Nathalie
asked
Lauren Oliver:
Hi Lauren! I absolutely DEVOURED the Delirium books, they're everything! But..I have some lingering questions about Requiem! :) 1. what about Julian now? 2.what happened to (Raven and) Tack? 3.Where did Hanna end up going? 4.Did Fred die? Who will take over and will it be better? 5.They took the wall in Portland, but this is one small part of the dystopian world, won’t armies from other towns come?What wil happen?
Lauren Oliver
Hi Nathalie!
Okay, so I have to admit two things right off the bat: it's been many, many years since I wrote the Delirium series, and so some of these characters are less present to me than they were then.
But all of your questions follow a similar theme, i.e.: what happens to the characters after the book ends? So I will answer with my general philosophy on this.
During the years when an author is actively working on a series, in some ways I believe the series belongs to the author. It is their world; it is theirs to explore, discover, and shape.
But somehow, magically, as the books begin to enter the world and journey into readers' hearts and hands, that ownership begins to shift. Now, slowly, the books begin to come alive for the readers, and in the process, imaginative access to the world of those books begins to pass to the readers too.
I guess my point is, at this point I feel you are as equipped as I am to uncover or imagine what happens to Hanna, Julian, Fred, Raven, and Tack.
Well, maybe not Fred. He definitely dies.
As for your query about the dystopian world, yes, I imagine that even after this final act of triumph, Lena and her friends are in for many, many challenges and perhaps years of war. But that doesn't mean they won't succeed. In fact, some of the greatest and lasting revolutionary moments of human history have been powered not by a move toward hatred but a sudden expansion of love that resists it.
Okay, so I have to admit two things right off the bat: it's been many, many years since I wrote the Delirium series, and so some of these characters are less present to me than they were then.
But all of your questions follow a similar theme, i.e.: what happens to the characters after the book ends? So I will answer with my general philosophy on this.
During the years when an author is actively working on a series, in some ways I believe the series belongs to the author. It is their world; it is theirs to explore, discover, and shape.
But somehow, magically, as the books begin to enter the world and journey into readers' hearts and hands, that ownership begins to shift. Now, slowly, the books begin to come alive for the readers, and in the process, imaginative access to the world of those books begins to pass to the readers too.
I guess my point is, at this point I feel you are as equipped as I am to uncover or imagine what happens to Hanna, Julian, Fred, Raven, and Tack.
Well, maybe not Fred. He definitely dies.
As for your query about the dystopian world, yes, I imagine that even after this final act of triumph, Lena and her friends are in for many, many challenges and perhaps years of war. But that doesn't mean they won't succeed. In fact, some of the greatest and lasting revolutionary moments of human history have been powered not by a move toward hatred but a sudden expansion of love that resists it.
More Answered Questions
India
asked
Lauren Oliver:
Miss Oliver, I've already submitted a question, but I need to add another! You are such an awesome author, I love your novels so much! They have the most wonderful characters, plots, and lessons. I would love to write a novel even half as amazing as yours! Do you ever come near Pennsylvania for book signings? Love you and your books! <3 Hope you can reply!
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more