[net.sf-lovers] [mutilation] of THE SHOCKWAVE RIDER

cjh%CCA-UNIX@csin.UUCP (03/15/84)

So far as Brunner himself has said (in "Noise Level", his column in SCIENCE
FICTION REVIEW), tSR was altered not substantially but substantively.  Two
brothers, Jake(?) and Josh Treves, were merged into one by an overly-zealous
editor/proofreader who halfwittedly assumed that the two different names were
typoes from the manuscript or British edition. This error appeared in the
American hardback edition, but not in the paperback, which he vigorously urged
people to buy in preference. The Treves are not particularly major characters
(the second appears 90+% of the way through) but if you work the plot out I
think you find that they have to be in two places a large distance apart at a
key point in the story; Brunner is meticulous about plotting and has frequently
fulminated against editors (usually American) who change text without
consulting the author (as I coedited his songbook (A NEW SETTLEMENT OF OLD
SCORES) last summer, I know he can be quite gracious if shown why/that a change
is necessary).

ntt@dciem.UUCP (Mark Brader) (03/23/84)

It would be useful if publishers' names and edition dates were mentioned.
In Canada we tend to see a mixture of US and British editions.

Mark Brader