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Source: (consider it)
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Thread: Hidden Code in the Book?
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John Eccker
Apprentice
# 11305
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Posted
I'm almost finished with the book (first time reader), and along the way I've noticed several things that seemed strangely out of place. I was wondering if perhaps there is a code hidden in the book itself - part of a game created by the author. I looked around the web for other info on this, but couldn't find any.
Two of the most prominent ones I've found are (and these are from the mass market paperback - the normal paperback-sized edition, with "Now a major motion picture" on the cover and spine):
Page 138, halfway down the page: "Tearing it open, she found four Paris phone numbers." The whole book is in Times New Roman font, but the word "numbers" in this sentence is in some kind of gothic script. Not something that would slip in there accidentally - it's not even something that should be bold or italic or underined in this sentence.
Page 322. The page number is actually listed as three asterisks: ***. I flipped through the books, and didn't find this anywhere else.
There are a few other things that I found - verbs that are in the plural instead of the correct singular, repetition of some information where it's clearly not needed for the story, etc. Things that I thought would certainly have been corrected during the editing process.
So. Am I reading too much into this? Getting too involved in the clue hunt that he's created? Or is there a game hidden in the book (and I simply failed to search for the proper things on the web). I'm sure if there IS something there, I'm most certainly not the first one to mention it. So I'm leaning more toward the "reading too much into it" theory.
Cheers!
Posts: 1 | Registered: Apr 2006
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Pine Marten
Shipmate
# 11068
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Posted
Yes. Get out in the fresh air, and breathe, frequently. Before your brain melts.
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Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. - Oscar Wilde
Posts: 1731 | From: Isle of Albion | Registered: Feb 2006
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koffshun
Shipmate
# 11227
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Posted
Oh dear.
It's not in the version I read. Although this was probably a test, like the one where an e-mail tells you it's impossible to lick your own elbow and then scrolls down to say:
"Ha ha! I bet you're trying right now. Doofus!"
Well, I'm a self-confessed doofus and I checked and the paperback I've got has nothing special. Maybe it's the American publishing company cashing in on the already rampant paranoia of a market who also bought The Bible Code 2 (as if the first didn't say enough).
I don't think a man who couldn't be bothered to check the veracity of even basic facts (check out the 'Blunders' thread) would have constructed his own conspiracy.
He's too busy writing one about an Armenian baker descended from pirates whose ancient family loaf crumbles 300 years to the day after his ancestor's boat sank, revealing a map to the true position of the Tree in the Garden of Eden. Aided only with his daughter (who happens to have a degree in Pirate Studies) an iPod with a hidden message and a snake whose bloodline stems from the original Genesis snake, he must race against time before the Tree is chopped down by American landscape artists, threatening the safety of all mankind.
Posts: 127 | From: south of england | Registered: Apr 2006
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AnglicanAvenger
Apprentice
# 11252
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Posted
koffshun, I think you have a bestseller, provided you have no sense of shame. But you can't use Armenia without references to the Flood. ![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
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"Suddenly, a clergyman was defenestrated - 'That is a sign,' thought M___ C___ 'I shall terrify the underworld in the black robes of a priest'
Posts: 36 | From: Boulder, Colorado, USA | Registered: Apr 2006
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Lamb Chopped
Ship's kebab
# 5528
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Posted
Do you suppose we could have a mass Ship effort to write one of these *ahem* books, and donate all the moola to the Organ Fund?
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Er, this is what I've been up to (book).
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down!
Posts: 20059 | From: off in left field somewhere | Registered: Feb 2004
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Barnabas62
Shipmate
# 9110
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by koffshun:
Oh dear.
He's too busy writing one about an Armenian baker descended from pirates whose ancient family loaf crumbles 300 years to the day after his ancestor's boat sank, revealing a map to the true position of the Tree in the Garden of Eden. Aided only with his daughter (who happens to have a degree in Pirate Studies) an iPod with a hidden message and a snake whose bloodline stems from the original Genesis snake, he must race against time before the Tree is chopped down by American landscape artists, threatening the safety of all mankind.
![[Paranoid]](graemlins/paranoid.gif) I'd make sure you safeguard the intellectual property rights of this synopsis. There are some folks out there who might steal your ideas, you know ...
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Who is it that you seek? How then shall we live? How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?
Posts: 21397 | From: Norfolk UK | Registered: Feb 2005
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Dinghy Sailor
Ship's Jibsheet
# 8507
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Posted
But that's a non-exclusive copyright, isn't it? IE you also have copyright on it. Am I wrong?
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Preach Christ, because this old humanity has used up all hopes and expectations, but in Christ hope lives and remains.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Posts: 2821 | Registered: Sep 2004
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koffshun
Shipmate
# 11227
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Posted
Wow. Until you guys took that brief synopsis seriously, I wouldn't have argued for copyright. Now maybe I should...
Or we lay down a challenge: the first Shipmate to write and sell a convincing version for publication buys a slap-up meal for everyone else. Sweet.
Braised snake meat on Armenian toast for me, with a nice Chianti.
Posts: 127 | From: south of england | Registered: Apr 2006
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Barnabas62
Shipmate
# 9110
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Posted
Well at least it wasn't Dan Brown's liver with some fava beans ....and a nice Chianti. Ff-ff-ff-ff-ff
"Fly away little starling - fly, fly, fly"
Now that's real code.
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Who is it that you seek? How then shall we live? How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?
Posts: 21397 | From: Norfolk UK | Registered: Feb 2005
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koffshun
Shipmate
# 11227
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Posted
Damn it, you caught me. That was my reference!!
Posts: 127 | From: south of england | Registered: Apr 2006
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Golden Key
Shipmate
# 1468
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Posted
Cynics! ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
There absolutely are codes built into DVC. If you miss those, you're missing half the fun. Check out the quest and challenge here. They're fun, requiring hard work, thinking outside the box, and possibly a magnifying glass. A basic book on codes is helpful, too.
The codes and secrets I'm familiar with are in and on the jacketed hardcover. I haven't read the paperback; but based on glancing at the cover and the ads, there seem to be codes on the cover.
IIRC, there's a detailed pic of the jacket available in one of the contests; I don't remember which one.
Have fun!!! ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Mwahahahahaha!
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Blessed Gator, pray for us!
--"Oh bat bladders, do you have to bring common sense into this?" (Dragon, "Jane & the Dragon")
--"Oh, Peace Train, save this country!" (Yusuf/Cat Stevens, "Peace Train")
Posts: 18601 | From: Chilling out in an undisclosed, sincere pumpkin patch. | Registered: Oct 2001
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Golden Key
Shipmate
# 1468
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Lamb Chopped:
Do you suppose we could have a mass Ship effort to write one of these *ahem* books, and donate all the moola to the Organ Fund?
Go for it! DB started writing novels after reading an airport novel and deciding he could do better.
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Blessed Gator, pray for us!
--"Oh bat bladders, do you have to bring common sense into this?" (Dragon, "Jane & the Dragon")
--"Oh, Peace Train, save this country!" (Yusuf/Cat Stevens, "Peace Train")
Posts: 18601 | From: Chilling out in an undisclosed, sincere pumpkin patch. | Registered: Oct 2001
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Spiffy
Ship's WonderSheep
# 5267
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Posted
I'd rather do some letterboxing than search the DVC book for hidden code; at least then I get some fresh air and exercise.
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Looking for a simple solution to all life's problems? We are proud to present obstinate denial. Accept no substitute. Accept nothing.
--Night Vale Radio Twitter Account
Posts: 10281 | From: Beervana | Registered: Dec 2003
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koffshun
Shipmate
# 11227
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Posted
With more time to reflect, I'm intrigued as to what people might imagine a hidden code in TDVC might possibly point towards...
...perhaps the bank account all his royalties are gathering interest in.
Does anyone believe that there are "secrets" out there, which are still being kept and handed on by a small number of elect people?
I find it hard to believe. Humans being indiscreet people as a rule!
Posts: 127 | From: south of england | Registered: Apr 2006
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Dave W.
Shipmate
# 8765
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by koffshun:
With more time to reflect, I'm intrigued as to what people might imagine a hidden code in TDVC might possibly point towards...
My guess: free movie tickets.
I suspect many of the clues you note were not in the copy that I read, which was printed before it was to become a "major motion picture" (but I'm not going to borrow it again to check.) As for such things as
quote:
... verbs that are in the plural instead of the correct singular, repetition of some information where it's clearly not needed for the story ...
well, we could be charitable and just call it Dan Brown's style, I suppose.
Posts: 2059 | From: the hub of the solar system | Registered: Nov 2004
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RuthW
liberal "peace first" hankie squeezer
# 13
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Posted
Or bad editing.
Posts: 24453 | From: La La Land | Registered: Apr 2001
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Alfred E. Neuman
What? Me worry?
# 6855
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Posted
...or what Brown wants you to think.
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--Formerly: Gort--
Posts: 12954 | Registered: May 2004
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Grits
Compassionate fundamentalist
# 4169
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by koffshun:
With more time to reflect, I'm intrigued as to what people might imagine a hidden code in TDVC might possibly point towards...
One word: Letterman!
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Lord, fill my mouth with worthwhile stuff, and shut it when I've said enough. Amen.
Posts: 8419 | From: Nashville, TN | Registered: Feb 2003
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Zeke
Ship's Inquirer
# 3271
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Posted
I've noticed more and more typos and errors in books as time goes on. I think perhaps they don't have human proofreaders anymore.
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No longer the Bishop of Durham
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If men are so wicked with religion, what would they be without it? --Benjamin Franklin
Posts: 5259 | From: Deep in the American desert | Registered: Sep 2002
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The Great Gumby
Ship's Brain Surgeon
# 10989
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Posted
The most typos and stupid errors I've ever seen were in books published in the 1940s-60s. I think it just means that the proofreader was having a bad day.
On the subject of hidden codes and conspiracies, how about this? The judge in the plagiarism case has hidden his own (apparently rather simple) code in the written judgement.
quote:
Mr Justice Smith said he would confirm the code if someone broke it.
"I can't discuss the judgement, but I don't see why a judgement should not be a matter of fun," he said.
[clarity]
[ 27. April 2006, 11:39: Message edited by: The Great Gumby ]
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The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool. - Richard Feynman
A letter to my son about death
Posts: 5382 | From: Home for shot clergy spouses | Registered: Feb 2006
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koffshun
Shipmate
# 11227
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Posted
Ugh! Why didn't they have a link to the full judgement. I want in on this 'cracking the code' fun...
Justice Smith sounds like a laugh. I bet it says something like "Juror number 9 isn't wearing any underwear, tee hee"
Posts: 127 | From: south of england | Registered: Apr 2006
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koffshun
Shipmate
# 11227
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Posted
Sorry for the double post, it seems they DO have a link on the right hand side ![[Hot and Hormonal]](icon_redface.gif)
ssshhh. I'm finding out hidden secrets.
Posts: 127 | From: south of england | Registered: Apr 2006
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The Great Gumby
Ship's Brain Surgeon
# 10989
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Posted
Will you let us in on the secret once you find it, Koffshun? I don't have the time to wade through the whole thing right now.
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The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool. - Richard Feynman
A letter to my son about death
Posts: 5382 | From: Home for shot clergy spouses | Registered: Feb 2006
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Stumbling Pilgrim
Shipmate
# 7637
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Posted
I saw those italic letters when I read through it on the link someone kindly provided when the judgement came out, but I thought 'nah - can't be' . Maybe I should have the courage of my convictions more often. And maybe judges should have fun more often!
According to this , though, there's more to it than just finding the letters. Apparently you only have to read through to about page 18 though, Gumby. So - who's going to be the first Shipmate to crack the code? (not me, that's for sure, I'm useless at this stuff)
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Stumbling in the Master's footsteps as best I can.
Posts: 492 | From: England | Registered: Jun 2004
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Maniple
Shipmate
# 2237
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Posted
The "Smithy Code" has been cracked.
The Times story
Not as exciting as many of the conspiracy people wanted.
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No Maniple, No Mass.
Better Together.
Posts: 178 | From: La Casa del Caffe Tazza d'Oro | Registered: Jan 2002
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Autenrieth Road
Shipmate
# 10509
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Posted
Huh? That story doesn't give a solution, it only says what the first several (cleartext) letters say, not what the next 30 or so coded letters say.
[ETA: Ah, yes, Maniple's right. Here's a CNN story with the answer.]
[ 28. April 2006, 15:03: Message edited by: Autenrieth Road ]
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Truth
Posts: 9559 | From: starlight | Registered: Oct 2005
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koffshun
Shipmate
# 11227
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Posted
I missed several of the letters and spent a few hours screaming at my piece of paper last night... didn't get it and kind of glad i didn't - would have been severely disappointed, as i am now!
Posts: 127 | From: south of england | Registered: Apr 2006
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Maniple
Shipmate
# 2237
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Autenrieth Road:
Huh? That story doesn't give a solution, it only says what the first several (cleartext) letters say, not what the next 30 or so coded letters say.
Sorry I posted the wrong URL I had open the New York Times piece what I meant to post was the proper Times (well not sure how proper it can be called now it's the sister paper of the Sun (as I read recently in that tabloid (The Sun that is!))).
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No Maniple, No Mass.
Better Together.
Posts: 178 | From: La Casa del Caffe Tazza d'Oro | Registered: Jan 2002
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