Bernard, I know you’ll never answer this question straight away, because you probably haven’t even decided yet, but I need to ask anyway- does Starbuck survive the Civil War? I realize this might be a little premature to think about because there is still so much of the war left for you to write. But I ask only because, given his background, a northerner fighting for the south, he would be a fascinating character to follow around during “The Reconstruction”. Have you given any thought to his post-war fate? May I also recommend you to a good novel set in this era titled “Gabriel’s Story’ by David Anthony Durham. I also want to compliment you on the fact that Sharpe’s continuity isn’t perfect- I noticed some readers giving you flack over it lately- but I think the little inconsistencies make Sharpe feel like he is cut from the same rough cloth as other classic literary heros-like a Sherlock Holmes or a Don Quixote-an “illusion of depth” is achieved and the reader is left to wonder about the missing or unexplored episodes of the character’s history. I wouldn’t have it anyother way! Thanks again for all your wonderful books. R.Kulb