Poor editing/research

[haertig]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

If populating parallel Earths were the theme of a book I started, I would only be surprised if there weren't many such discrepancies mentioned.

There are.

However, in the specific Guppy/Minnow case I mentioned, it is the folks from original Earth who are referencing this old Earth TV show that the other person - native to an alternate Earth - does not know about.

Disclaimer: This book is the second book of a serial that I recently claimed I would never read. Because the first book just stopped mid-sentence. I hate these serial books (a normal series is OK, it's just the drop-it-in-the-middle serials that I hate). But here I am, against my statements, reading the dang book. I can offer no defense for my actions!

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by haertig

However, in the specific Guppy/Minnow case I mentioned, it is the folks from original Earth who are referencing this old Earth TV show that the other person - native to an alternate Earth - does not know about.

Then I would assume that it was a clue that the "original Earth" being used for the point of reference in the book is not actually, in fact, our own. Possibly something that was explained in the first book, or something to be revealed at a later time. Or possibly it was just a bad joke. But that's just simply not a mistake that someone makes "accidentally." Even if someone's not familiar with the show themselves, they know that millions of people are.

It could be a mistake, I suppose, but I'm just not buying it. Not when knowing the premise of the books, anyway.

[ZodWallop]

Maybe the castaways stole Cap'n Crunch's boat, the S.S. Guppy?

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Then I would assume that it was a clue that the "original Earth" being used for the point of reference in the book is not actually, in fact, our own.

.

By itself, fairly common.

I've come to assume all SF stories are alternate histories, especially the ones aspiring to be "hard" SF.

[haertig]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Then I would assume that it was a clue that the "original Earth" being used for the point of reference in the book is not actually, in fact, our own.

Now that would be a cool twist in the storyline. But IMHO, this series does not seem to have the sophistication for something like that. I believe these are the authors first published books (there are two of them). They read like YoungAdult+

I do like the alternate Earth/parallel Earth genre. I have't read much of it (yet), but I'm searching for new books in this genre. So if anyone has any suggestions, I'd appreciate hearing them.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by haertig

Now that would be a cool twist in the storyline. But IMHO, this series does not seem to have the sophistication for something like that. I believe these are the authors first published books (there are two of them). They read like YoungAdult+

I do like the alternate Earth/parallel Earth genre. I have't read much of it (yet), but I'm searching for new books in this genre. So if anyone has any suggestions, I'd appreciate hearing them.

Hmm... the first ones I remember reading were Edwin Abbott Abbott's Flatland and H. Beam Piper's Paratime series and Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen. Then there were Keith Laumer's Imperium stories. Hmmm... more outright fantasy were Andre Norton's Witch World books. Clifford D. Simak's Ring Around the Sun. Fletcher Pratt and L. Sprague de Camp's Harold Shea stories.

I'll leave it to someone else to drag this list into the 1970's and later.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Hmm... the first ones I remember reading were Edwin Abbott Abbott's Flatland and H. Beam Piper's Paratime series and Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen. Then there were Keith Laumer's Imperium stories. Hmmm... more outright fantasy were Andre Norton's Witch World books. Clifford D. Simak's Ring Around the Sun. Fletcher Pratt and L. Sprague de Camp's Harold Shea stories.

I'll leave it to someone else to drag this list into the 1970's and later.

James p. Hogan - The Proteus Operation
Philip Jose Farmer - Two Hawks from Terra, World of Tiers series
David Weber - The Gordian Protocol (time travel war over two entangled timelines)
F.M. Busby - All these Earths (almost forgot it. Duh.)

The entire sub-genre of Alternate history. Harry Turtledove has several long series. Eric Flint's 163x series.

[theducks]

Would (Our) Robert J. Sawyer's Neanderthal Parallax fit?

[haertig]

Wow! Thanks for the suggestions!!!

[leebase]

I just think it's funny that IF it bothered you, you would just edit the file and change it to what you want. I'd never think to do that. Too bad you can't change a pronunciation in an audio book

[haertig]

Originally Posted by leebase

Too bad you can't change a pronunciation in an audio book

With enough determination, one could!

[4691mls]

Am I the only one who's had the Gilligan's Island theme song running in their head ever since this thread was posted?

[arjaybe]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Maybe the castaways stole Cap'n Crunch's boat, the S.S. Guppy?

Or a character is confusing two banalities.

[Fiat_Lux]

Originally Posted by haertig

I did not know that. I think of it in terms of the Star Trek: The Next Generation TV show. But now that you mention it, I'll bet they stole the line from older times in the British Navy. That makes sense. Thanks - I learn something new every day!

The oldest known usage of the phrase "Make it so", is found in the only known example of the handwriting of Cleopatra VII Philopator.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Fiat_Lux

The oldest known usage of the phrase "Make it so", is found in the only known example of the handwriting of Cleopatra VII Philopator.

Translating "γινεσθοι" (ginesthoi) as "make it so" is a bit of a stretch, translating it as 'let be done" or "make it happen" is more likely going by my memories of such items as 1 Corinthians 16:14