A Question of Titles

[coalescent]

When Ken Macleod was interviewed at a BSFA meeting earlier this year, he read an extract from his novel-in-progress, which was carrying the title Learning the World. The latest Interzone has an interview with Macleod in which he says:

Learning the World began with: 'wouldn't it be interesting if the Victorian positivist historians were right, and people became more rational and more liberal as they acquired more knowledge? And wouldn't it be cool to write something as if coming straight from the positivist-influenced British sf or scientific romance tradition of Wells, Stapledon and Clarke, as if the New Wave and cyberpunk had never happened?' That was the abstract idea. The concrete image was of a big vulnerable peaceful colony ship of rational liberal far-future humans slamming into a solar system of aliens who have just entered their version of the twentieth century, and are therefore tooling up for a rumble with somebody.

Sounds pretty cool, if you ask me. But! At the end of the interview, there's a note that says:

Newton's Wake is available in hardback from Orbit (369pp, £17.99), who will also be publishing The New Intelligence in August 2005.

The New Intelligence? Yes, that's right; it's on Amazon and everything. In their infinite wisdom the people at Orbit are changing the title. Apparently, however, it may still see publication as Learning the World in the US.

Now, to me, as titles go, Learning the World is clearly superior to The New Intelligence. But what do you think?

[Poll #393005]

Footnote: if it is published under different titles, I'd be strongly tempted to buy the US edition. Particularly since they seem to be getting better covers these days, as well.

Comments

[iainjclark.livejournal.com]

Now, to me, as titles go, Learning the World is clearly superior to The New Intelligence. But what do you think?

Is this what they call priming the response to a survey? ;-)

[sharp-blue.livejournal.com]

The thing is, The New Intelligence sounds like something Wells might have written, but Learning the World sounds like it might've been written by, I don't know, LeGuin or someone.

And this has reminded me the I must subscribe to NewInterzone.

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

I call it declaring a bias, since anyone who cared to could look at the poll and find out what it was anyway. :-p

[sharp-blue.livejournal.com]

I was right, it is Wells:

"The revolt which burns in so much of the abler literature of our time is an unselfish revolt, or non-selfish revolt: it is an outcome of that larger spirit which conceives the self to be a part of the general social organism, and it is therefore neither egoistic nor altruistic. It finds a sanction in the new intelligence, and an inspiration in the finer sentiments of our generation, but the glow which chiefly illumines it is the glow of the great vision of a happier earth. It speaks of the claims of truth and justice, and assails untruth and injustice, for these are elemental principles of social life; but it appeals more confidently to the warmer sympathy which is linking the scattered children of the race, and it urges all to co-operate in the restriction of suffering and the creation of happiness. The advance guard of the race, the men and women in whom mental alertness is associated with fine feeling, cry that they have reached Pisgah's slope and in increasing numbers men and women are pressing on to see if it be really the Promised Land." from God the Invisible King, HG Wells

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

The New Intelligence sounds like something Wells might have written

Well, sort of. It's got the form 'The X', like The Time Machine or The War of the Worlds, but it's a lot more vague.

[immortalradical.livejournal.com]

Of the two, and if I had to choose, I prefer Learning the World ... though The New Intelligence has the Whiggish arrogance Macleod is taking as his starting point. But, really, they're both pretty dreadful as novel titles and I can't say I care enough about either to, you know, erm, care. :P

[sharp-blue.livejournal.com]

...which contrasts interestingly with the True Knowledge, doesn't it?

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

But, really, they're both pretty dreadful as novel titles

To your contrariness I say this: bah!

[immortalradical.livejournal.com]

Oh, you know you wouldn't know what to do without it.

[andrewducker]

Learning the World sounds a little too similar to The System of the World to me.

And I actually (semi) believe the Victorian theory - I just think you have to combine it with other things.

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

Learning the World sounds a little too similar to The System of the World to me.

Hmm. That's not a bad point ... but I still think The New Intelligence is just bad.

And I actually (semi) believe the Victorian theory - I just think you have to combine it with other things.

It does kinda-sorta seem to be a bit true in real life. Sometimes I think everyone (including myself) should have to take short courses in subjects like philosophy, politics, theology, economics, logic, and genetics before they're allowed to have opinions about things. ;-)

[snowking.livejournal.com]

Learning the World, to me, is an ungainly, unattractive phrase.

The New Intelligence sounds pretty cool and fits very much with the plot. Seems to resonate more.

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

I am disappointed in you, Mr H. Deeply disappointed.

[andrewducker]

I'd go along with all of those. Uneducated people really ought to be banned.

[snowking.livejournal.com]

It's more in the fashion of The Open Conspiracy, Niall :P

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

Well, I've never heard of that one. :-p

[communicator.livejournal.com]

Hey, I've noticed a discrepancy between the exit-poll of your comments, and the electronic vote

[snowking.livejournal.com]

I blame the overwhelming media bias.

[scribeoflight.livejournal.com]

I think I agree about the two titles: The New Intelligence sounds far more political and politically interesting, whereas Learning the World sounds very much like something Gene Wolfe, or some other 'literary SF' writer, might write.

I suppose Learning the World sounds 'soft', and very arty, whereas The New Intelligence sounds harder, harsher, and more purposeful - a book with a point to make.

Also, did the UK edition of Newton's Wake have the sub-title: A Space Opera?

[scribeoflight.livejournal.com]

I think The Learning of the World would have been better - a pleasant multiplicity of meanings.

[ninebelow.livejournal.com]

But, really, they're both pretty dreadful as novel titles

I think the big problem is they sound like books for middle managers.

[immortalradical.livejournal.com]

Well, precisely. :) Inspiring titles for high concept works of speculative fiction they are not.

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

Also, did the UK edition of Newton's Wake have the sub-title: A Space Opera?

I believe so. Certainly on the inside title page, if not on the cover. But I borrowed snowking's copy rather than buying my own, so I can't check.

[(Anonymous)]

they're both pretty dreadful as novel titles

Am shocked to find myself in agreement with you.

I marginally prefer 'Learning', as 'Intelligence' smacks of self-help or trendy psychology.

-- tom

[immortalradical.livejournal.com]

Am shocked to find myself in agreement with you.

I believe I am looking and beholding a pale horse as I type. Will keep you updated as to the appearance of other harbingers.

[(Anonymous)]

Uneducated people really ought to be banned.

Strongly agreed. To this end, may i suggest an amendment (or two) to Niall's proposal:

Everyone should have to take exams in subjects like philosophy, politics, theology, economics, logic, genetics and classics before they're allowed to have opinions about things.

And to pass them, of course.

Hey! We could, quite honestly, call it 'citizenship' - it'd fit right into the national curriculum! And who could object to your being a citizen being dependent on being qualified to do it? Indeed, the fact that there are millions of people running around this country exercising the franchise with no idea what they are doing is positively shocking! After all, we wouldn't let people be gas fitters, or doctors, or airline pilots without the relevant qualifications, would we? Madness! I will write to the education secretary forthwith.

You know, i can really see a time coming, a decade or two down the line, when the audit culture has gone far enough that this actually comes to pass. I would look forward to it, but the exams will, of course, be a complete mockery.

Ideally, we'd have several levels of citizenship qualification - GCSE lets you vote in local elections, A-level lets you vote in general elections, and a degree lets you actually hold office. Naturally, a PhD would be a requirement to write a newspaper column or such.

You will of course ask "qui probabit ipsos probatores?" (or something similar but correctly conjugated), but i don't see that the situation is any different to that in other subject - academia miraculously polices itself. Honest.

-- tom

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

And this has reminded me the I must subscribe to NewInterzone.

I wouldn't rush, to be honest. The two issue so far have been a bit disappointing. I've actually preferred Postscripts--a more interesting mix of stories. The second issue has a great surreal story by Zoran Zivkovic, good shorts by Michael Marshall Smith and Iain Rowan, and a good hard sf story by Brian Stableford. Still, it's not as pretty as IZ ... :)