Surtac wrote:

Kokipy wrote:

Very sad. I am close to the end of a re-read of one of my other favorites, Patrick o’Brian, who also left his characters without a final resolution, and I was struck by something he put in the mouth of Stephen Maturin, whom I suspect was often his spokesperson. Stephen says, or thinks, at one point, that novels should not have final resolutions. We should be able to follow the characters in our minds and hearts, after the author releases them. I think we can all do that with CJC’s works. And frankly, I would not want to read about  Ilisidi failing, or the alliance falter. 

"After the aithor releases them."

What a wonderful sentiment.  They get to live on in our individual imaginations as we would each like them to.  I really do like that idea.
 

That concept has long been crucial in my thinking about books and writers in general. Once the book is released, out in the world, it no longer belongs to the author. The author is no longer the authority on the characters’ thoughts and feelings and attitudes. The book and people now belongs to everyone and anyone, and we all have a legitimate viewpoint.