeine to life in Sky;

Chapters 6-11 cover her first few days, where she meets other significant characters and figures out what's really going on;

Chapters 12-18 cover her reaction/action in response to the revelations of the previous set;

Chapters 18-22 take a dark(er) turn;

Chapters 23-25 are... hmm.  Don't want to spoil. But are best read together.

Chapters 26-29 are the finale.

Though really, an arbitrary chapter breakdown works just as well.  The story isn't fully linear.

Hope that helps. Looking forward to our discussion in March! =)

---

Hey Nora – or N.K., I'm not sure which one you prefer – welcom to the forums, and thank you so much for "sectioning" the novel. I'm so excited to dive into this book! It's going to be a great March, I can feel it.

Also, I'll get your status changed from "New User" to "Author."  

Paul

[paulgoatallen]

---

Nadine wrote:

I've been thinking about Nora's breakdown and it looks to me like Chapters 1-11 establishes the basic story and introduces all the characters. Maybe we would want to discuss that part of the book the first week in March. It is 139 pages. Is that too much for any of you? I haven't actually started reading yet, I kind of wanted to wait until we were closer to the discussion date so everything was still fresh in my mind.

After that it looks like Nora's divisions would work well.

Chapter 12-18 - 98 pages

Chapter 19-22 - 63 pages

Chapter 23-25 - 41 pages

Chapter 26-29 - 53 pages

What do you say Lord Moderator Ruler?

Toni, It looks like you were just about right on target -- only off by one chapter through all your break suggestions:

============================

How about the first ten chapters than the next seven, six and then finally the last six chapters.  I plan on joining in the discussion if school work doesn't get in the way.

Toni

Toni L. Chapman

---

That sounds perfect, Nadine. The introduction to any new saga is hugely important so it would make sense to kind of concentrate on the first 139 pages, make our comparisons, speculations, etc. and then get into the meat of the story. sound like a plan?

Paul

[pen21]

Nadine's breakdown looks good.

139 pages through chapter 11 works for me.

I'll watch the post and see what the consensus is.

pen21

[Melhay]

---

paulgoatallen wrote:

---

Nadine wrote:

I've been thinking about Nora's breakdown and it looks to me like Chapters 1-11 establishes the basic story and introduces all the characters. Maybe we would want to discuss that part of the book the first week in March. It is 139 pages. Is that too much for any of you? I haven't actually started reading yet, I kind of wanted to wait until we were closer to the discussion date so everything was still fresh in my mind.

After that it looks like Nora's divisions would work well.

Chapter 12-18 - 98 pages

Chapter 19-22 - 63 pages

Chapter 23-25 - 41 pages

Chapter 26-29 - 53 pages

What do you say Lord Moderator Ruler?

Toni, It looks like you were just about right on target -- only off by one chapter through all your break suggestions:

============================

How about the first ten chapters than the next seven, six and then finally the last six chapters.  I plan on joining in the discussion if school work doesn't get in the way.

Toni

Toni L. Chapman

---

That sounds perfect, Nadine. The introduction to any new saga is hugely important so it would make sense to kind of concentrate on the first 139 pages, make our comparisons, speculations, etc. and then get into the meat of the story. sound like a plan?

Paul

---

These sound great!  I will use these breaks for reading.  I am going to try and have a big read-a-thon this weekend to get through the two books I have before I dig into this one.

Nora, or N.K., Welcome!  We are always excited to have the authors around with us.  Please feel free to stop by at any time and throw in what ever thoughts you may have.  We have a little secret for you, we really take the books in pieces and discuss what we read and where we think its going.  I hope you enjoy our discussions.  We really have fun with the books we do this with.

[Nadine]

Great post on the Nebula nominees, Paul. Congratulations, Nora, on your short story nomination. Hey, since we are discussing Nora book, maybe some of you would like to read and maybe talk about her nominated short story, Non-Zero Probabilities.

[paulgoatallen]

---

Nadine wrote:

Great post on the Nebula nominees, Paul. Congratulations, Nora, on your short story nomination. Hey, since we are discussing Nora book, maybe some of you would like to read and maybe talk about her nominated short story, Non-Zero Probabilities.

---

I am going to try to read this before March.

Paul

[Nadine]

This brings to mind another question I would like to ask, Nora, especially since other authors we have talked with do it.

Do any of your shorter fiction relate to 100K?

I guess when the March thread is posted, I should gather up my guestions and put them into one post. Also, Paul, is it possible for you to transfer this thread to the new one?

[paulgoatallen]

---

Nadine wrote:

Also, Paul, is it possible for you to transfer this thread to the new one?

---

Absolutely. I'll do it when March is  little closer!

Paul

[Nadine]

Also, there is a great interview of Nora at A Dribble of Ink. Kind of some spoilers but nothing too serious. I had already peeked at the sample chapter for the next book in the back of 100K so there were no surprises for me. But other's might beware. Nothing, though, that reveals the events in 100K.

The Interview.

[NKJemisin]

Hi Nadine,

Unfortunately no, I haven't written any shortfic based on the Inheritance Trilogy universe.  In general my novel-worlds and short-story worlds are very separate, just because that's the way I think -- I have big ideas and small ideas, and the two don't mix well in my head.  =)

Also, it's Nora.  I just use the initials for business purposes.  =)

[NKJemisin]

And here I said I wouldn't be popping in much. =)  Sorry!

Just wanted to post this, because apparently there are now a couple of book clubs that will be focusing on The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms in March, as well as a college class or two (!), and I got asked about pronunciation of the characters' names.  So wanted to direct folks here to this new post at my blog:  a pronunciation guide.  Let me stress:  I don't care how people pronounce the names. But some readers care, so here ya go!

[TiggerBear]

---

NKJemisin wrote:

And here I said I wouldn't be popping in much. =)  Sorry!

Just wanted to post this, because apparently there are now a couple of book clubs that will be focusing on The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms in March, as well as a college class or two (!), and I got asked about pronunciation of the characters' names.  So wanted to direct folks here to this new post at my blog:  a pronunciation guide.  Let me stress:  I don't care how people pronounce the names. But some readers care, so here ya go!

---

Thank you! It does iritate me when I stumble on pronouciation. Ruins the reading flow.

[Nadine]

---

NKJemisin wrote:

Hi Nadine,

Unfortunately no, I haven't written any shortfic based on the Inheritance Trilogy universe.  In general my novel-worlds and short-story worlds are very separate, just because that's the way I think -- I have big ideas and small ideas, and the two don't mix well in my head.  =)

Also, it's Nora.  I just use the initials for business purposes.  =)

---

Thanks for the reply, Nora. I think I saved another question somewhere. I'll try to find it. Great having you dropping in early.

[Nadine]

---

NKJemisin wrote:

And here I said I wouldn't be popping in much. =)  Sorry!

Just wanted to post this, because apparently there are now a couple of book clubs that will be focusing on The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms in March, as well as a college class or two (!), and I got asked about pronunciation of the characters' names.  So wanted to direct folks here to this new post at my blog:  a pronunciation guide.  Let me stress:  I don't care how people pronounce the names. But some readers care, so here ya go!

---

Great list but I printed it out and I'm using to keep track of the characters as I read. I'm terrible on remembering the spelling of names and this will help me a lot.

[Nadine]

Ah, here is my earlier question:

02-14-2010 10:15 PM

Nora uses an interesting writing technique -- kind of like a Stream of Consciousness format. When I read Chapter 1, I thought that maybe I was not going to like it. It seemed "jumpy" but then I found it worked and by the end of the chapter I was hooked. I read somewhere, and now I can't remember where, that this trilogy was already written but the format didn't work, so essentially she is rewriting the book in this style. So I have my first question for Nora:

Question: What format did you use in your first writing of this book?

I am finding that this method is working out very well to provide the back-story without taking a lengthy "time-out" to provide background information that we are going to need to understand what is happening. For those of you who haven't started to read this, the first-person narrator is relating the events that are taking place but her thoughts jump to other events or information in the middle of the narrative..

[Nadine]

Nora uses an interesting writing technique -- kind of like a Stream of Consciousness format. When I read Chapter 1, I thought that maybe I was not going to like it. It seemed "jumpy" but then I found it worked and by the end of the chapter I was hooked. I read somewhere, and now I can't remember where, that this trilogy was already written but the format didn't work, so essentially she is rewriting the book in this style. So I have my first question for Nora:

Question: What format did you use in your first writing of this book?

I am finding that this method is working out very well to provide the back-story without taking a lengthy "time-out" to provide background information that we are going to need to understand what is happening. For those of you who haven't started to read this, the first-person narrator is relating the events that are taking place but her thoughts jump to other events or information in the middle of the narrative..