The Sword and Laser discussion

So, in the other thread, it was discovered that some of us read the "old" version of The Martian, and some of us read a newer version. The difference is apparently 1 paragraph and that paragraph is kind of a big deal. http://scifi.stackexchange.com/questi...

(view spoiler)[In the newer version, the story ends with the crew on Hermes, so there is some room for doubt if they made it back--especially given the "issues" with Hermes' performance/how it's held up. In the older version, it was apparently obvious that they made it back. (hide spoiler)]

In addition to what's in the spoiler, the new audio version apparently also fixed some pronunciation stuff.

I don't know that I like this. First off, with the new version, I think there's room for them to have edited out some other things, too (peril overload?). Second off, this means that readers have some very different experiences.

What sayest thou, hive mind? ;)

I was thinking of starting this thread. Thanks.

How do you pronounce sysop? Not sigh-sop?

Tamahome wrote: "I was thinking of starting this thread. Thanks.

How do you pronounce sysop? Not sigh-sop?"

sis-op because it's short for "system operator"

That's strange. I'm a computer geek and I like saying sighsop.

Tamahome wrote: "How do you pronounce sysop? Not sigh-sop?"

It's "throat warbler mangrove".

I'm not overly concerned but any post publishing changes should be acknowledged at the end of the newer book.

Many better authors than Andy Weir have edited their works after release. Tolkien with "The Hobbit" for example.Though his edits were to keep it consistent with LOTR.

Still I don't think it is good practice.

I feel kind of cheated. I don't like it when they delete paragraphs from a book, without me knowing about it. They could have put in a foreword or something.

I'm with Phil. I've always said/heard it as Sis-Op.

At to the OP, I'm not sure how I feel about it. If not for people bringing it up, I would have had no idea.

I think this is a case that may become more common as authors self publish and eventually sign publishing deals. The publisher may ask/require them to edit things.

I wish we had known this ahead of the S&L interview to ask Mr. Weir himself what happened.

I'm fine with it. Books frequently have changes made before final publishing, and many are edited after. I consider the self-published version a late beta, so the changes don't bother me. The change is much less than the retcon on Tolkien did on "The Hobbit" after he finished TLotR.

But then, I'm the guy that suggested ending the book even earlier in the other thread.

It probably would have been good to have an author's note or afterword since it was a few changes that went beyond spelling and grammar corrections but it doesn't really worry me.

The new ending has paved the way for a sequel where a beautiful alien tries to suck the lifeforce out of him.

I think with 'sysop' I saw it as a kid on bbs's, but I had no idea what it was, and so pronounced it 'sigh sop'. I saw 'ascii' too, and could have just as easily said 'ask eye eye'.

I had no idea that it was changed either. I have the new version which I was fine with. I like the ending.

My first experience with networks was on in college on IBM big iron and the internet of the 1980s, so it's always been "ass-key" and "sis-op" to me. But I'm used to hearing multiple pronunciations so it's all good.

Skip wrote: "My first experience with networks was on in college on IBM big iron and the internet of the 1980s, so it's always been "ass-key" and "sis-op" to me. But I'm used to hearing multiple pronunciations..."

The IBM mainframes I first worked on used EBCDIC. ASCII didn't come along until later.

I think the mainframes I was using were all EBCDIC, but the art was always refered to as ASCII art as far as I can remember. But I was mostly using the mainframe because I could use a laser printer for my papers and to check my mail for the LISTSERV posts for the groups I belonged to. So not exactly a power user.

Ben wrote: "It probably would have been good to have an author's note or afterword since it was a few changes that went beyond spelling and grammar corrections but it doesn't really worry me."

I agree with this. I actually like the idea of different versions of a story being out there, ones created by the author and perhaps, as digital technology makes it easier, ones played around with by fans, like music remixes or fan film edits. But when there's been a change I want to know and to know what version I'm reading, if for no other reason then to make conversation about it with other readers more intelligible.

OK, now I want to see that paragraph that didn't end up in my version. Does anybody know where I could find it?

Joanna wrote: "OK, now I want to see that paragraph that didn't end up in my version. Does anybody know where I could find it?"

Jenz posted a link to the removed text in the "Finished" thread.

It's more like an entire page, not just a single paragraph. My personal opinion is that it didn't fit well with the rest of the book. It seemed to be Weir's last chance to throw in a parting joke than any attempt at providing additional closure. (Full disclosure: I read the earlier edition with this text intact. It was only from reading the discussions that I learned that this page was missing from the current editions.)

Here's a more direct link of the page that Jenz found:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/16...

But you will still need to click on the "Spoiler" link to expand the text.

Oh yeah, since I never really weighed in. I said I wasn't into it, but didn't really say what I would want. Since the book was edited from its original version, I'd have wanted an author's note or something, maybe an Afterword to describe the process of why it was changed, why it was removed...

I guess, remembering the process by which this was published (self-published at first and then picked up by a bigger publisher?) kind of lends itself to editing...but still weird that some of us read one book, some of us read a slightly different one...

Cliff wrote: "Jenz posted a link to the removed text in the "Finished" thread."

Thanks!

Hmm. I have an ARC for this one:

I take it this is the edition that has the extra paragraph?

Is that Val Kilmer?

I have no clue. This book has some sucky covers, though. Based on some of the reviews I've read, I'd expect at least one to have a potato on it.

Rabindranauth wrote: "Hmm. I have an ARC for this one:

I take it this is the edition that has the extra paragraph?"

You can figure it out if your edition ended with a scene in the Ares (current) or not (original with extra scene).

I have the "Val Kilmer look-alike" cover version.

It is the newer version without the extended ending.

Tamahome wrote: "The new ending has paved the way for a sequel where a beautiful alien tries to suck the lifeforce out of him.

"

Watney would have voted for Matilda May as well!

Woah I didn't realise this scene was missing from later versions. My copy had the Earth scene and when Tom and Veronica were talking about how they had expected a homecoming I figured they meant just that, a triumphant return to Earth, rather than this ages later settled in again moment.

I agree that it felt a bit weird and not a real match for the rest of the book, but I did like the closure it gave to the Mark Watney character.