Traveller under the influence

A thread of 3 messages, 11 September 1993 to 13 September 1993, in the order they were sent.

#6029 Traveller under the influence

Scott S. Kellogg · 11 September 1993

We've been talking about the Influences on Traveller,

Here's a question for the Trav historians and pranksters of various
fields among us:

What are the in jokes in Traveller?

In science fiction there is ALWAYS room for private jokes.  The
little bits that the author finds terribly humorous but doesn't
expect anyone else to get.  I've been trying to collect these bits
of humor, partly to further my education of jokes from fields
different from mine, but mostly for fun.

Lessee:  We've learned that Mark Miller's mother's name is Margret.
:-)

Thanks to Rob Dean the TML has had one in joke published in GDW
materials:  The "Admiral Bertil" class Q-ship carrier :-) named
after our own Bertil Jonnell which appeared in _Assignment:
Vigilante_.  Rob once said that if he knew the ship was going to be
published he would have named it after himself!

Bertil Jonnell once told me of the "Bowman Belt" from the GDW
module _Beltstrike_.  Seems there was a Swedish politician named
Bowman.  In an effort to explain away some faltering in the Swedish
economy of the time he said that "We must tighten our belts" (Of
course he probably said it in Swedish :-) but the phrase (and the
economic downturn) came to be known as the "Bowman Belt".  :-)

To this list I will add one of the things I've noticed, the "P.F
Sloan" class escort.  As you may know, P.F. Sloan was a folk
singer/songwriter from the mid-late 60's.  He wrote such songs as
"Secret Agent Man"(Jonny Rivers) and "Eve of Destruction"(Barry
McGuire).

Now, what are the other ships in the class supposed to be named?
Bob Dylan?  John Lennon?  Paul Simon?  Steven Stills?
Hee! Hee! Hee!  |->

But my knowlege is limited, and we have a great store out there.
So what have YOU folks noticed along these lines?  :-)
- --
Scott 2G Kellogg
"Kellogg is just plain nuts!"  -- H. Beam Piper

#6032 Re: Traveller under the influence

Bertil Jonell · 12 September 1993 · reply to #6029

> Bertil Jonnell once told me of the "Bowman Belt" from the GDW
> module _Beltstrike_.  Seems there was a Swedish politician named
> Bowman.  In an effort to explain away some faltering in the Swedish
> economy of the time he said that "We must tighten our belts" (Of
> course he probably said it in Swedish :-) but the phrase (and the
> economic downturn) came to be known as the "Bowman Belt".  :-)
					      ^^^^^^
  'Bohman' actually but it's pronounced the same.

  I don't think GDW knew about this when they named the system thou.

> But my knowlege is limited, and we have a great store out there.
> So what have YOU folks noticed along these lines?  :-)

  There are systems named Mikesh (Corridor) and Vilardi (Massilia).

> Scott 2G Kellogg

- -bertil-
- --
"It can be shown that for any nutty theory, beyond-the-fringe political view or
 strange religion there exists a proponent on the Net. The proof is left as an
 exercise for your kill-file."

#6033 Re: Traveller under the influence

Corran J. Webster · 13 September 1993 · reply to #6032

The Brinn minor race from Divad (Travellers' Digest 12 or thereabouts...)
are an obvious reference to David Brin - but I don't know if there is
any more correspondence than the name (as I recall they were warlike
methane breathers, somewhat spider-like) - does anyone with a better
knowledge of David Brin's work know if they resemble any aliens he created?
(I've read a fair bit of his stuff, but by no means all...).

Tying in the other thread, I would classify David Brin as an influence for
some of the more recent additions to Traveller (ie. the DGP/Megatraveller
stuff, rather than Classic Traveller). The various terran species "uplifted"
like the dolphins, the various primates etc. by the Solomani match closely
with Brin's novels.

Can't remember any other in-jokes that I may have come across... the above
stuck in my mind because it was so obvious.

See ya 'round.
Corran