Hi, I just got done with the book. Man was i addicted to reading that. I noticed on Steven Hall's myspace page he had a quiz. In it he revealed that Ian has at some point walked through a wall. I am putting this post here for any other hidden easter eggs found in the book. I am curious, when did Ian walk through a wall?

welcome to the forum! i've been meaning to look for that too, but haven't got around to it yet. i guess i'll have to read the book again soon. :wink:

no actually when thinking about it, that was a similar moment that popped in to my head. i think i need to re-read the book. as much as i love it. i dont feel like i had a full grasp on everything that was going on.

and thanks for the welcomeing

There was a book written by Heinlein called "The cat who walks through walls" which features a cat that accompanies a hero called Richard Ames and his female love interest and can walk through walls. The cat was called Pixel.

The female starts out as having one identity and turning out to have another which has parallels with the Clio character and also Clio's surname is Aames which is another 'coincidence'.

There are a lot of echoes of Heinlein in this book

here you go:

coincidently, the second eric sanderson really likes the happy mondays.

also, the title of chapter 32 may come from this:

Spanish Ladies
Traditional - Lyrics from Iron Men &; Wooden Ships, by Frank Shay

Farewell and adieu to you, gay Spanish ladies,
Farewell and adieu to you, ladies of Spain,
For we've received orders for to sail to old England;
But we hope very soon we shall see you again.

Well rant and we'll roar like true British sailors,
We'll rant and we'll roar across the salt seas,
Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England,
From Ushant to Scilly is thirty-five leagues.

Then we hove our ship to with the wind at sou'-west, my boys,
We hove our ship to our soundings for to see;
So we rounded and sounded, and got forty-five fathoms,
We squared our mainyard, up channel steered we.

Well rant and we'll roar like true British sailors,
We'll rant and we'll roar across the salt seas,
Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England,
From Ushant to Scilly is thirty-five leagues.

Now the first land we made it is called the Deadman,
Then Ram Head off Plymouth, Start, Portland, and Wight;
We sailed by Beachy, by Fairlee and Dungeness,
Until we came abreast of the South Foreland Light.

Well rant and we'll roar like true British sailors,
We'll rant and we'll roar across the salt seas,
Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England,
From Ushant to Scilly is thirty-five leagues.

Then the signal was made for the grand fleet for to anchor,
All in the Downs that night for to meet;
Then it's stand by your stoppers, let go your shank painters,
Haul all your clew garnets, stick out tacks and sheets.

Well rant and we'll roar like true British sailors,
We'll rant and we'll roar across the salt seas,
Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England,
From Ushant to Scilly is thirty-five leagues.

Now let every man toss of a full bumper,
And let every man toss off a full bowl;
And we'll drink and be merry and drown melancholy,
Singing, here's a good health to all true-hearted souls.

Well rant and we'll roar like true British sailors,
We'll rant and we'll roar across the salt seas,
Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England,
From Ushant to Scilly is thirty-five leagues.


however, in the movie Jaws:

Quint: Farewell and adieu to you, fair Spanish ladies. Farewell and adieu, you ladies of Spain. For we've received orders for to sail back to Boston. And so nevermore shall we see you again.

the first line is also the title of chapter 30.

One has to love The Cure.

One of the letters that Eric 2 receives in a parcel from Eric 1 is addressed to Steven Hall.

That's exactly the moment I was thinking of. The first time I read that passage, I had to re-read it a few times. I was convinced I'd missed something. Nice to know it wasn't just me. :D