Now that's what I call a bloophole
Posted by: Anonymous User (---.glfd.cable.ntl.com)
Date: October 24, 2003 11:52PM
Not to belittle Titivilus' finding and the jet / derigible debate, but I would suggest such an error could be expected to have a neglible effect on the narrative (yes, I know about butterflies flapping their wings in Mexico, but when was the last time we had a hurricane here?). Besides, it is now fixed by the latest upgrade.
However, I feel that a far more serious problem (that is to say, distinctly hazardous to our heroine's plight (and not just due to the distinct over-use of parentheses - and other poor punctuation)) may be seen, but perhaps only by those who can't sleep and read the entire book within a day and half.
In Chapter 30, Harris explains "the only sure way to tell [a book person] would be to place [them] under observation for two months - that's about the limit of time any book person can stay outside their book."
Then in Chapter 34, the whole foundation of WoLP seems to be based on the fact that Mary wants to attend a Drama course at Reading Academy of Dramatic Arts, which is presumably a full academic year in length. To further compound this, Thursday is looking for somewhere to hide to give birth to Landen's baby in peace (which must still be several months away) and Mary leaves by saying "I'll see you in about a year".
I have searched the LIAGB archive and seen no mention of it - not yet being in possession of WoLP, I have not tried searching that part of the fforum ffor ffear of ffinding out stuffff I didn't want to know yet.
It may all be a deliberate ploy but I'd rather ask now. After all, I'm sure WoLP must be approaching the million readings mark soon and I really couldn't bear to to be the one that caused the book to unravel in a very dramatic fashion - I've only just had the carpets cleaned.
P.S. I'm not as new to the FForum as you may think - but it's true I haven't made my presence known all that much. You never know who's listening...