Whut? Or, new back cover copy for HH Trilogy - A Meeting of Minds

D. M. Domini · Jun 24 2008, 10:25 PM

So, I was in the bookstore today, and found the Harper Hall Trilogy--with yet another set of covers. (Didn't they just re-cover them with those ugly ones?) I like these better, but I'm highly amused by the fact that they're black-and-neon-purple/blue/green.

Even more amusing...is the back cover copy. Read this, for Dragonsinger:

Quote:

In the world of Pern, Harpers are regarded to be more powerful than kings, for the music they play can literally control the minds of others. For young Menolly, her dreams of becoming a Harper have nothing to do with power, but rather her love of music. Now she is finally living out her musical dreams as an apprentice Harper, but it's turning out to be more challenging than she thought.

Formerly forbidden to study music because of her gender, Menolly quickly encounters hostility from a number of her male peers and masters. But she is not alone in her struggles. With the help of new friends, teachers, and her nine fire lizards, Menolly finds that her musical talents may prove more powerful than anyone could imagine.

Whut?! I guess it explains a lot about Robinton's rise to power...his music can literally control the minds of others! Who'da thunk? And Menolly is obviously going to become Empress of Pern (Harpers are more powerful than mere kings, duh!) because of her fantastic musical powers!

The other ones go on in a similar vein, although not quite as...er...fabricated out of whole cloth.

All this being said...I much prefer these covers to the orange covers, but I like these covers best.

GHarris · Jun 25 2008, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Portalvast Magus

Whut?! I guess it explains a lot about Robinton's rise to power...his music can literally control the minds of others!

I thought I did remember a couple of small lines here and there where Harpers learn techniques to control their voice that helps them influence others, but it is certainly not mind control. At least not like Lessa.

GH

***Hans*** · Jun 25 2008, 11:30 AM

This is a new Simon & Schuster reprint for the Harper Hall trilogy issued this month.

I already started a thread on this in the Collectors Forum: http://forums.srellim.org/showthread.php?t=5401

Topaz the Golden · Jun 25 2008, 01:32 PM

I don't care for the covers but the 2nd one is better than the 1st

**Cheryl** · Jun 25 2008, 02:30 PM

That cover copy is horrible. Way to misrepresent the book!

***Hans*** · Jun 25 2008, 03:54 PM

Indeed, that blurb is one of the worst I ever read...

Greenrider Tresa · Jun 25 2008, 04:13 PM

It's laughable. And sounds more like straight fantasy.

Going to have a few disappointed readers if they're new to Pern, I bet!

D. M. Domini · Jun 26 2008, 07:13 PM

Yeah, that's what I thought...kind of unfair to new readers!

Shalyn · Jun 27 2008, 08:55 AM

It does make your "challenge" intriguing. Intrigueing. Whatever.

Becky · Jun 27 2008, 10:40 AM

It's horrible the way they've written that blurb about the book!!! I guess they figure they need to include a bit of fantasy to sell them, but people sure will be disappointed to find there isn't any of that in the book!
We can hope that they'll love Anne's story and forget that there's no fantasy in it. I think they should have played up the fire lizards more, they seem to have been thrown in as an afterthougt. And harpers more powerful than kings??? Where did they pull that from?? Sheesh!

Kath · Jun 27 2008, 11:00 AM

I have a new game for you guys....

Planet Pern it should prohibit, her father planet. Whether it should hide, following to escaping of the girl it is young, which way in it is weak from the music which grasps but because of a certain; It has the refuge which it has; With simultaneous her music, the lizard and her of the fire which opens life are respected.

This is what happens if you send the catalogue card summary of dragonsong through babelfish into korean, back to english, into japanese and then back to english again. I think I've just figured out how they mangled Dragonsinger!

***Hans*** · Jun 27 2008, 11:55 AM

except the editor at Simon & Schuster has probably translated it directly from English into American *ducks*

Let's write them emails, folks!
Go to there customer service form!

Priscilla · Jun 27 2008, 12:03 PM

tosses "clam" mud at Hans, making direct hit! I like Kath's explanation better!

**Cheryl** · Jun 27 2008, 08:11 PM

Wow, that's an impressively bad multi-translation Kath!

Pernaficionado · Jun 28 2008, 05:56 AM

through babelfish? I mean i adore the "hitchhiker's" reference, but is it also a program or site or something?

**Cheryl** · Jun 28 2008, 09:32 AM

It's a website that'll do translations, named for the creature in Hitchhikers.

Brenda · Jun 29 2008, 12:46 AM

I think the original fish did it better...

Anareth · Jun 29 2008, 09:11 PM

Babelfish does as well as it can do. The problem it has is there's no way to account for colloquialisms and genre-specific references, so it gets...confused.

***Hans*** · Jun 30 2008, 04:40 AM

Trust me, babelfish gets confused over much easier things than colloquialisms or genre-specific things

I can speak only for the languages I know well enough of course and not for the ones Kath quoted

Greenrider Tresa · Jul 1 2008, 01:17 AM

Oh yeah, I still laugh when I remember how it translated twins to binoculars in at least three languages. Seems to do better with very short sentences with periods.

Jun 25 2008, 11:30 AM	#3
*Hans* Master Archivist Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The Netherlands Gender: M Fan of: Pern!	Re: Whut? Or, new back cover copy for HH Trilogy This is a new Simon & Schuster reprint for the Harper Hall trilogy issued this month. I already started a thread on this in the Collectors Forum: http://forums.srellim.org/showthread.php?t=5401 __________________ Hans, also known as Elrhan, Master Archivist Visit The Pern Museum & Archives for all your Pern and Anne McCaffrey News and Resources! The Pern Museum & Archives is the home of the Pern Encyclopedia and the Pern Bloodlines.

Jun 25 2008, 01:32 PM	#4
Topaz the Golden Inactive Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: new windsor, ny (between whats real and fanstasy Gender: F Fan of: all of them Now Reading: anything I can get my hands on	Re: Whut? Or, new back cover copy for HH Trilogy I don't care for the covers but the 2nd one is better than the 1st

Jun 25 2008, 02:30 PM	#5
Cheryl Master Archivist Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maryland, USA Gender: F Fan of: Pern! Now Reading: Paladin of Souls (Bujold)	Re: Whut? Or, new back cover copy for HH Trilogy That cover copy is horrible. Way to misrepresent the book! __________________ Visit one of the other sites of Cheryl's Anne McCaffrey Triad: Sariel's Guide to Pern: a detailed guide to the series The Many Works of Anne McCaffrey: largest fan site about Anne and ALL of her works McCaffrey Quest: annual trivia contest.

Jun 25 2008, 03:54 PM	#6
*Hans* Master Archivist Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The Netherlands Gender: M Fan of: Pern!	Re: Whut? Or, new back cover copy for HH Trilogy Indeed, that blurb is one of the worst I ever read... __________________ Hans, also known as Elrhan, Master Archivist Visit The Pern Museum & Archives for all your Pern and Anne McCaffrey News and Resources! The Pern Museum & Archives is the home of the Pern Encyclopedia and the Pern Bloodlines.

Jun 25 2008, 04:13 PM	#7
Greenrider Tresa The Contrary Planetary Brain Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Gender: F Fan of: The Ship Who Searched Now Reading: The Calhoun Collection, Nora Roberts	Re: Whut? Or, new back cover copy for HH Trilogy It's laughable. And sounds more like straight fantasy. Going to have a few disappointed readers if they're new to Pern, I bet! __________________ Thinking, understanding, reasoning, willing, call not these Soul! They are its actions, but they are not its essence. Akhenaton? (c. B.C. 1375) Egyptian King and Monotheist

Jun 26 2008, 07:13 PM	#8
D. M. Domini Talent Finder Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicagoland Gender: F Fan of: Afra Lyon, and Robinton! Now Reading: Sabriel by Garth Nix	Re: Whut? Or, new back cover copy for HH Trilogy Yeah, that's what I thought...kind of unfair to new readers!

Jun 27 2008, 08:55 AM	#9
Shalyn Inactive Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Loo-a-vull / Luhvuhl / Loo-ih-ville / Loo-a-ville / Looeyville / Lewisville Oh, Heck. Kentuckiana. Gender: F Fan of: Dragonflight	Re: Whut? Or, new back cover copy for HH Trilogy It does make your "challenge" intriguing. Intrigueing. Whatever.

Jun 27 2008, 10:40 AM	#10
Becky Coelura Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Washington Gender: F Fan of: Fav character - Lunzie Now Reading: Love reading Lanen's books too	Re: Whut? Or, new back cover copy for HH Trilogy It's horrible the way they've written that blurb about the book!!! I guess they figure they need to include a bit of fantasy to sell them, but people sure will be disappointed to find there isn't any of that in the book! We can hope that they'll love Anne's story and forget that there's no fantasy in it. I think they should have played up the fire lizards more, they seem to have been thrown in as an afterthougt. And harpers more powerful than kings??? Where did they pull that from?? Sheesh! __________________ Becky aka Coelura1

Jun 27 2008, 11:00 AM	#11
Kath Starsmith Weyrwoman Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Oop North Fan of: Moreta	Re: Whut? Or, new back cover copy for HH Trilogy I have a new game for you guys.... Planet Pern it should prohibit, her father planet. Whether it should hide, following to escaping of the girl it is young, which way in it is weak from the music which grasps but because of a certain; It has the refuge which it has; With simultaneous her music, the lizard and her of the fire which opens life are respected. This is what happens if you send the catalogue card summary of dragonsong through babelfish into korean, back to english, into japanese and then back to english again. I think I've just figured out how they mangled Dragonsinger!

Jun 27 2008, 11:55 AM	#12
*Hans* Master Archivist Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The Netherlands Gender: M Fan of: Pern!	Re: Whut? Or, new back cover copy for HH Trilogy except the editor at Simon & Schuster has probably translated it directly from English into American ducks Let's write them emails, folks! Go to there customer service form! __________________ Hans, also known as Elrhan, Master Archivist Visit The Pern Museum & Archives for all your Pern and Anne McCaffrey News and Resources! The Pern Museum & Archives is the home of the Pern Encyclopedia and the Pern Bloodlines.

Jun 27 2008, 12:03 PM	#13
Priscilla Super Stitcher Craftmaster Join Date: Dec 2005 Gender: F Fan of: No One Noticed The Cat	Re: Whut? Or, new back cover copy for HH Trilogy tosses "clam" mud at Hans, making direct hit! I like Kath's explanation better! __________________ What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us. Helen Keller

Jun 27 2008, 08:11 PM	#14
Cheryl Master Archivist Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maryland, USA Gender: F Fan of: Pern! Now Reading: Paladin of Souls (Bujold)	Re: Whut? Or, new back cover copy for HH Trilogy Wow, that's an impressively bad multi-translation Kath! __________________ Visit one of the other sites of Cheryl's Anne McCaffrey Triad: Sariel's Guide to Pern: a detailed guide to the series The Many Works of Anne McCaffrey: largest fan site about Anne and ALL of her works McCaffrey Quest: annual trivia contest.

Jun 28 2008, 05:56 AM	#15
Pernaficionado Inactive Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Las Vegas, NV Gender: F Fan of: Dragonsong Now Reading: brainships	Re: Whut? Or, new back cover copy for HH Trilogy through babelfish? I mean i adore the "hitchhiker's" reference, but is it also a program or site or something?

Jun 28 2008, 09:32 AM	#16
Cheryl Master Archivist Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maryland, USA Gender: F Fan of: Pern! Now Reading: Paladin of Souls (Bujold)	Re: Whut? Or, new back cover copy for HH Trilogy It's a website that'll do translations, named for the creature in Hitchhikers. __________________ Visit one of the other sites of Cheryl's Anne McCaffrey Triad: Sariel's Guide to Pern: a detailed guide to the series The Many Works of Anne McCaffrey: largest fan site about Anne and ALL of her works McCaffrey Quest: annual trivia contest.

Jun 29 2008, 12:46 AM	#17
Brenda Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: St. Louis Gender: F	Re: Whut? Or, new back cover copy for HH Trilogy I think the original fish did it better... __________________ . Check out my Pern fiction! Mirrim's Vigil News from the Weyr Missing Link Dragonsong: An Alternate Tune Ghost in the Tunnels Changes at Riverbend Hold Pern Songs

Jun 29 2008, 09:11 PM	#18
Anareth Journeywoman Healer Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Here and There Gender: F Fan of: Pern, Ship Series Now Reading: Girl Genius (read it!)	Re: Whut? Or, new back cover copy for HH Trilogy Babelfish does as well as it can do. The problem it has is there's no way to account for colloquialisms and genre-specific references, so it gets...confused. __________________ Read "Strange Roads" Keep the Heat on for Book 3

Jun 30 2008, 04:40 AM	#19
*Hans* Master Archivist Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The Netherlands Gender: M Fan of: Pern!	Re: Whut? Or, new back cover copy for HH Trilogy Trust me, babelfish gets confused over much easier things than colloquialisms or genre-specific things I can speak only for the languages I know well enough of course and not for the ones Kath quoted __________________ Hans, also known as Elrhan, Master Archivist Visit The Pern Museum & Archives for all your Pern and Anne McCaffrey News and Resources! The Pern Museum & Archives is the home of the Pern Encyclopedia and the Pern Bloodlines.

Jul 1 2008, 01:17 AM	#20
Greenrider Tresa The Contrary Planetary Brain Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Gender: F Fan of: The Ship Who Searched Now Reading: The Calhoun Collection, Nora Roberts	Re: Whut? Or, new back cover copy for HH Trilogy Oh yeah, I still laugh when I remember how it translated twins to binoculars in at least three languages. Seems to do better with very short sentences with periods. __________________ Thinking, understanding, reasoning, willing, call not these Soul! They are its actions, but they are not its essence. Akhenaton? (c. B.C. 1375) Egyptian King and Monotheist

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