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Stephenson:Neal:The System of the World:Typos

From the Quicksilver Metaweb.

This page contains a list of typos and apparent typos in the first edition. If you see a typo not listed here, please add them. If any already here are in error, please correct the entry and move it to the appropriate section. Note that this is a constructive way to correct future editions of the book.

Page numbers are based on the First Edition, First Printing in the US - the Hardcover.

  • page xiii, top: "Massachusetts Bay Colony of Technologickal Arts" [should be M.B.C. Institute of T.A.]
  • page 28, 1/3 down: "situate between" [situated]
  • page 81, 1/4 down: "manufactures of" [I think should be manufactur^er^s]
  • page 82, 1/2 down: "nibbling on a pasty" [pastry?] {"pasties" is used again later so I guess it is meant to be spelled thusly} {"pasty" - with the 'a' pronounced as in "past" rather than "paste" - is a traditional Cornish food product, popular all over Britain. US approx equiv "pattie"?}
  • page 105, 3/4 down: "... before you can say, 'avast, that is expensive!"' [incorrect quote order, causing incorrect apostrophe]
  • page 118, 1/4 down: "...raising his cudgel to dash Daniel's brain's out:..." [brain's should not have an apostrophe; should be "brains."]
  • page 135, "interior" is used where I presume "exterior" is meant: "What with so many distractions, they were inside the new house before Daniel had really had the time to examine its interior."
  • page 187, 1/4 down: "-so say nothing of the risk incurred-"
  • page 224, 1/2 down: Daniel and Barnes are speaking in alternate paragraphs, then there is apparently a paragraph break between two sentences by Daniel: "...water in the oceans. [break] But is to..." (No indication of speaker is given for several turns, other than contextual clues, but if each break is considered a change, it does not come out correctly.)
  • page 439, 3/4 down: "... description of Lother's little-known "stepbrother"..."
  • page 398, 1/2 down: Eliza's talking about a castle "Ubersetzenseehafenstadtbergwald", which seems to be a name she made up. But i think the name should have been different, because it means something like "translate-sea-harbour-city-mountain-forest" (and anyway - this name is just ridiculous!).

I don't think that's an error; there's a guy with a similar name in Cryptonomicon: "He was born Graf Heinrich Karl Wilhelm Otto Friedrich von Übersetzenseehafenstadt, but changed his name to Nigel St. John Gloamthorpby, a.k.a. Lord Woadmire, in 1914."—Andux See discussion page. Uebersetzen doesn't only mean 'to translate', it also means 'to ferry across' (a river or a lake) which makes more sense here. But yes, the name is ridiculous :-) * page 454 2nd last para: Newton says: "...went off to nurse her nuncle" is followed by 2nd para on next page: Daniel says "...she has done well by her uncle". Nuncle is acceptable english (see Shakespeare) but normally serves as a contraction of MINE uncle or AN uncle. * page 480: "Mr. Kikin was amused by the ... faces of Orney and Kikin" Should be "Orney and Threader" * page 497, 3/4 down: "as it is styl'd by my somonolent Colleague" [I think "somnolent" is meant, but this could be a modification made at Stephenson's phant'sy] * page 511, 1/2 down: "the Edict of Nantes in 1685" should be either "the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685" or "the Edict of Fontainebleau". A Huguenot couln't possibly make the mistake and Stephenson got it correct in other parts of the book. * page 515, 2/3 down: "...fear of a certain suttler..." [elsewhere sutler] * page 542, 1/2 down: "exhiliration" [exhilaration] * page 543, 3/4 down: "and may phant'sy that I have kllled as many as Tamerlane," * page 586, 3/4 down: " "I wonder about that," said. " * page 622: refers to "Carox" initially, then "Corax" for the rest of the page (Corax appears to be the correct spelling) * page 708, near top: Bank of England is called Bank of Hanover [the only occurrence, after having just been referred to as the B. of E.; and later always referred to as the B. of E. If it were someone speaking, it might be a jest on their part, but rather than a quote, it is a phrase summing up Daniel's explanation to Marlborough.]