Two versions of the same book available in Libby

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by issybird

The question’s been asked and answered. So if people want to have some fun with it now, why not? It’s not as if the thread’s been derailed and the OP has been left hanging.

I had a brain fart and thought this was The Technology Vent and Rant Thread. Apologies.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by issybird

The question’s been asked and answered. So if people want to have some fun with it now, why not? It’s not as if the thread’s been derailed and the OP has been left hanging.

I had a brain fart and thought this was The Technology Vent and Rant Thread. So wrong on both counts. Apologies.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by issybird

There’s editing and there’s editing. If the US edition has been edited to change the quotes, replace the “s”s with “z”s and get rid of those extraneous “u”s, then I’m indifferent. It’s when the text has been dumbed down for the US audience that I mind. A lot.

Yes, I can cope with USA vs UK spelling and punctuation. Other changes are crazy.
Also they delight in changing the UK title for USA market, but rarely vice versa.
Sometimes change the title in the SAME market. Yes, been caught out on that.

I have managed on one occasion to buy the exact same paper edition in the same bookshop! Out of coffee error?

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

For some reason I'm sure we can now expect a passionate and heated discussion about US quotes vs UK quotes going on for 15 pages at least...

I hope not. Anyway, as remarked before the UK has both quote systems. It's the en vs em usage in asides that that are different for the USA; that's also been mentioned before.

[DNSB]

One lovely example of an UK book being modified for a US audience involved a punctuation change that swapped all the single curly quotes for double curly quotes and vice versa. Sadly, the process was automated and you saw text such as I”m and she”s. Sadly, someone complained to Amazon and the book was corrected rather rapidly.

[Colonel Cathcart]

thank you all who pitched in to answer my questions. I don't think I mind the quotes thing, I think? I don't think I ever paid attention to anything of the sort. I do mind, however, when/if they translate torch to flashlight, for example.
In this instance, The author is is an American (who studied in the UK), so I think I'll go with the UK version, solely because my library has more copies of that one, and I like the cover better.

Fill free to discuss the merits and shortcomings of different quotes styles to your hearts' content in this thread if you so wish. You have my blessing.

[nana77]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katabasis_(novel)
In there it seems the version on the right scheershoot has 560 pages, and it's the UK's; the other has 800 pages?
The one within 540 pages, has in description:

    1 • Katabasis • novel by R. F. Kuang
     Peter's Map • interior artwork by Patrick Arrasmith
     Alice's Map • interior artwork by Patrick Arrasmith
     Elspeth's Map • interior artwork by Patrick Arrasmith

https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?3480684
The first editions seems to be this: https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?1063752

Notes: Edition: Deluxe,Limited. Full date from Amazon.com as of 2025-07-10.
Painted page edges.
Stated first edition.
First printing with full number line.
C$43.50 in Canada

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by issybird

There’s editing and there’s editing. If the US edition has been edited to change the quotes, replace the “s”s with “z”s and get rid of those extraneous “u”s, then I’m indifferent. It’s when the text has been dumbed down for the US audience that I mind. A lot.

I agree about dumbing down the text for the US. That's jut stupid.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Yes, I can cope with USA vs UK spelling and punctuation. Other changes are crazy.
Also they delight in changing the UK title for USA market, but rarely vice versa.
Sometimes change the title in the SAME market. Yes, been caught out on that.

I have managed on one occasion to buy the exact same paper edition in the same bookshop! Out of coffee error?

Don't forget sometimes it's changing the US title for the UK.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Quoth

I hope not. Anyway, as remarked before the UK has both quote systems. It's the en vs em usage in asides that that are different for the USA; that's also been mentioned before.

It's better with em dashes then en dashes because it's easier to notice the em dash instead of thinking the en dash is a dash.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

One lovely example of an UK book being modified for a US audience involved a punctuation change that swapped all the single curly quotes for double curly quotes and vice versa. Sadly, the process was automated and you saw text such as I”m and she”s. Sadly, someone complained to Amazon and the book was corrected rather rapidly.

I used to think about changing the UK style single quotes. But because of all the other quotes I'm need to leave in place, it was too much hassle. So I gace up and just got used to the UK style.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I used to think about changing the UK style single quotes. But because of all the other quotes I'm need to leave in place, it was too much hassle. So I gace up and just got used to the UK style.

Taking out all those extra "l"s and "u"s that Webster removed from American's English usage is tricky too. Also some of the "s"s to "z"s.

You say "Zee" and I say "Zed"?

Then there are words with totally different meanings.
(British etc -> USA)
Braces -> suspenders (Trousers, Braces also go on teeth)
Suspenders -> ??? (obsolete things to hold up stockings or even men's socks)
Tights -> pantyhose
Leggings -> yoga pants (used to be made to measure 13th ?? to 19th C.)
Faggot -> Stick
Faggot -> Shaped ground beef? (Minced beef)
Rubber -> Eraser
Bonnet -> Hood (car. A hood is part of a cloak or coat, bonnet separate like a cap)
Silencer -> Muffler (Car & gun. Sometimes a Muffler on gun)
Muffler -> A kind of scarf
Jam -> Jelly
Jelly -> Jello
Scone -> Some kinds of USA Biscuit
Biscuit -> ?? (A USA cookie is only one kind of biscuit)
Cookie -> An American style once baked item.
Petrol -> gas, gasoline.
Paraffin -> Kerosine (actually jet fuel, heating oil, lamp oil, diesel, candles are all grades of paraffin).
Rape oil -> Canola
Pavement -> sidewalk
Pancake in Ireland is often a Scottish drop Scone. A USA style one is more like a French one.
Chips -> real fries, not McDonald sticks
Crisps - > Chips

Cornflour, cornflakes and sweetcorn are all maize. But corn on it's own is just whatever the local common grain is, and in England was often wheat and Germany often Rye.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It's better with em dashes then en dashes because it's easier to notice the em dash instead of thinking the en dash is a dash.

I do not know, and could not care less, the difference between dash, em dash, and en dash.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Faggot -> Stick
Faggot -> Shaped ground beef? (Minced beef)

Faggot is no longer used to mean stick any more. It's now a derogatory word and should not be used. It should also not be used in the UK as the name of food.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Faggot is no longer used to mean stick any more. It's now a derogatory word and should not be used. It should also not be used in the UK as the name of food.

You can't make rules for how words are used in UK and Ireland, or anywhere.
Fanny is OK in American and very rude elsewhere.

Indeed translating from "British" to "American" isn't simple Search and Replace.