Gods of Night Easter Egg

[Deranged Nasat]

I assumed there was an additional justification for the name Caeliar: looking at the Star Charts, it seems that the Azure Nebula, AKA Erigol, is in the same general direction as Caelus. Alpha Caeli is listed as Hyralan and Beta Caeli as Japori, and the Azure Nebula is, from an Earth-biased perspective, in the same general direction on the map. So, the Caeliar come from Caelus, perhaps like the Centauri in Babylon Five, according to background sources, come from the direction of Centaurus?

So as well as Caelum for "heaven/sky" and Caelus Nocturnus (an actual "god of night"), we might have another contributive factor for the name.

 

[David Mack]

I'm pretty sure I've heard Dave Mack pronounce it "Kay-lee-arr" himself.

Correctamundo.

 

[Stevil2001]

I may be mistaken, but I think that varies. The Master, for instance, is, from what I understand, is considered a BBC-owned character, whereas, as you noted, the Daleks are owned by the Estate of Terry Nation (though the design of the Daleks, as opposed to the concept of the Daleks, is co-owned by the Nation Estate and the BBC, making it very difficult for the Daleks to be marketed in any non-BBC-approved, Doctor Who-ish context).

The difference is between an element created by scriptwriter (an independent contractor) and a script editor/producer (a BBC employee). That's the same reason most companions are owned by the BBC, but K-9 and the Brigadier are not.

 

[Christopher]

I assumed there was an additional justification for the name Caeliar: looking at the Star Charts, it seems that the Azure Nebula, AKA Erigol, is in the same general direction as Caelus. Alpha Caeli is listed as Hyralan and Beta Caeli as Japori, and the Azure Nebula is, from an Earth-biased perspective, in the same general direction on the map. So, the Caeliar come from Caelus, perhaps like the Centauri in Babylon Five, according to background sources, come from the direction of Centaurus?

Why would the Caeliar name themselves after an Earth constellation? If it were presented as a name that humans had given them because their own was unpronounceable, maybe, but it was pretty clearly their own name for themselves.

Besides, what the 2D nature of Star Charts conceals is that Caelum is pretty far south in the sky. Descriptions in the books (at least in Ex Machina) have tended to assume that the (fictitious) Azure Nebula lies fairly close to the galactic plane. So they wouldn't really be in the same direction.

 

[Deranged Nasat]

I assumed there was an additional justification for the name Caeliar: looking at the Star Charts, it seems that the Azure Nebula, AKA Erigol, is in the same general direction as Caelus. Alpha Caeli is listed as Hyralan and Beta Caeli as Japori, and the Azure Nebula is, from an Earth-biased perspective, in the same general direction on the map. So, the Caeliar come from Caelus, perhaps like the Centauri in Babylon Five, according to background sources, come from the direction of Centaurus?

Why would the Caeliar name themselves after an Earth constellation? If it were presented as a name that humans had given them because their own was unpronounceable, maybe, but it was pretty clearly their own name for themselves.

Oh, sure, I meant more a justification on the part of David Mack, not a justification for the Caeliar themselves within the story. No more than I assumed the Caeliar were speaking latin.

Besides, what the 2D nature of Star Charts conceals is that Caelum is pretty far south in the sky. Descriptions in the books (at least in Ex Machina) have tended to assume that the (fictitious) Azure Nebula lies fairly close to the galactic plane. So they wouldn't really be in the same direction.

Foiled by the realities of three-dimensional space once more. Thanks. Oh well, it was a nice idea while it lasted.

EDIT: Oh, and it's Caelum, not Caelus, then? Whoops. Need to brush up on my constellations, it seems.

 

[JRoss]

Back on topic, hey David Mack, enjoyed Gods of Night. I'll be getting Mere Mortals off of Amazon, soon. Thanks.

 

[David Mack]

^ Glad to hear it!

 

[David Brennon]

^Must be nice to keep getting the praise for Destiny even after a few years -- which is incidentally completely and totally deserved IMO as you are by far the best Trek author I've read

 

[David Mack]

^ It doesn't suck. And it's kind of you to say so.

 

[Thestral]

Thanks for clearing up the pronunciation of Caeliar, gents!

 

[SicOne]

I'd pronounce it however the hell they'd tell me to, lest they rearrange my genitalia at the subatomic level...

 

[Nick M]

I always pronounced it as Smith. Just thought all the letters were silent.

 

[SicOne]

It's "Smythe", Nick M...zzzappp!