As mentioned in a previous post ( the one with cats ), in an effort to restart my writing habit and complete In Victrix I have re-read all my previous works. The idea is to get back into the world, and ensure a smooth continuations (culmination?) of the series.
Below are some observations, for the benefit of readers, authors, and my future self.
Gremlins
The books have been edited and proof-read repeatedly by professional editors. Also, close friends and random people pointed out typos, which were promptly fixed, and then followed by more professional proof-reading. And yet, on re-reading the works, some typos have crept in.
Nay, not crept themselves, but maliciously inserted by a nefarious tribe of publication gremlins. These sit inside the printers, and add them for every edition sent to the publishers.
I have no other explanation.
Roman time counting
The Roman way of counting time (backwards from certain key dates, bearing in mind that boundary dates count twice), is uniquely designed to confuse the enemy and generations of future students.
For example, the Nones — from the word nine — is the ninth day before the Ides . The Ides, of course are on the 15th of months with 31 days… or the 13th on months with 30 days . A one-day difference in month length makes two in the Ides. (That’s actually due to the Julian reform, because before that months were actually either 31 or 29 days, so he changes to 30 days length but didn’t move the Ides; serves him right, getting killed on the Ides).
So the nones are therefore on either the 5th or 7th day. Because 15 – 9 = 7, as we all know so well. As for the last day of the month, because the Kalends (1st of the month) is tomorrow we can say we’re at the day before the Kalends. But yesterday was 3 days before the Kalends. Why? Because on the 29th we count the-day-after-tomorrow as today-tomorrow-Kalends = three days. (Not that English is much better, with a single word for defenestration, but none for the-day-after-tomorrow).
At this point my hovercraft is full of eels
