Is there a word for it?

[Wetdogeared]

Originally Posted by AlexBell

What does one call things like this? They are surely more than typos.

In the movie industry this is the responsibility of the Script Supervisor or Continuity Supervisor and are called continuity errors. Some of them slip past and are quickly picked up by the viewing audience.

These are often caused by filming the scenes out out sequence, unlike those acted in a live play with Act I, Act II, etc., where all the characters and props are seen in a linear format. The job of the continuity supervisor ensures that props, or attire, etc. (or even lost limbs) remain consistant and retain film continuity.

I suppose an author could write a book out of sequence, causing this same error, or just a plain and simple editing error, or making changes to the original script. (The editor told me to go back and make the lead more sympathetic, it should have been his job to check for continuity!)

Some of the previous mentioned names for this error sound more creative, as in Marc's.

Originally Posted by montsnmags

"Discontinuity" (as opposed to "continuity")

Cheers,
Marc

But I think I prefer incontinuity.

WDE.

[Halk]

Something perhaps on a similar vein, which annoys me to no end...

When creating a fictional world (or using an existing one) there are 'rules' in place. It's common, and it's perfectly fine to re-establish, change or append these rules.

However it makes for an awful plot if you just change the rules right at the crunch.

Science fiction and fantasy are plagued by this. If it's not some new special power that got developed right before the end of the book it's some technobabble about the quantum flux nonsense that's thrown in to justify the impossible happening.

I'm willing to take the leap of faith when the scene for the book is created, but not 2 chapters from the end.

[Cthulhu]

Halk:

I absolutely agree:

There are so many times that some cool tech/mech is explained, and then it is suddenly a Eierlegende Wollmilchsau capable of anything, or vice versa.

The most rankling example in any book--though it happens far too often in film--is the notion of body armour.

Like in Starship Trooper (by Verhoeven); a big deal is made that a cadet was allowed to remove his helmet, leading to his death. About 1/2 hour later, the teacher-turned-Gunny uses a sniper rifle to throw a slug into another soldier's chest, sparing him the agony of being eaten alive. If your fancy armour cannot stop a rifle round, why bother with it?!

Of course, if a write makes the science a bit too hard, then it can become as boring as an article in Popular Mechanics.

[Xenophon]

Originally Posted by Halk

Something perhaps on a similar vein, which annoys me to no end...

When creating a fictional world (or using an existing one) there are 'rules' in place. It's common, and it's perfectly fine to re-establish, change or append these rules.

However it makes for an awful plot if you just change the rules right at the crunch.

Science fiction and fantasy are plagued by this. If it's not some new special power that got developed right before the end of the book it's some technobabble about the quantum flux nonsense that's thrown in to justify the impossible happening.

I'm willing to take the leap of faith when the scene for the book is created, but not 2 chapters from the end.

Not a word, but a phrase: Deus ex machina

Xenophon

[HappyMartin]

A very early one of whatever they are occurs near the beginning of Robinson Crusoe where he strips off all his clothes and swims out to a ship wreck. He the recovers some useful items, places them in his pockets, and returns to shore.

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by HappyMartin

A very early one of whatever they are occurs near the beginning of Robinson Crusoe where he strips off all his clothes and swims out to a ship wreck. He the recovers some useful items, places them in his pockets, and returns to shore.

I'll have to keep an eye out for that when I read it.

[Gaurnim]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

I call mozzle on Plotfart!!!

Nice one !
I approve


About the Robinson Crusoe stuff, I don't remember reading this (but I read the book years and years ago), but I definitely remember this "incontinuity" being mentioned several times by friends or Internet-prowling thingies.