Chinese New Year is a very bittersweet story that troubled the fans of Marion and Kristoph’s relationship. Of course, it was established in Theta Sigma that Chrístõ’s mother had several miscarriages and stillbirths before he was born. The fact is referred to a number of times. It was easy to talk about in retrospect, but once I began Marion and Kristoph it became inevitable that there were going to be stories every so often that featured the ultimate tragedy for any family.

I have done three stories in all centred on Chinese New Year. Two of them are Theta Sigma stories. The first, Year of The Dog, established Li Tuo as a character. Later, the story, Time is The Fire takes place on Chinese New Year and sees Li’s death of Time Lord old age and its consequences. This story, too, has a sad subtext. Chinese New Year isn’t meant to be a sad time, of course. And so as well as the tragedy of Marion suffering an early miscarriage, there is the blooming of a love affair between Li and Lily.

The idea of the two of the going to bed and having a night of passion in the wake of Marion’s loss did puzzle some readers because they thought it was callous of them. Others thought it was a beautiful counterpoint to the tragedy. The thing to remember, of course, is what Aineytta says to them:-

“Our rigid conventions of behaviour seem so pointless here and now. Take the opportunity while it is here. Tea, and conversations by the fireside… they are for people who have time for courtship.”

Marion’s misfortune is a reminder to them that happiness has to be grasped when the opportunity presents itself. So they did. Lily and Li are another love affair that spans a galaxy, but a rather more complicated one than Marion and Kristoph’s.