Hatrack River Forum: Crystal City (potential spoiler)

This is topic Crystal City (potential spoiler) in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by fos4snt (Member # 5935) on :

Question for those of you who have read Crystal City.... *******************potential spoiler!

Is it just me, or did anyone else notice the inconsistency about the first baby? About 2 weeks ago, I started the Alvin Maker series from the start, so when the Crystal City was released, I could be freshly re-read. I've read almost everything OSC has written that I can get my hands on, and this is about the first time I've found a fairly blatant inconsistency in any of his books.

At the end of Heartfire, Margaret was pregnant. Alvin knew it was a girl, and they were going to call her "Becca" after the weaver. All through Crystal City they refer to the baby 'boy' she lost. No mention of or reference to baby "Becca."

Wish I had been reading online before it was released. Alas. Is there something I missed somewhere? Some short story? (I did have the advantage of reading the short story about Arthur and the canoe somewhere... is there something about "Becca," or did OSC just plum forget?) [Eek!]

Great book, BTW. Another story that didn't disappoint me. I don't think I ever have been, to be honest, even with little typo's which in other authors novels would drive me insane.

Posted by Papa Moose (Member # 1992) on :

I think through most of it they refer to "the baby," and use the pronoun "it," so as to avoid that particular mistake. Only one I could find where they referred to the first one being a boy was the bottom of page 179, where Margaret refers to "him." All the other references to a baby boy were to the current in-womb one, I think. I feel bad now that I missed it before, but I'll get over it eventually. [Smile]

Welcome to Hatrack!

--Pop

Posted by fos4snt (Member # 5935) on :

Thanks Papa. That puts me to the challange! Gives me a reason to read it again this week and mark the references. There were more than one. I'll get back to you later in the week.

Thanks also for the warm welcome. I've been visiting the site periodically over the last couple years, but never even looking into the forums. [Big Grin]

Silly me. And I consider OSC my favorite author!

Actually, to my own shame, I didn't much like reading for 'pleasure' prior to reluctantly accepting the challange of reading "Ender's Game." For the last several years if you see me without a book in my hand, I'm probably full in the throws of some horrific emergency concerning my kids. [Wink]

Or driving. Can't read while I drive, except road signs!

Congratulations (again) on the imminent arrival of your newest family member.