The Looking-Glass Wars
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The Looking Glass Wars is a novel written by Frank Beddor. It is inspired by Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass and claims that those two books were nothing but lies; this is the true story.
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[edit] About
The Looking Glass Wars is the first book in a trilogy by the same name. The book is written by Frank Beddor and has spawned a spin-off comic book limited series (Hatter M) and is a property which is currently seeing further development in a variety of entertainment-related fields. First released in the UK in 2004, The Looking Glass Wars was released in the US on September 26, 2006.
[edit] The inspiration
In interviews and in the warning at the beginning of the book, Beddor claims he wrote the book after seeing an incomplete deck of cards as part of a display of ancient playing cards at the British Museum. The images on these cards resembled Wonderland characters and the cards themselves seemed to be illuminated by an unusual glow. He later went to a playing card collector who claimed to have the missing cards from the deck and told him the story of the Looking Glass Wars. The Looking Glass Wars is thus a faithful recording of this story.
An alternate explanation that has been given for this book's inspiration is that it was an act of revenge on Carroll's books for boring Beddor when he was younger.
[edit] The book
The book's prologue tells of Reverend Charles Dodgson showing Alice Liddell (who claims her name to be spelled 'Alyss') the manuscript for Alice's Adventures Underground. Alyss is shocked by the book's contents and refuses to speak to Dodgson ever again.
The story truly begins many years earlier by giving an explanation of the 'real' Wonderland and the events which led Alyss to where she is in the prologue. The real Wonderland of Alyss' memory is a place ruled by imagination and is the source of all imagination for all subsequent worlds. Wonderland features a class system similar to that seen in England during the 1600s though on a far more minimalist scale. The government specifically is a Queendom with an advising Parliament dominated by a playing card hierarchy with 'Hearts' being the ruling class at the top of the proverbial stack (e.g. the queen is a Heart and the parliament is composed of reigning members of the Spades, Clubs, and Diamonds).
It is a world still recovering from a bloody civil war which ended twelve years prior to the beginning of the story. Just enough time has passed for those in the middle echelons of government to forget the day-to-day horrors of war and focus once more on the petty intrigues of a land at peace. The civil war itself, a war between 'White' and 'Black' imagination, has left its imprint on the world and on the common folk who remember all too well the damage and terror of the war fought in their streets and homes. Still, it is a peaceful time and it has been for the twelve years since the civil war ended under the reign of Queen Genevieve Heart.
This is the world as Alyss knows it as our tale begins.
Of course, this world won't last long as it is and this sense of impending doom hangs heavily over the reader as we follow the adventures of Alyss during her last hours in Wonderland and both main and supporting characters are introduced. Alyss is a princess, as she is the daughter of Wonderland's rulers, Queen Genevieve and King Nolan. Among those the ruling family know well and rely upon are Alyss' tutor Bibwit Harte (whose name is noted by Dodgson as being an anagram of White Rabbit), the Queen's bodyguard Hatter Madigan, the Captain of the palace guards Sir Justice Anders, Alyss' likely future husband Jack of Diamonds, the commander of Wonderland's army General Doppelgänger, Alyss' best friend and the son of the guard captain Dodge Anders, and Alyss' Aunt Redd, the enemy of White Imagination.
After a bloody coup, Alyss is forced to flee Wonderland in the company of Hatter Madigan with Redd's most deadly assassin hot on their heels. They flee through a portal called 'The Pool of Tears', but their escape goes awry and Alyss finds herself whisked away to England while Hatter ends up in Paris with no clue as to the fate of his young charge.
Lost and alone, Alyss, after spending some time with street orphans, finds herself adopted by the Liddell family, where she is given the name 'Odd Alice' for her tales about Wonderland and the way she insists her name be spelled. When Carroll (Dodgson) tarnishes her stories, she shuns her imagination and resolves to believe Wonderland false and lost to her forever.
Thirteen years later, Hatter Madigan finds Carroll's book and uses it to track down Alyss. Now she must return to Wonderland, pass the test of the Looking Glass Maze, and defeat Queen Redd.
[edit] Characters
[edit] Main characters
Alyss Heart (aka Alice Liddell): The Princess of Wonderland forced to flee to the real world when her Aunt Redd takes over Wonderland, slaughtering those who stand in her path. Lost and alone, Alyss is eventually forced to adjust and adapt to the world around her, a change catalyzed by the final betrayal which was Dodgson (Carroll's) book. She shuns her imagination, finally to the point of believing Wonderland to be nothing but a dream. However, on her wedding day, she's found by Dodge Anders and returns with him to Wonderland, where she meets with the remaining Alyssians with the purpose of defeating her aunt, Queen Redd once and for all, and bring peace to the Queendom of Wonderland, once again. After facing the dangers of the Looking-Glass Maze, she defeats her aunt and becomes Queen of Wonderland.
Hatter Madigan: Based loosely on The Hatter from Carroll's books, he is the Queen's bodyguard, and is forced to flee to the real world along with Alyss. Unfortunately, their escape goes awry and Hatter ends up in Paris (while Alyss emerges in England) with no clue as to the fate of the young girl he has been charged to protect. He spends the next thirteen years searching for her. He is an expert bladesman, and his hat can flatten and split into S-shaped blades. After finding Alyss, he returns to Wonderland to help her defeating Redd. He wishes to rebuilt the Millinery force, from whom he was the best warrior.
Redd Heart: She is the main villain of the book and Alyss' aunt; based on both the Red Queen and the Queen of Hearts. As Genevieve's sister, she was raised and educated within Heart Palace and Bibwit Harte has always viewed her fall into the diabolical as a failure in her education (and consequently his fault). The civil war fought within Wonderland was fought with Genevieve and Redd on opposing sides of the battle and ended with Redd's exile to the Chessboard Desert. She is a user of Black Imagination and responsible for the murder of Alyss' parents. Since that time, Redd has crowned herself Queen and rules over Wonderland prompting evil and Black Imagination. After a fierce battle with her niece, she jumps into the Heart Crystal, disappearing, leaving Alyss and the rest of her friends to think if she's still alive, or dead.
Dodge Anders: Son of Sir Justice Anders, Captain of the palace guard, and a soldier in training. He is three years Alyss' senior and both her best friend and someone who cares about her much more than he should. Like most denizens of Wonderland, Dodge believes Alyss dead and plots revenge against both Redd and The Cat, Redd's foremost assassin, for the death of his father as well as Alyss. He continues to fight alongside the small resistance force long after Redd has taken power. When Alyss plans to defeat Redd, he goes with her and with the rest of the Alyssians, with the purpose of killing The Cat, but he accidentally lets him escape.
Bibwit Harte: The royal tutor to the Heart family, teaching them everything they have to know to be a good monarch. His name is an anagram of White Rabbit. After Alyss and Hatter disappear, he starts to work for Redd, but he secretly helps the Alyssians in their battle against Redd. When Alyss returns to Wonderland he decides to join the Alyssians permanently.
The Cat: The Queen's top assassin, based on the Cheshire Cat from Carroll's original books. He kills Dodge Ander's father and attempts to pursue Alyss and Hatter when they escape from Wonderland. Unable to do so, he still knows better than to make his failure known to Redd. He can take the form of a kitten as a sort of Trojan horse, and just like a real cat, he has nine lives. In the battle that happened in Mount Isolation, he fights against Dodge Anders, and although he loses what remained of his lives (he still had four lives, since Queen Genevieve and Hatter Maddigan killed two of them, and Redd killed three of them), with the exception of one, and eventually gets away and jumps into the Heart Crystal, along with Queen Redd. It's not known if he survived, along with her boss.
General Doppelgänger: The commander of the Royal Army, made up of equal parts General Doppel and General Gänger. When split he is referred to as they and each is able to act independently of the other. He is based on Tweedledum and Tweedledee.
Hombourg Molly: She is a "halfer" (Half civilian and half Millinery) who helps Alyss and the rest of Alyssians to find The Looking-Glass Maze, and eventually fights along their side in the battle of Mount Isolation. She eventually becomes Alyss's personal bodyguard, when she becomes Queen of the Wonderland.
Walrus-Butler: He is Queen Redd's butler, based on the Walrus from Through the Looking Glass. He's extremely coward because he fears Redd and her power, but he is not as coward as Jack of Diamonds is, because Redd needs his services, while Jack is disposable. After Redd's defeat and the ending of the battle he helps Alyss, Dodge and the others by taking care of their wounds.
Jack of Diamonds: A pompous, cowardly, and self-serving figure, the Jack of Diamonds is intended to become Alyss's fiance when they are both still children. Following the coup, however, Jack (who quickly becomes overweight) takes advantage of the new order in Wonderland under Queen Redd. He plays both sides of the conflict, acting as a member of the Alyssians while at the same time delievering information to Redd about their activities. Jack often knows much more than he's telling, but decides not to reveal everything he knows, as that would ruin the lucrative business he's made out of playing a double agent. During the final battle with Queen Redd, his betrayals are discovered by Dodge, and he is subsequently taken prisoner by Alyss in the aftermath. He is most likely based on the Knave of Hearts.
[edit] Supporting characters
Queen Genevieve Heart: Queen of Wonderland, mother of Alyss, and wife of King Nolan Heart. She is the ruler of Wonderland prior to Redd's coup. Killed by Redd on Alyss's seventh birthday.
King Nolan Heart: King of Wonderland, father of Alyss, and husband of Queen Genevieve Heart. Killed by Redd on Alyss's seventh birthday.
King Arch: Ruler of the Boarderland. Boarderland is a kingdom which King Nolan is sent to attempt to gain as an ally against Redd. Unfortunately, King Arch's views on women and Wonderland's status as a Queendom makes him reluctant to ally with Wonderland for fear it would have a negative influence on the female population of Boarderland.
Sir Justice Anders: Captain of the Palace Guard and father of Dodge Anders. Killed by the cat on Alyss's seventh birthday
Blue Caterpillar: Based on The Caterpillar from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Blue Caterpillar is the head of six oracle-like caterpillars (of which the remaining five are colored red, yellow, orange, green, and purple) who live in the Mushroom Valley and act as guardians to the sacred Heart Crystal. Never seen without his hookah pipe, Blue gives Queen Genevieve a warning about Redd's coup, and later tells Alyss how to find the Looking Glass Maze.
The Liddels: Alyss adopted family. Reverend (Dean of Christ Church college) and Mrs. Liddel of Oxford and their three daughters: Edith, Lorina, and Rhoda. Also, notable in the household is the children's governess, Miss Prickett.
Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson: The mathematics lecturer of Christ Church college and author of Alice's Adventures Underground under the name Lewis Carroll which, in The Looking Glass Wars, he wrote based upon Alyss' recounting of her life in Wonderland.
[edit] Future books
The Looking Glass Wars is the first in a trilogy of the same name.
The release date of Seeing Redd, the second book in the trilogy, is currently set for October 23, 2007 in the US and, as of this writing, no date has yet been set for the UK release.
The only fact known about the story to be contained within 'Seeing Redd' at the present moment is that Hombourg Molly will play a larger role.
[edit] Spin-offs
Hatter M limited series
Hatter M, a spin-off comic book limited series, written by Frank Beddor and Liz Cavalier with art by Ben Templesmith. The series follows Hatter Madigan's search for the missing princess thus working into the continuity of 'The Looking Glass Wars' by following the virtually unseen thirteen year (1859-1872) search. The four issue limited series is now complete and can be found at most comic shops.
An additional special issue (numbered 2.5) was given away at summer conventions in 2006. This special issue contained answers to frequent questions, a preview of 'The Looking Glass Wars,' and other supplementary material. A scanned copy of this issue can be viewed at IGN Comics[1] as a part of a Hatter M-centric story published September 1, 2006.
Unannounced limited series
Another upcoming comic book series will apparently be based on Queen Redd and her motivations as a villain.
Unannounced video game project
Beddor has also planned an RPG video game, which will detail Dodge Ander's fights during the thirteen years Queen Redd was in reign.
Movie
A movie adaptation is in the works, with Beddor writing the script; he says that the movie's story will begin at adult Alyss' wedding.
The Looking Glass Wars card game
Lastly, an online card game is currently in production and is now open for public beta testing. It's available at The Looking Glass Wars[2] web site. The first round of cards features Templesmith art from the Hatter M limited series, but expansions could see art from other artists. A proper print version of this card game has been confirmed and should see release soon.
The idea for the card game itself is said to have come to Beddor in the form of a late night anonymous phone call which hinted at Wonderland beginnings for the ancient game of GO. The caller whispered that though it begins with GO, to complete the truth you must go beyond the board to the cards. Following this call, Beddor hired an esoteric mathematician to get to the bottom of this mystery and, as one might expect, the mathematician soon came to realize that the ancient cards (i.e. the cards Beddor saw on display that led him to the card collector and consequently to the true story of Wonderland) were pieces of an even older game which played similar to GO, but required the use of Western playing cards. What was discovered, therefore, was the origin of all strategic games. Based upon these findings The Looking Glass Wars card game was created.
[edit] Criticism
This book has obtained a mixed reaction among admirers of Lewis Carroll. Some have commended it, praising Beddor's faithfulness to Carroll's and Alice Liddell's history. Others claim that Beddor has not understood Lewis Carroll; Beddor has responded by saying 'As if that's what I'm writing about.'
Many newspapers have praised Beddor for his imagination and world creation, while other critics claim the book is poorly-written and has one-dimensional characterisations.
It has also been noted that the book is quite similar to the video game American McGee's Alice, which is also based on Lewis Carroll's works. The caterpillar in the game plays the same role he does in The Looking Glass Wars, and American McGee's version of Tweedledum and Tweedledee has the same power as Frank Beddor's version. Both versions of Wonderland have a lava world where jabberwocks live and there is even a quote in Looking Glass Wars similar to a quote in American McGee's game. (Dodge Anders says 'There is no justice like the justice of revenge', while American McGee's Gryphon says 'They want revenge, which we call justice'.)
[edit] Notes
As of yet, the Wonderland characters that have no Looking Glass Wars equivalents include the Mouse, the Dodo, the Duchess, The March Hare, The Dormouse (though mentions are made of people feasting on roast dormouse), the Carpenter (although Walrus has appeared as Queen Redd's butler), the Mock Turtle, the Gryphon, the Gnat, the Lion and the Unicorn and Humpty Dumpty.
In the UK edition, Alyss accuses Lewis Carroll of turning General Doppleganger into Tweedledee and Tweedledum while reading 'Alice's Adventures Underground'. This was removed in the US edition as the Tweedle twins originally appeared in 'Through the Looking Glass', rather than the first book.
It's also worth noting that through The Looking Glass Wars and subsequent spin-off publications, the playing cards (originally mentioned within the foreword for The Looking Glass Wars) serve in print and promotion as Beddor's personal 'white rabbit' which he follows to discover the truth of the Wonderland tale.