The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes...

Lalwendë · 11-14-2004, 11:20 AM

At the risk of mentioning the dreaded C word, in terms of canonicity, I would prefer to stick with the established text, for the simple reason that this is the text that most people will have access to, and hence discussion will remain straightforward. Although, I have to say, the changes do not seem extensive, but if say, a revised version of The Hobbit (in which the Riddles In The Dark chapter was once very different) were to be issued, on the premise that this would then be the version printed in future, then a certain amount of confusion would take hold between readers.

Anyway, thanks are due to davem for quoting the introduction to the new edition. I for one shall have to wait a little while to see it, as I have had to commit my pennies elsewhere, and the text reproduced is interesting. I noted that some of the alterations had been identified by readers themselves, which brings in the whole issue of readers contributing to a text, but at a considerably different level than simply reading their own meanings into it; this is an interesting idea, but not one I am wholly comfortable with.

Mention was made of an electronic copy being available, which caught my eye. My boss gave me an electronic copy recently, and he had himself noticed some inconsistencies in the text which I had not. Concerned that his electronic copy was 'wrong' in some way, he asked me to look these inconsistencies up in the books, and I found them there also. Apart from the fact that there were these differences (which I won't go into here, but I'd be interested to know if they remain in the new version...another time) it struck me that with e-books around, it would in fact be very easy for alternate versions of books to come into circulation. What was the complete context of the mention of the electronic version? I'd be interested to know to what extent the presence and use of e-books had influenced the decision to make emendations.

At least, any confusion as to why this new edition was released has been cleared up a little. I for one was stumped last week when I was asked about its purpose.

11-14-2004, 11:20 AM	#23
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	At the risk of mentioning the dreaded C word, in terms of canonicity, I would prefer to stick with the established text, for the simple reason that this is the text that most people will have access to, and hence discussion will remain straightforward. Although, I have to say, the changes do not seem extensive, but if say, a revised version of The Hobbit (in which the Riddles In The Dark chapter was once very different) were to be issued, on the premise that this would then be the version printed in future, then a certain amount of confusion would take hold between readers. Anyway, thanks are due to davem for quoting the introduction to the new edition. I for one shall have to wait a little while to see it, as I have had to commit my pennies elsewhere, and the text reproduced is interesting. I noted that some of the alterations had been identified by readers themselves, which brings in the whole issue of readers contributing to a text, but at a considerably different level than simply reading their own meanings into it; this is an interesting idea, but not one I am wholly comfortable with. Mention was made of an electronic copy being available, which caught my eye. My boss gave me an electronic copy recently, and he had himself noticed some inconsistencies in the text which I had not. Concerned that his electronic copy was 'wrong' in some way, he asked me to look these inconsistencies up in the books, and I found them there also. Apart from the fact that there were these differences (which I won't go into here, but I'd be interested to know if they remain in the new version...another time) it struck me that with e-books around, it would in fact be very easy for alternate versions of books to come into circulation. What was the complete context of the mention of the electronic version? I'd be interested to know to what extent the presence and use of e-books had influenced the decision to make emendations. At least, any confusion as to why this new edition was released has been cleared up a little. I for one was stumped last week when I was asked about its purpose. __________________ Gordon's alive!