(no subject)

[simont]

I re-read Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency the other day, and was rather startled to find what appears to be a genuine continuity error. In most books this wouldn't be cause for remark, but this book in particular seems so careful about its continuity the rest of the time (particularly given the nature of the story) that it was quite a surprise.

Sarah, the little girl we encounter being bored at a formal dinner at the very start of the book, has blonde hair when described by the narration, but when Dirk gets a description of her from Richard later on it says she had dark hair. Gosh, ooh etc.

Comments

[simont]

Given that the description in question was obtained under hypnosis and a great meal was made of how much detail Richard was able to describe perfectly accurately without consciously being able to recall it, I don't think that holds water either. You might just get away with it as an after-the-fact excuse, but I still think the descriptions were intended to be consistent and would have been if DNA (mayherestinpeace) had been paying better attention.

[zotz]

In what way does the book state that the information's accurate?

[simont]

Well, Dirk is certainly in no doubt of its accuracy, since he uses Richard's testimony under hypnosis to conclude that a physically impossible event had taken place during the dinner, which you'd think would be a pretty large conclusion to draw if you weren't certain of the reliability of your witness!

[zotz]

Someone can be certain of an erroneous position, though - many people have been convinced of the accuracy of hypnotic recall, when in point of fact it's very error-prone.

[abigailb.livejournal.com]

Ah. Yes. Hadn't checked to see where that was in the book...