Valour and Vanity (41 page)

ETHER.
Where the magic comes from. Early physicists believed that the world was broken into elements with ether being the highest element. Although this theory is discredited now, the original definition meant “A substance of great elasticity and subtlety, formerly believed to permeate the whole of planetary and stellar space, not only filling the interplanetary spaces, but also the interstices between the particles of air and other matter on the earth; the medium through which the waves of light are propagated. Formerly also thought to be the medium through which radio waves and electromagnetic radiations generally are propagated” (OED). Today you’ll more commonly see it as the root of “ethereal,” and its meaning is similar.

FOLDS.
The bits of magic pulled out of the ether. Because this is a woman’s art, the metaphors to describe it reflect other womanly arts, such as the textiles.

LOINTAINE VISION
.
French for “distance seeing.” It is a tube of glamour that allows one to see things at a distance. The threads must be constantly managed or the image becomes static.

OMBRÉ
.
A fold of glamour that shades from one colour to another over its length. This technique was later emulated in textile by dip-dying.

NŒUD MARIN
.
A robust knot used for tying glamour threads. This was originally used by sailors for joining two lines, but adapted by glamourists for similar purposes. In English, this is known as a Carrick Bend.

PETITE RÉPÉTITION
.
French for “small repetition.” This is a way of having a fold of glamour repeat itself in what we would now call a fractal pattern. These occur in nature in the patterns of fern fronds and pinecones.

SPHÈRE OBSCURCIE
.
French for “invisible bubble.” It is literally a bubble of magic to make the person inside it invisible.

Reading Group Guide

1. Jane and Vincent suffer from poverty and great anxiety in this book. Have you ever been in danger of losing everything, actually had to start over, or known people in similar situations? How have you, or they, dealt with it?

2. Vincent and Jane’s marriage is strained by their harsh circumstances. What in their behavior illustrates this, and how do they restrengthen their bond? Can you think of anything else they should have done, or of things that work for you that would NOT have worked for them, given their characters and circumstances?

3. Vincent and Jane put their trust in the wrong person at first, but eventually they do find allies in Venice. How much do you think people take their cues from appearance and status today, as opposed to that period in history? What makes a person decide that a potential ally can be depended on for help, or decide to take a chance at helping somebody else?

4. For a few months, Jane and Vincent cling desperately to the hope of rescue by their relatives, unaware that their messages have gone astray. How have modern instant communications changed family interactions? In what ways is
Valour and Vanity
comparable to other heist stories, such as
Ocean’s Eleven
?

5. Did you find yourself interested in learning more about glassmaking and the history of Murano? Many towns have glassmaking classes. What do you think it would be like to take one?

6. Lord Byron is a very vibrant character in this novel. Did you know much about his personal life prior to reading it?

7. In this novel, financial concerns require Vincent to engage in street performances of glamour, which is very difficult for him. Have you ever had to take a job that was emotionally difficult for you? How did you cope with it?

8. Travel in the early nineteenth century was very different from what we are accustomed to. Given the potential hazards, would you have ventured far from home?

TOR BOOKS BY MARY ROBINETTE KOWAL

T
HE
G
LAMOURIST
H
ISTORIES

Shades of Milk and Honey

Glamour in Glass

Without a Summer

Valour and Vanity

About the Author

Mary Robinette Kowal
was the 2008 recipient of the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer and a Hugo winner for her story “For Want of a Nail.” A professional puppeteer and voice actor, she spent five years touring nationally with puppet theaters. She lives in Chicago with her husband, Rob, and nine manual typewriters.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

VALOUR AND VANITY

Copyright © 2014 by Mary Robinette Kowal

Reading Group Guide © 2014 by Tor Books

All rights reserved.

Cover art by Larry Rostant

Edited by Liz Gorinsky

A Tor Book

Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC

175 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10010

www.tor-forge.com

Tor
®
is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.

The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.

ISBN 978-0-7653-3416-9 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-4668-0839-3 (e-book)

e-ISBN 9781466808393

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First Edition: April 2014