Comments on: Why Continuity Matters http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/21/why-continuity-matters/ A mutual support group for SF/F Novelists Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:50:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Fred http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/21/why-continuity-matters/#comment-5937 Fred Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:50:53 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/21/why-continuity-matters/#comment-5937 I think a decent argument for why continuity <i>doesn't</i> always matter are Ursula K. Le Guin's books, particularly her "Hainish Cycle": http://www.ursulakleguin.com/FAQ.html#BookOrder I think a decent argument for why continuity doesn’t always matter are Ursula K. Le Guin’s books, particularly her “Hainish Cycle”:

http://www.ursulakleguin.com/FAQ.html#BookOrder

]]> By: Daryl Gregory http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/21/why-continuity-matters/#comment-5931 Daryl Gregory Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:51:48 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/21/why-continuity-matters/#comment-5931 Me, I've always wondered how Garrison Keillor keeps all his Lake Woebegon facts straight. Are they all in his head? Filling notebooks? Or does he not care about continuity at all? And are there LW fanboys who rant online when he makes a mistake? --d Me, I’ve always wondered how Garrison Keillor keeps all his Lake Woebegon facts straight. Are they all in his head? Filling notebooks? Or does he not care about continuity at all?

And are there LW fanboys who rant online when he makes a mistake?

–d

]]> By: Tapetum http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/21/why-continuity-matters/#comment-5928 Tapetum Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:43:09 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/21/why-continuity-matters/#comment-5928 Scott Raun - McCaffrey is bad for continuity errors. Around our house, continuity problems tend to be referred to as "color changing dragons" due to her perpetual problems with Lytol's dragon Larth. I've never yet read a McCaffrey book without at least one fairly noticeable continuity error - though the math problem was especially egregious, I will admit. Scott Raun - McCaffrey is bad for continuity errors. Around our house, continuity problems tend to be referred to as “color changing dragons” due to her perpetual problems with Lytol’s dragon Larth. I’ve never yet read a McCaffrey book without at least one fairly noticeable continuity error - though the math problem was especially egregious, I will admit.

]]> By: Sam http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/21/why-continuity-matters/#comment-5927 Sam Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:35:10 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/21/why-continuity-matters/#comment-5927 In a sci-fi vein, John Morressy's Starbrat and related novels, each is its own standalone tale but the main character from each is an incidental (but sometimes important) character at some point in the other novels. In fantasy, umm, well Steven Erikson does it with great aplomb, the crossing over and interesections of those plotlines across multiple books must surely count as a form of insanity. Katherine Kerr's Deverry books must present a continuity nightmare too, writen over several decades, each with multiple flashbacks into the history of the timeline that have knock-on effects in the "present", after so many books there's hardly a moment of the previous 600 years she hasn't covered or any important character's previous incarnations we haven't met. In a sci-fi vein, John Morressy’s Starbrat and related novels, each is its own standalone tale but the main character from each is an incidental (but sometimes important) character at some point in the other novels.

In fantasy, umm, well Steven Erikson does it with great aplomb, the crossing over and interesections of those plotlines across multiple books must surely count as a form of insanity.

Katherine Kerr’s Deverry books must present a continuity nightmare too, writen over several decades, each with multiple flashbacks into the history of the timeline that have knock-on effects in the “present”, after so many books there’s hardly a moment of the previous 600 years she hasn’t covered or any important character’s previous incarnations we haven’t met.

]]> By: Till http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/21/why-continuity-matters/#comment-5917 Till Sun, 22 Feb 2009 20:19:26 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/21/why-continuity-matters/#comment-5917 Iain M. Banks timeline in the Culture seems solid. Whereas Ken McLeods multiple/alternate timelines in the Star Faction etc. series did confuse me. But not enough to not enjoy the books. Iain M. Banks timeline in the Culture seems solid.

Whereas Ken McLeods multiple/alternate timelines in the Star Faction etc. series did confuse me. But not enough to not enjoy the books.

]]> By: Deborah Teramis Christian http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/21/why-continuity-matters/#comment-5913 Deborah Teramis Christian Sun, 22 Feb 2009 17:15:06 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/21/why-continuity-matters/#comment-5913 Laura Anne, Great post, and timely to my own ruminations. I've been going over some continuity issues in my own work with a fine tooth comb, and (given that I have literally gigabytes of background info on my world setting) have been feeling an urgent need for the right info management tools to work with so that maintaining continuity is in fact a manageable task. I just posted my own thoughts in this vein here (http://www.deborahteramischristian.com/writing/continuity1/), and mentioned this post of yours in it as well. Great minds, same rut? ::grin:: -Teramis Laura Anne,

Great post, and timely to my own ruminations. I’ve been going over some continuity issues in my own work with a fine tooth comb, and (given that I have literally gigabytes of background info on my world setting) have been feeling an urgent need for the right info management tools to work with so that maintaining continuity is in fact a manageable task. I just posted my own thoughts in this vein here (http://www.deborahteramischristian.com/writing/continuity1/), and mentioned this post of yours in it as well.

Great minds, same rut? ::grin::

-Teramis

]]> By: Continuity: staying in one (M)ainline | Notes From the Lizard Lair http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/21/why-continuity-matters/#comment-5912 Continuity: staying in one (M)ainline | Notes From the Lizard Lair Sun, 22 Feb 2009 17:08:12 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/21/why-continuity-matters/#comment-5912 [...] Anne Gilman wrote a blog post recently about the challenges of maintaining continuity in two multi-book series she writes that take place in the same universe.  She notes she needs to [...] […] Anne Gilman wrote a blog post recently about the challenges of maintaining continuity in two multi-book series she writes that take place in the same universe.  She notes she needs to […]

]]> By: Scott Raun http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/21/why-continuity-matters/#comment-5911 Scott Raun Sun, 22 Feb 2009 16:38:29 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/21/why-continuity-matters/#comment-5911 I can never see 'continuity' and 'Pern' together without the glaring math error in <i>Dragonflight</i> coming to mind. Lessa was supposed to have jumped back approximately 400 turns. When she was jumping forward with all the Weyrs, they came forward something like 225 turns, and then had a short (12? 13? turns) jump to Lessa's Present Day. Apparently neither Anne nor her editor at the time did the math - it didn't state how many turns forward, just X jumps of Y turns. And the error was still there in the most recent edition I looked at. I can never see ‘continuity’ and ‘Pern’ together without the glaring math error in Dragonflight coming to mind. Lessa was supposed to have jumped back approximately 400 turns. When she was jumping forward with all the Weyrs, they came forward something like 225 turns, and then had a short (12? 13? turns) jump to Lessa’s Present Day. Apparently neither Anne nor her editor at the time did the math - it didn’t state how many turns forward, just X jumps of Y turns. And the error was still there in the most recent edition I looked at.

]]> By: FrancisT http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/21/why-continuity-matters/#comment-5906 FrancisT Sun, 22 Feb 2009 10:44:38 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/21/why-continuity-matters/#comment-5906 Lois M Bujold's Vorkosigan stories manage to sidestep the issue by being chronologically distinct so one follows the other (usually though not necessarily in the order they were written). Two authors that have really hit the 3d problem (and mostly coped) and David Weber and Eric Flint. David Weber's Honor Harrington books have become a veritable sprawl and right now he's having to apologize for retelling stuff we already know but from a different POV and ending books on cliffhangers because the action has to await something that occurs in separate front. The note at the start of Shadow of Saganami explains the problem http://www.webscription.net/chapters/A1416591478/1416591478___0.htm Eric Flint's incredible 1632 universe where he has let anyone (including yr humble correspondent) write stories has become even worse. In part this is because we have dozens (hundreds?) of eager writers creating stuff for most of a decade but in terms of narrative time we've only had 4 years elapse. Continuity there is maintained (just) by an eagle eyed bunch of fanatical checkers but it is a struggle none the less. Lois M Bujold’s Vorkosigan stories manage to sidestep the issue by being chronologically distinct so one follows the other (usually though not necessarily in the order they were written).

Two authors that have really hit the 3d problem (and mostly coped) and David Weber and Eric Flint.

David Weber’s Honor Harrington books have become a veritable sprawl and right now he’s having to apologize for retelling stuff we already know but from a different POV and ending books on cliffhangers because the action has to await something that occurs in separate front. The note at the start of Shadow of Saganami explains the problem

http://www.webscription.net/chapters/A1416591478/1416591478___0.htm

Eric Flint’s incredible 1632 universe where he has let anyone (including yr humble correspondent) write stories has become even worse. In part this is because we have dozens (hundreds?) of eager writers creating stuff for most of a decade but in terms of narrative time we’ve only had 4 years elapse.

Continuity there is maintained (just) by an eagle eyed bunch of fanatical checkers but it is a struggle none the less.

]]> By: Clare K. R. Miller http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/21/why-continuity-matters/#comment-5896 Clare K. R. Miller Sun, 22 Feb 2009 02:10:10 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/02/21/why-continuity-matters/#comment-5896 The Valdemar series is an interesting example because there are several books of short stories, mostly written by authors other than Mercedes Lackey, supplementary to the series. (Or if those other series have such things, I'm unaware!) I've noticed continuity errors in some of them and it drives me crazy! The Valdemar series is an interesting example because there are several books of short stories, mostly written by authors other than Mercedes Lackey, supplementary to the series. (Or if those other series have such things, I’m unaware!) I’ve noticed continuity errors in some of them and it drives me crazy!

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