One of the things I love most about this series is how Nish evolves as a character. He starts out as a rather unlikable character, and by the end of the series he's almost completely changed; stronger, braver, better morals etc. Did you guys really like this as well?

I think it's great to have a hero with so many faults and weaknesses, where he has to kind of fight and change his own nature to become the person he needs to be. It also shows that heroes don't need to be stereotypical or brave and strong to accomplish what's necessary.

Despite all the bad things that happen throughout the series, both to Nish and because of him, they help him to become a better person.

I also find it interesting how Nish reacts to his father. The fact that NIsh wanted to save his father despite knowing he's a bad person and only bad could come from doing such a thing is very revealing about Nish's true character. It shows he's still human, and not really the 'hero' stereotype, where he does what's completely necessary. He can be selfish. Nish still has feelings for his father, and hopes that there's some good inside him. This shows, perhaps, that Nish is a bit of an optimist, although there are many times in the series where he only thinks about the downside/what bad things could happen.

Comments/opinions?

I similarly loved the progression of Nish as a character, but to be honest I'm not sure how much of that was the actual progression, and how much of it was just because it shifted focus away from Tiaan. Whom I loathed. But I do agree that Nish almost certainly has the best character development of any of Ian's characters.

The tendency to avoid stereotypical 'hero' characters - or other types of characters - has always been one of the things I've liked the most about Ian's writing. No one is ever one hundred percent right, there's always shades of gray. Everyone has completely understandable motivations behing their actions.

Yeah, when I think about it I suppose it could've just happened because the focus was shifted off of Tiaan. I didn't really like her either, which is disappointing for a heroine.



Exactly.

He really did need to take off in the balloon by himself, though. He had been raised spoiled and arrogant and very disciplined. He would have never developed initiative, maturity, never developed period, if that hadn't happened, if an authority figure had been aboard.

Once the development started out of necessity, it of course did not stop. Especially since he was alone with Ullii for a long time and a lot of situations arose where he had to show some initiative. What isn't there to begin with can hardly develop in time, but Nish's parents are clever, powerful, strong-willed people both. So he was likely to have the potential inside the nasty little character he was when he arrived at the manufactory. I like the fact that Ian hardly ever relies on far-fetched throw-backs with very simple parents to become heroes. It does happen in real life but rarely. It was used a lot in books in the past, I suppose to inspire people who didn't like where they were at.