You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

One of the group reads for February is Dodger by Terry Pratchett. Please discuss the book in this thread.

In order to receive a badge you must:
1. have completed the book before or during February 2016.
2. discussed it in this thread. Discussion must be more than "I read the book and I liked it". Discussion requires something more substantial and analytical of what you read, for example, thoughts, opinions, impact it had on you, what was your favourite part, was it what you expected it to be like etc. You may also like to review the book and post a link to the review in this thread.
3. Report that you have read AND discussed the book in the reporting thread (include a brief summary of what you thought of the book).

General Rules:
1. Please mark your spoilers with the spoiler tags along with mentioning what stage of the book you are at so other's don't get a nasty shock. Chapter numbers/titles are generally best as they are the same across all formats and editions.
2. The book may be combined with the Year Long Challenge, Topplers, and Monthly Challenges.

Happy reading!

Here's the discussion thread Cherie.

So, strange. It does not show up in the topic list on my laptop despite that you entered a comment Janice. Thank you.

That's just bizarre! I'm glad you found it.

I'm going to start Dodger after I finish The Blade Itself. It looks like it may be beginning of next week.

I read the first chapter today (it was a slow day at work).

This does not seem to be a book one can to blast through. I caught myself having to go back and re-read passages to catch things that I read but did not take in. I had to Google Argos Panoptes. Here is the info for those interested.(view spoiler)[ He was a 100 eyed giant in Greek Mythology - the picture shows him with eyes all over his body. Panoptes means "the all-seeing one". He was the son of Arestor. He was a servant of Hera. He slayed the monster called Echida. His main task was to guard Io, who was a nymph that Zeus had designs on. He was slain by Hermes, with a stone. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter two. Good for Cook Quickly. Now, that I know what a "richard" is I want to wipe it out of my mind. Quite the education on Toshing. I always thought a Tosher was a Dandy or ladie's man. Not! (view spoiler)[ I want to know what that dead rat was doing with the half soverign in his mouth. Must be like crows - they like shiney things? (hide spoiler)] Oh, poor Granddad. That was sad.

Cool they ate talking about toshing and tosher. It actually has a few meanings we've discovered since we bought our boat (which is called Tosher). I'll come back and share when i'm a different device. My phone annoys me.

I finished chapter three last night and read up to chapter eight this afternoon. My book looks like a porcupine with yellow sticky notes and pieces of torn up paper stuck between the pages. I want to mark all of the places in the text that catch my eye. The tongue-in-cheek exchanges and beautiful lines that make me snort and grin and re-read again to make sure I have really read them correctly. This is Pratchett at his best and unfortunately for us all, his last.

Where are you, Almeta? This is a must read for you!

I never did come back to discuss toshing. So here I am. We have come across a few different meanings for the term (view spoiler)[ A tosher, back in Victorian times, used to comb the shores of the Rover Thames for things of value (coins, jewellery mainly). They had no metal detectors back then so it was done by eye and by hand. It then became illegal to do it and so the people who did this were forced in to the underground sewers of London to continue looking for shiny things. Not a pleasant job I can imagine.

A tosher is also a person who, on a boat, will collect metals from other boats and on land, some legally as scrap and others not so legally.

A tosher is the slang name for a steel painter.

And we'e been told that it also has a maritime, naval meaning but we haven't been able to locate the full definition for this as yet.

Tisher is also a surname and there is a cider produced locally to me which has been named Tosher's cider after the family who produced it.

In a very romantic way, I've given tosher my own definition in the way it applies to our boat. It is a seeker of happy, enjoyable, sparkly times.
(hide spoiler)]

I don't think I'm going to get near this book this month unfortunately but at least I've given my two shiny pennies worth ;-)

I started the book today and while I was mildly amused in Chapter 1 and 2, it devolved rather quickly into a snooze fest. I kept nodding off and that doesn't usually happen with an audiobook. But, I shall persevere at least until tomorrow. I hope it picks up. I want it to. I want to like Terry Pratchett. But three times might be the clincher.

That's a shame Janice. I know it's annoying when you really want to like an author but just don't. But there are plenty of authors out there who are for you. And you've given him your best shot. If you don't finish reading the book, still go read my spoiler about toshing (msg 9) - it doesn't relate to the book but about the name of my boat which you might find of interest.

I think it does pick up, Janice. Get through chapter three. I tried to say that it was a little slow at first. I am not sure about doing this in audio though. I will have to check it out on Audible.

I read up to chapter eight on Sunday, but haven't been back to it since. I'm trying to finish my number book (the stories are great) and I need to finish The Nightingale.

Sarah wrote: "One of the group reads for January is Dodger by Terry Pratchett. Please discuss the book in this thread.

February you mean, not January, right?

Whoops. Darm copy and paste! Thanks for pointing it out TJ. Off to fix now.

Sarah wrote: "That's a shame Janice. I know it's annoying when you really want to like an author but just don't. But there are plenty of authors out there who are for you. And you've given him your best shot. If..."

I did read your spoiler. Thanks for the definition and what a great name for your boat.

Cherie wrote: "I think it does pick up, Janice. Get through chapter three. I tried to say that it was a little slow at first. I am not sure about doing this in audio though. I will have to check it out on Audible."

I think I am past Chapter 3, not exactly sure. I will sit with it for a bit tonight and see what happens.

Janice wrote: "Cherie wrote: "I think it does pick up, Janice. Get through chapter three. I tried to say that it was a little slow at first. I am not sure about doing this in audio though. I will have to check it..."

Who is the narrator, Janice?

Cherie wrote: "...Where are you, Almeta? This is a must read for you! ..."

Just started today.☺

Chapters 1 - 3

I certainly get that London is (view spoiler)[ dirty and rainy, by this initial description! (hide spoiler)]

Thanks for the info on Argos Panoptes, Cherie. The description (view spoiler)[certainly applies to the watchful eyes on Dodger while in Mayhew's house! and under Mrs. Sharples scrutiny! (hide spoiler)]

Pleased with myself for discerning that (view spoiler)[Charlie was none other that the celebrated author, Dickens. ☺ Henry Mayhew, however I had to look up. He was not known to me. (hide spoiler)]

Cook, Mrs. Quickly, is pretty clever (view spoiler)[in clearing Dodger of any stealing charges by searching him before the housekeeper, Mrs. Sharples, can accuse him. (hide spoiler)]

lol about Richard (view spoiler)[Meaning no real offense to the world's Richards, but the three I have known personally, really were in my opinion RICHARDs! I don't think I'll be forgetting this reference.☺ (hide spoiler)]

Not happy to hear of (view spoiler)[Grandad's death (hide spoiler)]

Solomon is modeled after (view spoiler)[ “Ikey” Solomon an extremely successful real-life Jewish fence, who gained lots of notoriety. Of course he is also like the biblical wise King Solomon.

Solomon's rant (view spoiler)[about the child's game teaching deception, makes me wonder about my favorite games. (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

I loved the rain and dirt and references to the Romans and why they built the sewers (not for the sewage - obviously!

Re: pleased (view spoiler)[I got that right away, but did not mention it. (hide spoiler)]

So glad to have you here! I saw that you had posted it as currently reading after I wrote the comment about where you were.

I fell asleep reading my Numbers Challenge book and did not get to Dodger. I need to go back to my sticky notes and comment on ch 4-7. A lot happened!

I'm still waiting for my copy from library. I'm next in line, but not sure when it will become available.

Cherie wrote: "Who is the narrator, Janice? ."

Stephen Briggs. He does a passable job.

Almeta wrote: "
Pleased with myself for discerning that (view spoiler) .."

I was going to comment on that too. I didn't get who it was when he first entered the story and his friend was calling him (view spoiler)[ Charlie. But it clicked as soon as his last name was given. It's appropriate, in that the whole book is a nod to Oliver Twist. (hide spoiler)]

I'm almost finished Chapter 10. I will finish the book, but it's going to be a slog.

There's some humour, but it's more like "Oh, I caught that. Hehe." I'd rather, the humour to make me laugh and giggle. I'm still giggling over Ardee from The Blade Itself. Whereas with this book, I don't remember the comment past the next paragraph. Oh, maybe (view spoiler)[ "One mustn't tell anything to anyone who doesn't need to know." That brings a smile at the same time as I recognize the truth in it. (hide spoiler)]

I liked the whole (view spoiler)[Sweeney Todd thing. It's kind of scary to think that Dodger was in his chair. Sweet that Dodger sees beyond the crazy to the wounded man. (hide spoiler)]

Soldering on. :)

Oh yeah, I wonder what Dodger's real name is. Maybe (view spoiler)[ Oliver? (hide spoiler)]

Oh, good grief, Janice. Amy and I listened to Stephen Briggs tonight. Both of us hated it! She said she couldn't listen to that!

I agree, there is nothing falling down funny, but there are some lovely passages, I think.

Hehehe - that's why I said his narration was "passable". I've listened to worse.

I do agree about there being some nice passages.

I likely won't get any read tonight as it is wine group and bowling. I might get a half hour in before my friends pick me up and whisk me away.

Chapter 4
Some more name dropping here (view spoiler)[ by mentioning a friend who may investigate questionable activity: Sir Robert Peel, He was "regarded as the father of the modern British police" ~ wiki (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 5

Simplicity's (view spoiler)[logic about the Mayhews being untrust-worthy for her safety seems sound. They would be law-abiding citizens. (hide spoiler)]

Ah ha! (view spoiler)[ Simplicity may not be all she seems on the surface. Simplistic she is not.☺ (hide spoiler)]

Another reference (view spoiler)[ to Robert Peel, when Dodger calls the police "The Peelers" (hide spoiler)]

I just finished my Numbers Challenge book. As soon as I fire up my laptop and post my score, I will write up my comments here for the chapters I have finished and be able to read the spoilers.

Chapter 12 - I have to chuckle at Almeta's name dropping comment. (view spoiler)[ Sir Robert Peale and Dodger in the latrine was an interesting scene. Peale is not to be taken for a fool. So the shady lawyer (forgot his name already) is dead! Things are heating up. (hide spoiler)]

Love the dog, btw! He's not as vocal as Oberon in The Iron Druid series, but he certainly has a presence. Hehehehe!

Ch 3
re more name dropping (view spoiler)[I missed the reference to Peel. I caught that he was a friend of Dickens, but I did not think to look him up. (hide spoiler)]

remarks (view spoiler)[ what I liked was the line that Dodger used when he was telling Dickens about the coach and the info he got from Messy Bessie, "I'm dealing with an informant who isn't bright enough to know everything or notice much." Unlike her, Dodger is bright, but doesn't know everything, and does notice things. Also, did you catch Dicken's line "However, I have high hopes and great expectiaions of you..." (hide spoiler)]

Ch 5 (view spoiler)[ I like Soloman. I love his conversation about God and pork and that he taught Dodger to wash and brush his teeth.
Dodger was very lucky to have met Soloman. I really liked this chapter! Mister Mayhew and his wife seem to be streached pretty thin, money wise, but I am not sure I understand why. He said that they were not rich but that they were not poor either. I loved Dodger's story about growing up and going from mudlark to tosher and being in the sewers. All of the names of the locations where the water pools or eddies. (hide spoiler)]

re: Simplicity (view spoiler)[I think you are right, Almeta. She should be able to trust the Mayhews, but it is a risk. She seems very good at acting the innocent. I wonder what she is hiding?I think it is a huge risk for her and Dodger to go walking about. (hide spoiler)]

re: the cook (view spoiler)[I don't think she needed to remind Dodger to remember the "lowley" when he rises up high. I think he already does his best - the children in the next chapter, Higgins. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 6. The Mayhew household (view spoiler)[ I want to know what is going on there too. "They are doing their duty in a stiff way, but it didn't apperr to be very happy". (hide spoiler)]

the bad guys (view spoiler)[ the whole Sharp Bob thing was creepy! (hide spoiler)]

Ch 7: I loved the walk and the conversation and the quote about God after they got back to their room! (view spoiler)[ re Onan - he had two gods to worship. How Dodger smells when he gets back from toshing "when to the senses of Onan Dodger was like a rainbow stuffed with kaleidoscopes." (hide spoiler)]

re: Sweeny Todd (view spoiler)[ Yes! Yikes! Again - Dodger is the hero. He seems to have a knack for foiling the bad things and smelling like a rose. Did you catch the "man for all seasons" comment at the end of the chapter? (hide spoiler)]
Pratchett at his best. He seems to be throwing everything but the kitchen sink into this one. (and we may see the kitchen sink sooner or later.)

Oh, darn. I shouldn't have read your Ch 12 spoiler. Oh well!

I like the dog too! I think of Oberon too, when I see his name. I wonder if Pratchett did that on purpose.

I don't think I'm getting any more reading done tonight. It is already 11:28pm and I have to be up and on-line at 7:00am - but I get to work in my PJs.

Cherie wrote: " Also, did you catch Dicken's line ..."

lol! Good catch. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled from now on!

Janice wrote: "Love the dog, btw! He's not as vocal as Oberon in The Iron Druid series, but he certainly has a presence. Hehehehe! .."

Cherie wrote: "I like the dog too! I think of Oberon too, when I see his name. I wonder if Pratchett did that on purpose. ..."

I HAD to look! Shocking!☻ (view spoiler)[Onan is a minor biblical person in the Book of Genesis, killed by Yahweh because he engaged in coitus interruptus, rather than father a child by his widowed sister-in-law, Tamar. He disregarded the principle of a levirate union, so God slew him. (hide spoiler)]

Cherie wrote: "I loved the rain and dirt and references to the Romans and why they built the sewers (not for the sewage - obviously!.."

Yeah, I did not know that. I always assumed that they were for sewage.

Almeta wrote: "I HAD to look! Shocking!☻ (view spoiler) "

Oh dear! Dangerous road to travel down. Best for me to leave that subject alone. LOL!

Chapter 6
Crown and Anchor is (view spoiler)[" a simple dice game, traditionally played for gambling purposes by sailors....The game is played between a player and a banker. A mat marked with six symbols (crown, anchor, diamond, spade, club and heart) is used for play. The player places bets on one or more symbols. He then throws three dice. If there is a bet on any symbol which comes up on one or more of the dice, the banker pays the player the amount of his stake for each die showing that symbol." ~ wiki paraphrased. (hide spoiler)]

Sharp Bob and (view spoiler)[his henchmen are pretty mean and dangerous, but whoever hires them is even more sinister! I'm sure that the carriage that transported blindfolded Bob was the same one with the squeaky wheel used to kidnap Simplicity. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 7
Do you think that Solomon was (view spoiler)[referring to Karl Marx, as the hairy young man from his earlier days? (hide spoiler)]

I like this quote: (view spoiler)["Most governments settle for shooting their people, but in England they have to ask for permission first." (hide spoiler)]

Interesting that Solomon had (view spoiler)[access to a telescope and can speak with authority about the motions of earth's moon and the planets and Isaac Newton. (hide spoiler)]

Hilarious that Dodger (view spoiler)[goes to Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street for a shave and a haircut. And his actions are explained as a result of the barber/surgeon back from the war with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder!☻ (hide spoiler)]

Another historical name inserted here. (view spoiler)[ That of Sir John Tenniel, an English illustrator, graphic humorist, and political cartoonist, who Charlie wants to sketch for Punch. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 8
Mrs. Sharples is probably (view spoiler)[ the last person that Dodger and Simplicity want for a chaperon on their walk. Yet she turned out to be an ally after-all. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 9
Benjamin (view spoiler)[ Disraeli is a natural in presenting the political situation between two countries because of Simplicity's refusal to return to her husband. (hide spoiler)]

Somehow I missed the travel from Parliament Square to (view spoiler)[philanthropist, , Angela Georgina Burdett-Coutts' home. I could have sworn Geoffrey was sent for to show Dodger Simplicity's new lodgings. Weren't Charlie and Disraeli, Dodger and Simplicity at Parliament Square when Lady Burdett-Coutts arrived? Did I nod off and lose a paragraph? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 10
How disgusting to be (view spoiler)[urinated upon from above by draft horses!☻ What will Dodger be wearing to Lady Burdett-Coutts' dinner party tomorrow? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 11
Create a (view spoiler)[ gentleman in less than a day? (hide spoiler)]

Solomon is sure (view spoiler)[having fun spending Dodger's money! (hide spoiler)]

I think that (view spoiler)["shonky" is becoming part of my vocabulary now! (hide spoiler)]

Subtle humor! (view spoiler)["Are you sure you're not Jewish?" "No I've looked, I'm not." I have a friend (non-Jewish) who rants about this occasionally, "I should have been given the choice! I want it back!" (hide spoiler)]

I finished the book tonight and I've decided Terry Pratchett isn't for me. I really tried! I thought 3 times might be the charm.

I had to chuckle every time Crown and Anchor was mentioned because it's a very popular pub here. Now I have to wonder why they named it the Crown and Anchor given Almeta's googling.

I picked up another shout out to Charles Dicken's books. You might want to wait because I don't remember where in the story I read this. (view spoiler)[ Bleak House. It was rather obvious because this time the narrator really emphasised it. And once Dodger uttered that if would be a bleak house, Charlie is jotting down the idea. (hide spoiler)]

The ending - (view spoiler)[ I'm not sure that I was satisfied with the reveal of who was after Simplicity. I was expecting something more of a conspiracy, I guess. I didn't really like her new name - Serendipity. *rolls eyes* LOL! Sorry, but I just didn't care for the story all that much. (hide spoiler)]

There were some humorous moments, some nice quotes, and some interesting characters but overall it was a miss for me.

darn good reads - I had a whole post almost done answering Almetas comments in Ch 7 and scrolled up to look at the spoilers again and clicked something and it is all gone. I hate that!

I was at the break in Ch 9 (view spoiler)[wonder who Angela is. I loved the Disraeli parts and that Dodger recognized him as a geezer and a dodger - I looked him up too (hide spoiler)]

It has been a long day working. I am going to go read some more. back later!

When that happens, try Ctl Z.

FYI - I was looking up Angela Burdett-Coutts and there is a mention of Pratchett's book and talks about an afterward in the Wiki-text.

The back of my book has it, and it probably should have been required reading at the start of the book. Yes, Pratchett really was name dropping and on purpose!

There is an author's note at the end of the audiobook and it talks about the real people, fictional people, and life in the Victorian era. Pratchett, himself, says that the book isn't historical fiction. Rather, he calls it historical fantasy. I'm not convinced that it's fantasy. To me, it's more a mystery.

well - I guess you could call a couple of things fantasy... (view spoiler)[ being knighted by the queen for... what exactly? And a boy from the sewers hobnobbing with the nobility and marrying a girl who is from a priviledged life, if not nobility. At the age of 17. (hide spoiler)]

Okay, I'll shut up.

Chapter 12
Rubbing elbows at the dinner party with: (view spoiler)[Sir George Cayley, "a prolific English engineer and is one of the most important people in the history of aeronautics. Many consider him to be the first true scientific aerial investigator and the first person to understand the underlying principles and forces of flight." ~ wiki

William Samuel Henson "best known as an early pioneer in aviation, but patented many other inventions, some of which are in wide use today. ... he designed a large passenger-carrying steam-powered monoplane, with a wing span of 150 feet, which he named the "Henson Aerial Steam Carriage" "~ wiki

"Charles Babbagewas "A mathematician, philosopher, inventor and mechanical engineer, Babbage is best remembered for originating the concept of a programmable computer. Considered by some to be a "father of the computer" "~ wiki

Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace , a British mathematician and writer, chiefly known for her work on Charles Babbage's early mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine. Her notes on the engine include what is recognized as the first algorithm intended to be carried out by a machine. As a result, she is often regarded as the first computer programmer. ~ wiki

Talk of Richard "Dick" Turpin an" English highwayman whose exploits were romanticised following his execution in York for horse theft. ..Known for a fictional 200-mile (320 km) overnight ride from London to York on his horse Black Bess." ~ wiki

Referring to Dodger in his mode of dress and gallantry as a Beau Brummel. "George Bryan "Beau" Brummell was an iconic figure in Regency England, the arbiter of men's fashion. His simple yet elegant and understated manner of dress, coupled with his natural wit, gained him entry to the Prince's society." ~ wiki (hide spoiler)]

To show at the same dinner party with (view spoiler)[the same suit of clothes as another notable person is always a reason to be poked at, but when that person is the one person whose attention you do not want, well it is a problem! (hide spoiler)]

Dodger is certainly stepping up his game (view spoiler)[ from a set of tosher working clothes to a shonty suit and now Savile Row!, (hide spoiler)]

Charlie took note, (view spoiler)[when, after finishing his Julienne Soup, he said: "Could I have some more?". He also scribbled a note when Dodger mention that he did not want Simplicity to go to a "bleak house".ha ha. (hide spoiler)]

Ahh, we learn (view spoiler)[Dodgers name while in the orphanage was "Pip Stick". Like Johnnie Cash's A Boy Named Sue, it was a name that caused him to fight for his honor a lot...made him strong.

And so we come to the tribute to Pip of Great Expectations (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 13
Do we find out (view spoiler)[what embassy? (hide spoiler)]

Hmmm, I can see a plan hatching, (view spoiler)[ but I'm not sure how another blonde girl's corpse will be all that convincing. Anxious to see how this scheme is pulled off. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 14
"A short poem to Cloacina (view spoiler)[is typically attributed to Lord Byron:

O Cloacina, Goddess of this place,
Look on thy suppliants with a smiling face.
Soft, yet cohesive let their offerings flow,
Not rashly swift nor insolently slow." ~ wiki (hide spoiler)]

Janice wrote: "There is an author's note at the end of the audiobook and it talks about the real people, fictional people, and life in the Victorian era. Pratchett, himself, says that the book isn't historical fi..."

Gosh, if I knew about the contents at the back of the book, I may not have interrupted my reading for research so much!☻

The author's blurb at the back isn't nearly as detailed as your research, Almeta. Carry on. I'm learning more from you. :)

Re the afterward: It hasn't stopped me from looking things up but it did shed some light on why he wrote the book and added so many names.

I just finished the chapter at the dinner party. I cannot read the spoilers until I get home because I am on the mobile app. I saw a cute poem to Cloacina too.

I am babysitting with the boys. Amy and her friend went out to dinner and are going to a haunted house. I guess it is set up for Valentines??? (She said was really scary at Halloween).

I am sorry you did not like Pratchett again, Janice. It might have been different if you were reading it, but I'm not sure. You like more action and a faster pace and I like to watch the words and sentences flow, like sand through my fingers. :0)

funny about Onan - I did not even think to look up the name.

At the dinner party - Wow, Alameta, I caught some of the names at the dinner party, but you really caught me out with some of them. I caught the reference to the house (view spoiler)[bleak (hide spoiler)] and to Dodger's name (view spoiler)[ Pip (hide spoiler)] also the conversation with Mr. Peel was interesting (view spoiler)[ that Sharp Bob was the lawyer - and he is dead now (hide spoiler)]

re: the Poem - it was the same one I saw. I read it to my grandson. he did not think it was funny even after I explained it. I did NOT tell him what a Richard is. He would NEVER forget it.

I am looking forward to Chapter 13 - the theater and the tour of the sewer. Mr. Bazalgette seems like the only one really prepared.

The haunted place was not scary this time and they were disappointed. Night all.

Chapter 15
The ultimate surprise (view spoiler)[in a love proposal to present a ring among the muck in the crevice of a sewer! (hide spoiler)]

As she herself implied (view spoiler)[I never suspected that The Outlander would be a woman. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 16
Oh my, (view spoiler)[I didn't think I'd actually hear about the subject of Onan's name origin. Imagine actually telling such a thing to The Queen! (Although she was apparently aware of the biblical story.)☺ (hide spoiler)]

Pip becomes (view spoiler)[ Jack Dodger. The "Artful Dodger" was Jack Dawkins, in Oliver Twist. (hide spoiler)]

So England apparently (view spoiler)["takes an interest" in foreign affairs, enough to keep Jack Dodger and his tosheroon, Serendipity, fed and clothed at least. (hide spoiler)]

An entertaining read!

The ending names (view spoiler)[I never expected the Outlander to be a woman either! I know that I read Oliver Twist (I could be lying), but I missed the name association with Jack and the "Artfull Dodger". (hide spoiler)]

I hate typing on my tablet! I will catch up tomorrow, but I am finished.

The girl, the plan(view spoiler)[I am not sure the first "plan" that Dodger cooked up, would have worked, although we do not know exactly what it was. It turned out okay in the end, but definitely highly unprobable (hide spoiler)]

Ending (view spoiler)[I thought going from Simplicity to Serendipity was a little too cute, but funny. I thought it was just a little too much that he got knighted too. I guess him making a living as a spy would turn out well, but what exactly are they going to live on? (hide spoiler)]