The Republic of Heaven

so if PP had kept the original title "the golden compass says", would the others be called "the subtle knife cuts" and "the amber spyglass sees"?

man that's a corny title.

so if PP had kept the original title "the golden compass says", would the others be called "the subtle knife cuts" and "the amber spyglass sees"?

man that's a corny title.

Working titles don't often survive to final publication.

so if PP had kept the original title "the golden compass says", would the others be called "the subtle knife cuts" and "the amber spyglass sees"?

Whats it for, as far as I know the original title is Northan Lights.

Northan Lights? Northan Lights??? You wouldn't happen to have the Yorkshire edition by any chance would you, sam?

Northan Lights? Northan Lights??? You wouldn't happen to have the Yorkshire edition by any chance would you, sam?

Hahahaa The Sraffies have a fine sense of humour today.

To clear it up for Sam, the first book was initially published in the US under the title The Golden Compass, but for one reason and another it got published under the title Northern Lights in the UK. This is all in the FAQ section of http://www.bridgetothestars.net
Of course, the title TGC fits better with the other two titles, but if we consider the first book independant of the trilogy, I prefer Northern Lights as a title - it allegorically represents a stronger theme in the book.

This is all in the FAQ section of http://www.bridgetothestars.net

What? You mean theres a website to go with the forum?

I prefer Northern Lights as a title - it allegorically represents a stronger theme in the book.

And it fits well with Renaissance and Jethro Tull songs.

And it fits well with Renaissance and Jethro Tull songs.

And it's the proper British title for a book by a British writer with a peculiarly British flavour before uncouth Americans got hold of it!

My understanding was that PP used The Golden Compass Says as a working title but the British publishers changed it to the snappier and more ethereal Northern Lights.

The Golden Compass has the whiff of marketing people about it, which puts me off. It also sounds childrens-bookish to me. I don't think the alethiometer is as central to the story as all that - it's just a gizmo after all - and it isn't a compass. I suppose the marketing people wanted to appeal to readers who get off on gizmos, which I'm afraid I don't.

who get off on gizmos, which I'm afraid I don't.

BING!

We've taught you well.

Not that thats a good thing.......!

<dons stupic n00b hat>
Um, bing?

And it's the proper British title for a book by a British writer with a peculiarly British flavour before uncouth Americans got hold of it!

And thats what I meant, stupid americans, I know that TGC fits in with the other book titles but its a british book and writer so NL should be the used title for it.

Merkin basher wrote:

And it's the proper British title for a book by a British writer with a peculiarly British flavour before uncouth Americans got hold of it!

There, there, love... have a cup of tea and go back to distant waters where northern lights explode.

This is all in the FAQ section of http://www.bridgetothestars.net

What? You mean theres a website to go with the forum?

News to me too

<dons stupid n00b hat>
Um, bing?

Said when a comment could be taken as meaning something else, usually in a dirty-minded sense!

*Removes stupid n00b hat from abc's head* Don't be daft, you're not stupid! Not that much of a n00b either, you have way more posts than me!

And it has to be said that the instance of Bing in that particular usage all started on the school ski trip of earlier this year (pictures of which can be seen here), and subsequently spread round the world as a result of a related journal entry. You'll be pleased to hear that 'Bing' is freeware to all sraffies.

When I was young, I found that the big toe always ends up making a hole in a sock. So I stopped wearing socks.

yeah, but why not swop around your holed socks? that way the holes are over the small toes, the socks last a bit longer, you aren't a peasant, & everyone is happy. (patent pending).

come on, there's many a topic about this title business already ain't there.

"The Golden Compass says"!? Thank goodness most of the original titels don't make it. I keep thinking of Simon says.... I prefer the title Northern Lights over The Golden Compass, because they never really say that it's a Golden Compass. But Northern Lights doesn't really match with The Subtle Knife and Amber Spyglass because it's not an object...

What's this obsession with matching anyway? Northern Lights is clearly a far superior title to The Golden Bloody Compass.

I couldn't care less what they call the film in America, so long as its Northern Lights here. The sorceror/philosopher name change for HP gives me hope.

If they call it TGC here... there will be bloodshed.