Cold Equations - The Persistence of Memory question

[dstyer]

I'm re-reading this book in preparation to get into the new novel, and I find in the first chapter, page 8 that La Forge reminisces that is has been almost 25 years since the first time the crew met Maddox. This part of the tale takes place in 2384, "The Measure of a Man" took place (I believe) in 2365. Unless my math is off, that makes 19 years. . .

Was this discussed when the book first came out?

 

[Paper Moon]

I'm pretty sure it was, and I'm pretty sure the consensus was that it was a single detail which slipped through the editing process, not a deliberate attempt to rewrite history or anything.

 

[David Mack]

Yes. Just ignore it.

 

[Ben]

I would like an entire novel devoted to explaining what's happening to Geordi's memory and math abilities.

No, an entire trilogy!

 

[Enterprise1701]

Is this a trend? In Indistinguishable From Magic, which judging from the stardate and references in other novels has to be in early 2383, Geordi says he has been chief engineer for "Nineteen years on two Enterprises." That's got to be a mistake since he had to have gone from Enterprise-D flight controller to chief engineer around New Year's 2365.

 

[Wally]

Take your pick:

(a) editing error (true, but boring)

(b) Geordi is neither a computer, Data nor Spock. He can be forgiven for making mistakes with dates, as we all do, and guestimating. (likely, but mundane)

(c) Geordi is counting his own subjective time, adding together the additional 6 years he's lived due to weird time travel adventures and the like. (fun)

 

[Christopher]

(d) Geordi is using a different planet's calendar. Different planets have different year lengths, after all.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I'm going with editing error. Geordi is from Earth, after all. Makes sense he'd "default" to the Earth calendar.

 

[Deranged Nasat]

Is this a trend? In Indistinguishable From Magic, which judging from the stardate and references in other novels has to be in early 2383, Geordi says he has been chief engineer for "Nineteen years on two Enterprises." That's got to be a mistake since he had to have gone from Enterprise-D flight controller to chief engineer around New Year's 2365.

The plot thickens! Geordi, it seems, can't accurately judge the passage of time, and keeps adding additional years in his reminiscing. The problem is also apparently getting worse, as he's moved from adding one year in 2383 to adding five in 2384.

Clearly, Geordi is in the process of becoming unstuck in time, a floating temporal anomaly who experiences an increasing amount of "subjective" time for each "objective" year that passes. Soon he'll start talking about lengthy adventures that no-one else remembers, and will become increasingly unhinged. This will end with a DTI/TNG crossover that will see Geordi's mind downloaded into an android on Mudd's planet before said android is locked in the vault on Eris for safekeeping.

 

[Wally]

Is this a trend? In Indistinguishable From Magic, which judging from the stardate and references in other novels has to be in early 2383, Geordi says he has been chief engineer for "Nineteen years on two Enterprises." That's got to be a mistake since he had to have gone from Enterprise-D flight controller to chief engineer around New Year's 2365.

The plot thickens! Geordi, it seems, can't accurately judge the passage of time, and keeps adding additional years in his reminiscing. The problem is also apparently getting worse, as he's moved from adding one year in 2383 to adding five in 2384.

Clearly, Geordi is in the process of becoming unstuck in time, a floating temporal anomaly who experiences an increasing amount of "subjective" time for each "objective" year that passes. Soon he'll start talking about lengthy adventures that no-one else remembers, and will become increasingly unhinged. This will end with a DTI/TNG crossover that will see Geordi's mind downloaded into an android on Mudd's planet before said android is locked in the vault on Eris for safekeeping.

I'd read that.

 

[Relayer1]

Is this a trend? In Indistinguishable From Magic, which judging from the stardate and references in other novels has to be in early 2383, Geordi says he has been chief engineer for "Nineteen years on two Enterprises." That's got to be a mistake since he had to have gone from Enterprise-D flight controller to chief engineer around New Year's 2365.

The plot thickens! Geordi, it seems, can't accurately judge the passage of time, and keeps adding additional years in his reminiscing. The problem is also apparently getting worse, as he's moved from adding one year in 2383 to adding five in 2384.

Clearly, Geordi is in the process of becoming unstuck in time, a floating temporal anomaly who experiences an increasing amount of "subjective" time for each "objective" year that passes. Soon he'll start talking about lengthy adventures that no-one else remembers, and will become increasingly unhinged. This will end with a DTI/TNG crossover that will see Geordi's mind downloaded into an android on Mudd's planet before said android is locked in the vault on Eris for safekeeping.

No story ideas please!