1. I really like Ax in this book. He's painted as very idealistic and naive about fighting, which I found annoying, but it works, cause Marco's right there to shut him down. I'll save his taste stuff for later, but he makes a good addition if for nothing else his tech skills and gags.
2. First thought was poor Marco, but at least now he's compelled into it, and you can be sympathetic to his involvement. It's very horrible thing to have all your hopes tied up to the source of your agony. Amazing he never went nuts. The tie in has only just started making sense to me: Let Marco and Edriss link through Eva, enabling a covert operation-which is Earth's only chance. I mean the literally JUST started making sense to me. That's probably one of the only connections I like for the Ellimist part in forming the team.
3. Of all the parents, I like Peter best-once he comes around. The grieving is touching and disgraceful all at once: but disgrace wins out-when you have stuff to do, do it. Sitting around crying for yourself disgusts me. Him coming out of it when he does is a little too convenient, but like I said, I like him after this, so I guess I'll forgive that bit of fate.
4. That these two are enemies is nice. That we never see their history together is lame. V1 at least is decent politician, but more than discrediting V3, I find it wonderful the can of worms it opened to call her a traitor. The yeerk system we see for the rest of the series is so disorganized, almost laughable, really wish that it's intricacies were developed and laid out as the series goes on
5. I take it as a "bad ass with a heart of gold" stint. Solidify him as a good guy for all his whining and fear. Not critical in getting to know him, I think most of his actions convey that, but not out of character.
6. Marco has a very interesting place, really I think Cassie could do his part, she just never would. I think he's very good at evaluating character and sizing up situations which are his primary contributions right now. I think Tactical Officer describes him well, though he can fall out of line too quickly.
7. Though I understand his desires to get out, I'm still not inclined to absolve him of the choice. Marco's absence would have been damning, though perhaps not critical from the larger perspective. Losing Ax would have killed them. I doubt he'd have more success with the fleet at home, and without his skills, they'd have lost half their information and abilities.
8. This is one of the 2 worst portrayals in the series. Go poke an ant, see if it is at all automated in it's response. The idea of being part of a whole is frightening yes, I just don't believe that's what the ants mentality is, any more than any other animal. The attack seen was gripping, I will give ants determination, though I can say for fact the don't always attack foreigners, but definitely not a way I would want to go out.
9. Again touting the dualism of my mind, this would strengthen and destroy me. I'd be hell bend on revenge, I'm afraid do something stupid. But at the same time I'd rationalize that I had to win on the large scale, probably first to be of any assured consequence. I think I'd have to try the latter approach, but my biggest concern is it would freeze me up. I could keep it from civilians, they couldn't help and would likely hurt if they knew, but I disagree with him keeping the truth from the others Animorphs: even if they couldn't help him directly, it's a fact that deeply affects the team through him-and it makes them more likely to hurt by not knowing.