I have taken several weeks to think about what I actually wanted to place in this reply - because when I read the posts from "Minimee" I was actually quite angry that Arthur should have been subjected to them. "Minimee" states "it's hard for me to find my former Thomas Marking" but you see Thomas Marking is NOT yours or mine! Thomas is a product of Arthur's amazing imagination and months of disciplined careful work! The extraordinary depth which he has achieved in DB1 and DB2 is possible only because Arthur expects us to look up things that we don't know about - such as the various battles that took place on the Iberian Peninsular in the early years of the 19th century; the turmoil that Napolean's greed created in Spain and Portugal and the complete setting of the story. Arthur had me trailing along behind him looking at maps from that period to locate the various cities, towns and villages where the battles were fought, the weapons that were used at that time, the clothes and uniforms that were "proper" - even the "Della guerra"! In short before you criticise the author for not writing his story as you would have done I think you should have looked up some historical information yourself about the Dutch "expansionism" which was taking place not only over the Spice Islands but across the rest of the world. The barbaric cruelty with which they achieved their own ends was every bit as bad as the French [and the English aristocracy!].
During the stunning DB1 and 2 Thomas was reacting to things which were asked of him- by his own Father, by the British army and Wellington, by Mr. Percy in his spying role for the British Prime Minister Spencer Percival, even by Carmello who used and manipulated him to provide shelter for his waifs and strays; by the Morgan clan and the Black Hand, by Prince Pimental, almost everyone who meets Thomas sees that he is special and tries to use his gifts for their own advantage. When he returns to Portugal prior to setting sail for the Mir Pacifica he tries to distance himself from the past - he no longer wants to be "The General" - that part of his life is over - or so he thinks. Yet he still has to answer the summons from the Portuguese monarch and has already agreed to find out what has happened to the dead Black Hand member. He has never been to sea in this way before, everything is way outside of his comfort zone - the Captains under Mr. Scully are in charge. Thomas is searching for himself - he is becoming a man, no longer doing the bidding of others! And yet even when he agrees to free the slaves and return the Chief's "heir" to him Thomas is kidnapped by the tribe and placed once again in great danger. However what happened to him away from everyone else is a superb piece of writing and Arthur himself puts Thomas through a kind of "coming of age" ceremony. Eventually the chief sees just how special Thomas is and showers him with gifts - but the real gift to Thomas is his acceptance into the tribe as an equal. He achieves his victory alone without the others around him. And with a greater self knowledge and inner confidence he sets off on the quest. Carmello seems to have almost stepped back on purpose giving his dearest friend the space to find himself.
I suspect one of the reasons that DB3 is on hold just now is that Arthur has begun to realise just what he has begun!? We are already on chapter 14 and we have only just now sailed into the outer edges of the Pacific Ocean. I can see DB3 becoming DB4 and possibly even DB5 very easily and still Thomas and Snot and Fairley and Carmello and probably most of the others will still have us spell-bound wishing we could write as well as Arthur does! Thank you, Sir, for allowing us to see and share in the results of your labours! When you are ready to pick up your pen again you will find a willing reader here!