Schismatrix

[jemhadar]

Hi! I'm a translator of this great Bruce Sterling's book to Czech and I have a little problem - could someone possibly give me an explanation of the term "sundog", which is frequently used in the book?

No, it has nothing to do with the events on the Sun I guessed a "sundog" stands for something like a "bad guy" or a "criminal", can someone confirm it?

Thank you!

[Thadlerian]

Found this on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sundog. Seems cool. Never seen it before, though.

[GOLLUM]

Here's a list of terms by a Sterling and Schismatrix enthusiast that seems to comfirm your ides of a sundog, jemhadar. The term basically approximates to a "mercenary" or "wandering outlaw".

http://home.triad.rr.com/flintlocklaser/schis.html

[jemhadar]

Originally Posted by GOLLUM

Here's a list of terms by a Sterling and Schismatrix enthusiast that seems to comfirm your ides of a sundog, jemhadar. The term basically approximates to a "mercenary" or "wandering outlaw".

http://home.triad.rr.com/flintlocklaser/schis.html

Gollum, I love you! That's exactly what I was looking for, thank you sooooo much!

[GOLLUM]

Originally Posted by jemhadar

Gollum, I love you! That's exactly what I was looking for, thank you sooooo much!

That's OK, any other enquiries please feel free to ask....

Any idea when it will be completed? I know what large undertakings they are as my father has previously worked as a translator of technical work and is currently working on some theological books from Fench into English.

Good luck with the translation!.....

[Culhwch]

Isn't there a Steven King short story about a Sundog or something? Or am I barking up the worng tree? Bad pun wholly intended....

[GOLLUM]

True, it's a short story by King called The Sun Dog but I've not read it.

[jemhadar]

Gollum, thank you for your offer - it is well possible that I'll do it

I hope to finish it by the end of November, I do about 10 - 15 pages a day (not everyday ). I really like it, anyone who hasn't read it yet, do it! I believe the Czech readers will like it, too.

Yeah, technical work, don't mention it - as soon as I finish Schismatrix, an ugly book about statistics awaits me, but it is much better paid, as all technical translations are

Btw, that King's story - are you sure the word means the same thing as that Sterling's sundog? But it probably doesn't matter, thanks to you I came up with a very nice Czech word, I owe you one

[GOLLUM]

Originally Posted by jemhadar

Btw, that King's story - are you sure the word means the same thing as that Sterling's sundog? But it probably doesn't matter, thanks to you I came up with a very nice Czech word, I owe you one

No it relates to something else entirely, I was just responding to Cullwch's comment. As far as payback goes, if I'm ever in the Czech Republic, you can shout me a beer...

[jemhadar]

Originally Posted by GOLLUM

No it relates to something else entirely, I was just responding to Cullwch's comment. As far as payback goes, if I'm ever in the Czech Republic, you can shout me a beer...

From Melbourne, it's a loooong way to go, but you are always welcome. In case you haven't heard, Czech beer is the best in the world, and the Czechs are the biggest consumers of beer in the world, and it's no boasting, it's statistics. So if you come, you will learn a lot of things

[GOLLUM]

I look forward to it and good luck with the translation. Bye for now..

[jemhadar]

I was going through the final draft of my translation and something still bothers me.

How would you translate "Shapers"? You know, the exact translation as "Those who shape" sounds quite awkward in Czech. Older translations of Shaper/Mechanists stories use the term "Pretvoreni", which roughly translates as "Reshaped". But in my opinion, I'd prefer the term "Tvarni" (which could be translated as "Shapeable"). Sterling himself uses the word "reshaped" in Schismatrix, but does so independently on the word "Shaper".

What do you think?