Posted by Robert Hill on January 04, 2002 at 20:11:49 from 195.92.168.163:
In Reply to: Memorable lines AR didn't write posted by Peter H on January 02, 2002 at 19:55:40:
The challenge of inventing lines which the characters might have said
is a brilliant one. I'll try to think of some and will be intrigued to
read what other contributors come up with.
As for why Commander Walker didn't just say yes, why does anyone ever
say anything in a clever or jokey way when they could just say it in a
literal way? Because it makes life more interesting.
Would readers remember the telegram episode so well if he had just
said yes?
Perhaps that bit of cleverness, so early in the first book, is one of
the things that helps to draw readers in.
If it's initially over the heads of some young readers, the evidence is
that children like books with some bits in that they can't understand
on first reading.