tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post2054689535845493598..comments2024-03-16T01:00:59.945-04:00Comments on Query Shark: #10Janet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-20561766828504788112008-04-28T17:25:00.000-04:002008-04-28T17:25:00.000-04:00Having worked in Hue I can assure you there weren'...Having worked in Hue I can assure you there weren't no emerald buddha in the palace. The author may know PNG but he sure as hell don't know VN<BR/>I also resent SAS being used for this purpose having been in that regiment in the British Army.<BR/>Switch names, switch locales, switch centuriesM Clement Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14422621517381625768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-40300932114209024412008-04-25T11:21:00.000-04:002008-04-25T11:21:00.000-04:00I think this query would be more engaging if it wa...I think this query would be more engaging if it was more specific. If I knew what was behind the line "...or face a dangerous shift of power and allegiance in SE Asia", I think I'd be pretty interested. Give us more detail?jjdebenedictishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16950592240599703771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812909700950069050.post-60398900576708964462008-04-21T18:28:00.000-04:002008-04-21T18:28:00.000-04:00I'm confused about a few things:1) Is this novel s...I'm confused about a few things:<BR/><BR/>1) Is this novel set in the present, or during/near the Vietnam War, or at some other time? You say "twenty years ago" the Ruby Buddha was stolen, then seem to describe actions occuring in the present, but the Vietnam War was more than twenty years ago.<BR/><BR/>2) Why is the "Ruby Buddha" made of jade? I was confused as to why something made of one material would be named after another material. Actually, what popped into my mind was the red emerald in "Eye of Argon." This is a minor detail, but you don't want anything even slightly confusing in your query. I'd omit that it's made of jade.<BR/><BR/>3) I'm confused as to what the consequences actually are, and why the theft of one object can change the "balance of power" between countries. Yes, we've all seen plots where such things happen, but it's an unusual situation that requires an equally unusual reason. For example, maybe the Ruby Buddha is a historical artifact of such prestige that masses of peasants will support whichever politician owns it, and an up-and-coming dictator wants it back right now. Whatever the actual reason is (I just guessed) you need to include it in your query or you risk looking like the stated consequences don't fit your plot.<BR/><BR/>4) I'm also confused as to why, if stealing this thing has such enormous repercussions, it takes twenty years after the theft for things to start. Although, if you clear up concern #1 you might just clear this up too.<BR/><BR/>Good luck in your querying!Jamie Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02837779496794456059noreply@blogger.com