Warning
Contains spoilers for The Ruby Rings & The Eternal Heart
Each of the two Volumes (The Ruby Rings & The Eternal Heart) consists of thirty chapters, altogether totalling sixty, to reflect the minutes of a clock face. The collective height of the twelve Levels of Forest amounts to 1,200ft. The total height of the City, including the summit of the Tower, is 1,400ft. In real-world terms, this makes it just 50ft shorter than the tip of the Empire State Building.
Several real places inspired the City of Forest. The Potentate's Pavilion was based on the Palace of Versailles, and the Tower on Elizabeth Tower. In addition, the design of Forest's conical structure was based on Mont Saint-Michel and the stepped pyramids of the ancient world. Other inspirations were the description of the Ministry of Truth in George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four as an "enormous, pyramidal structure of white concrete, soaring up terrace after terrace"; the City of Midgar from Final Fantasy VII; and Minas Tirith from J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. In Forest, there are twelve Levels instead of Minas Tirith's seven, as a connection to the twelve numerals of a clock face. The architecture and fashion of Forest is influenced by Baroque and Rococo design, which were popular prior to the French Revolution at the end of the 18th century.
Rene Square is named after the 17th century philosopher Rene Descartes. Several references to him exist throughout the novel, especially to his Discourse on the Method. This work features the famous quotation "cogito ergo sum" ("I think, therefore, I am") and deals with the notion of doubting everything so the world can be assessed from a fresh perspective. The epigraphs at the beginnings of the four story parts are taken from Discourse on the Method. Another element of Discourse on the Method is the difference between man and animals. Descartes argued that animals are soulless machines, fundamentally different from humans, and any screams of pain are simply the grinding of the inner clockwork. This theory left a significant impact on early scientific method, allowing animals to be mistreated with impunity, but it also formed the foundations of modern biology, healthcare, and welfare concerns.
A major goal of historical alchemists was the quest for the philosopher's stone: an artefact which could transform any base metal into gold and produce the elixir of life. This process was often documented in the Magnum Opus (Great Work), which was divided into four parts reflective of the stone's transformative stages: Nigredo (black, "chaos"), Albedo (white, "purification"), Citrinitas (yellow, "awakening") and Rubedo (red, "wholeness"). The two Volumes are divided into the same four parts, and each reflect the stages accordingly. Similar to the commonly-held belief regarding the City of London, there are no Roads in Forest; only Streets, Alleys, Squares and Ways. All of them (except Rene Square) are named after streets and locations in Liverpool and Chester: the two cities closest to me. Leveson Street, where the Bellamy manor is located, was the site of a real infamous murder in Liverpool in 1849.
Charlotte's surname, Bellamy, is taken from Edward Bellamy, author of the utopian science-fiction novel Looking Backward. The book's vision of a unified future world inspired intellectuals, created several 19th century utopian communities, and launched a political movement. Bellamy himself claimed he did not write the novel to inspire political action, echoing Charlotte being inadvertently drawn into her own complicated web. Daniel Carter's name was chosen due to the phonetic similarities to Descartes. He alludes to Descartes' philosophy when he claims that the Keeper is incapable of feeling pain because he is a machine. His name also means "God is my judge," and thus subliminally refers to how, despite Daniel being Potentate, the Keeper is ultimately more powerful than him.
The oft-repeated phrase spoken by Cor Aeternum members, "Ad maius bonum," means "for the greater good," in Latin. Melissa was inspired by both Fantine from Victor Hugo's Les Misérables and the Bride from Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill.
Melissa's name means "honeybee" as a reference to her hardworking nature. Her surname, Spectre, is derived from her early days in the Constabulary, when she was observed to move as silently as a ghost. Malcolm's surname, Godwin, is from the political philosopher and novelist William Godwin, father of Mary Shelley. Godwin is regarded as the first modern proponent of anarchy, and one of the the first proponents of utilitarianism: a school of philosophical thought which promotes maximum happiness and wellbeing.
Bentham Hospital is named after Jeremy Bentham, a philosopher regarded as the father of modern utilitarianism. He advocated for equal rights and animal rights, freedom of speech, and the abolition of slavery and physical punishment. Phoebe is named after the Greek titan associated with the moon, as a nod to her position as the lunafauna leader and ability to change her form by moonlight. Her name is also the feminine form of Phoebus: perhaps most famous as a character from Victor Hugo's Notre Dame de Paris - itself a major influence on the story.
The currency of Forest is the solidus (plural: solidi). This was originally a currency of the Late Roman Empire; which stood as the precursor of the French sou, used until the middle of the French Revolution. Bridget Dickinson's degree, shown on her office plaque, is MAlc. (Hons), meaning Master of Alchemy with Honours.
Bridget's name means "exalted one," and reflects her power and virtue, as a teacher, alchemist, medic, and member of the Dickinson family. The Latin graffiti which Oscar sees in the Ninth North translates as "Towards better things!"
Jon Dawkins' surname is taken from arguably the most famous thief in literature: Jack Dawkins, more commonly known as the Artful Dodger, in Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist. Nicolas is named after Nicolas Flamel, who achieved posthumous recognition as an alchemist who reputedly discovered the philosopher's stone.
The Dickinson family is named after Edmund Dickinson, a 17th century alchemist. Elisabeth's first name was chosen to share an initial with him. Also, in direct contrast to the meaning of Daniel's name, Elisabeth's name means "God is my oath." The most famous work of 17th century alchemist Elias Ashmole, Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum, is featured among Bridget Dickinson's books.
Two of the plaques in the Bellamy mausoleum feature Katharine M. and Thomas V. These are the first names and middle initials of my late best friend and late younger brother, respectively. Mr Kane, the owner of the sweet shop where Julian steals the caramels, is named after my high school English teacher.
Daniel's view of lunafauna only having sight so that they might see is paraphrased from a quote by Aristotle, on the sentience of animals. The practise of naming all the orphans of a particular year with a corresponding letter is lifted from Oliver Twist. The surnames of Oscar and Richie: Hargreaves and Irving, respectively, show that Oscar is the eldest by one year. This detail is also an acknowledgement of their criminal pasts with the Shadow Rats, as Oliver Twist is tricked into a pickpocketing gang which, like Oscar, he struggles to escape.
Melissa's daughter, Euphrasie, shares the birth name of Cosette from Les Misérables. This mirrors their stories of their mothers leaving them to be raised by others, while still caring for them from afar. During the story, Phoebe undergoes her fourth death. This is a further reference to the four stages of the philosopher's stone.
Though Phoebe never reveals her exact age, her fourth death is mentioned, as well as each lifetime lasting roughly 80 years. Consequently, she is at least 320 years old by the time the main portion of the story takes place. Also, when Phoebe's age is compared to the Keepers and their lifespans of 40-60 years, it shows that Leo is the sixth Keeper. The Timekeeper was loosely inspired by works by George Orwell and Isaac Asimov. The position shares some similarities with Big Brother from Nineteen-Eighty-Four, wielding absolute power and surveillance, while never being seen or identified as an individual among the masses. It also borrows from concepts in I, Robot, especially The Evitable Conflict, in which it is revealed that the robots are both slaves to and puppeteers of the humans, who are themselves blissfully ignorant of both of these things.
Oscar and Richie's house number is 3. This is the same as my childhood home. Melissa states that she performed her first assassination when she was eight years younger than Richie. This reveals that she was seventeen, and that it took place a year after she was inducted into the Aeternum.
When Leo abandons the Tower, it clock stops at five minutes to midnight. This is a reference to the Doomsday Clock, as well as its usage in Alan Moore's Watchmen. Phoebe's letter reveals that the Rene Square Massacre occurred on December 17th. This is the birthday of my late best friend Katie, one of the people whom the novel is dedicated to.
Charlotte notes that green is the most expensive colour in Forest. As well as relating to the ironic lack of vegetation, this references the real historical difficulty of producing artificial green pigments, so those which were available were reserved for the rich. Indeed, the one place in Forest where green decor is frequently seen is in the Pavilion, and Daniel's green eyes symbolise his power as Potentate. The only other instance of green is in absinthe, which Phoebe mentions is rarely distributed below the Third Level. Physician Christiaan Huygens' 1673 book Horologium Oscillatorium, a key text of early pendulum mechanics, is shown in the Pavilion as the book which conceals the entrance to the Tower. The book itself contains twelve combination pistons: a reference to the twelve numerals of a clock face.
The Fabric of Time, which is linked to the longevity of both Phoebe and the Keepers, is inspired by the elixir of life - itself connected to the philosopher's stone. Leo's quotes, "I'm just a puppet who can see the strings," and "There is no past, and no future. Both exist and do not exist, simultaneously," are direct homages to Dr Manhattan in Alan Moore's Watchmen, who speaks the same lines to describe his understanding of time. Ironically, as a child, Dr Manhattan intended to become a watchmaker, but abandoned the pursuit after Einstein discovered that time is relative.
Phoebe's experiences underneath Cropper Lane are inspired by the early experiments of the Scientific Revolution, where animals were subjected to vivisection and torture in the pursuit of knowledge; itself facilitated by Cartesian philosophy. Daniel says to Elisabeth that he wished to give Aggie "a right to know life before renouncing it." This is also said by Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, about Cosette.
The graffiti which Oscar notices when drawing water, "Those who do not weep, do not see," is a quote from Les Misérables. Oscar notes that the Cavern of Skulls - and by extension, the bottom-most Level - consists of forty square miles. This is the same area as both Liverpool and Paris: two cities which inspired Forest.
At Malcolm's funeral, Julian looks at the coffin on the opposite side of the hearse to Charlotte. The same action was performed by Oscar twelve years earlier at August and Lena's funeral. This serves to contrast the two of them: Oscar constantly watching Charlotte from a distance; Julian actively seeking her out and comforting her. Charlotte's consideration that if she speaks, she will be condemned, and if she keeps silent, she will be damned, is paraphrased from Les Misérables, as Valjean contemplates revealing himself in order to save an innocent man.
Phoebe's words to Charlotte, "To love is to act," were the last words written by Victor Hugo before his death. Myriel Hospital is named after Bishop Myriel from Les Misérables: a compassionate man who provides Valjean with the means to live honestly. This is somewhat ironic since the hospital has connections with both the Aeternam and the Shadow Rats.
Victor Paley is named after William Paley, an 18th century philosopher. He argued for the existence of God via the watchmaker analogy, insisting that the world is the product of intelligent design. This is a reference to how Victor Paley is an accomplice to Leo and his own 'intelligent design' for Forest and all its inhabitants. When planning to overthrow Paley, Phoebe states that it will not be a revolt, but a revolution. This is based on an exchange between King Louis XVI and the Duke of La Rochefoucauld, concerning the Storming of the Bastille in 1789. The Duke informed the King, "It's not a revolt; it's a revolution."
Melissa says that her birth surname is Sinclair, in accordance with the orphan naming customs. This reveals that she was born in the same year as the Shadow Rat Jamie Sinclair, who returns Oscar to the thieves and later mortally wounds him. By extension, it reveals that Melissa is fifteen years older than Oscar, making her twenty-nine in Part One of the novel, and forty-one in the remaining three Parts. Melissa intends to assassinate Charlotte with a lethal shot of laudanum. This is the same way she meant to kill her after learning she survived the Rene Square massacre, and is ultimately the manner in which Paley commits suicide.
The Latin inscription left by Leo in the Tower is from the 2nd century play Heauton Timorumenos (The Self-Tormentor) by Terence. It originally appeared in the play as a response to the speaker being told to mind their own business. However, in modern usage, the phrase commonly advocates different cultures and acting in a humane manner. Although closed, due to it still being dark, the flowers which sprout in the graveyard are daisies. This flower represents innocence, purity, transformation and new beginnings.
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