OF THE CITY OF THE SAVED...

DELETED SCENES: SIDEBARS

The “sidebars” – that is, substantial marginal notes providing supplementary information – in Of the City of the Saved... take the form of excerpts from various reference texts supposedly published in the City of the Saved (for another example of this, see my Faction Paradox page). It's a stylistic trick which matches well with the information-dense milieu of the City itself.

The first of the passages which follow is an excerpt from Who's Who in the City of the Saved, which in the published novel provides us with similar mini-biographies for Councillors Ved Mostyn, Mesh Cos and Allisheer St Marx, and for Professor Anthony Fisher. This entry for Councillor Cassius Ignotus is certainly less interesting than those, which is why it was cut – although it would have provided the novel's first mention of Mappamundi Park.

The second and third passages are excerpts from The Megalopolis Guide, a City gazetteer compiled and presented by artificial intelligences. Surviving extracts in the novel can be found in the sidebars to Chapters 2 and 59. These two were eliminated at the late editing stage, when we were concerned with bringing down the novel's word count. Largely because I'd found myself rather enjoying writing the AIs' dialogue, I wrote more of the Guide extracts than were strictly necessary, and these sidebars contribute little by way of actual information. They may still be entertaining, however.

CLLR LUCIUS CASSIUS IGNOTUS
(Sidebar to Chapter 12)

IGNOTUS, Cllr. Lucius Cassius, soldier, politician and businessman; head of the Ignotian family and CEO of the Ignotian Corporation; member of the Senate of the Romuline Dist. from AF 51; Consul from AF 104; Rdt for the Romuline Dist. (by limited election) from AF 142; Cllr. from AF 282; b Rome 108 BC, s of Gaius Cassius Ignotus and Calpurnia d of Septimus Rufus; m 79 BC, Livilla d of Gaius Livius Sulla (she d 67 BC); six s four d. Educ: private tutor. Served under Pompeius Strabo in the Social War 90-88 BC. Senator of the Roman Republic 79-61 BC. d Rome 61 BC; r the Romuline Dist., S. Quarter; m res. Livilla; seven s nine d. Founded Ignotian Corporation, AF 2. Endowed Ignotian Arena, the Romuline Dist., AF 40. Publications: On Vulnerability, AF 81; The Life of Cato, AF 132; On the Religion of Civitata, AF 203. Recreations: swimming, javelin, rare carnivore breeding, hillwalking, the media, the games. Addresses: Villa Ignota, the Romuline Dist.; CVII Sacra Via, Nova Roma, Mappamundi Great Park; Apt. 133, Councillors’ Quarters, Council House, Central Dist. Clubs: Legionaries, Saureador, Globalists, Mappamundi Restoration, Hundred Citizens.

[Who's Who in the City of the Saved.]

KEMPES DISTRICT
(Sidebar to Chapter 22)

LIEF: Come to sunny Kempes District! That’s what they say, isn’t it Krish?

KRISH: They certainly do, Lief, yes. And, on the handful of days each August when Kempes actually is sunny, it’s not such bad advice. There’s sea, specifically the Thule Marine Park, there’s a beach with a certain amount of sand between the pebbles and the low-tide line, and there are outdoor pursuits, including crazy golf if you’re feeling quite dizzy with your own daring. Be careful actually going in the sea, though – it isn’t hugely clean. Plus around half of Kempes’ people are aquatic, and you could end up trespassing in someone’s private property.

LIEF: Fantastic.

CATRIONA: Unfortunately, when it rains in Kempes, it really rains. And – unless you’re amphibious like the other half of the population – your options for entertainment are pretty poor. The cinema’s poky, the couple of theatres don’t exactly draw in the big names, and there’s only so many times you can enjoy looking at the polydimensional model railway on the South Pier. At least the seaweed doesn’t smell so badly when it’s raining, though, so, if you are of the web-footed persuasion, Kempes might be a good bet for a Spring break. You can practice your golf in the driving rain.

LIEF: Badum-tschh.

CATRIONA: Thanks.

[The Megalopolis Guide (14:12 08/04/291).]

THE ROMULINE DISTRICT
(Sidebar to Chapter 77)

LIEF: Right. I know we’ve said it before about other places, but this time it really is true – if it’s sights you’re after, you can’t do better than the Romuline District.

TRISH: That’s right, Lief!

LIEF: Oh, yeah – as you know, Krish has left us due to artistic differences and won’t be appearing on The Megalopolis Guide any more. He’s gone off to present a chat show on... where was it, Catriona?

CATRIONA: Just some minor media channel, Lief.

LIEF: Right. So, this is Trish.

TRISH: Hi there, it’s wonderful to be here! That’s right, Lief, if what you’re wanting is to look at loads of beautiful buildings, museums, works of art, all that stuff, then the Romuline’s where it’s at. There’s more bridges, baths, temples, palaces, statues, marbles, and mosaics here than you can shake a really long stick at. Great!

CATRIONA: Yes. If you’re arriving in the Romuline for the first time, you’ll want first of all to check out the Via Romulina, the District’s central thoroughfare and hub. The market-stalls along the Via offer all the souvenirs and postcards you’ll need for the duration of your stay –

TRISH: So stock up at the start and save yourself time later!

CATRIONA: – and they’re a great place to find accommodation, tickets, guide-books, local escorts and recommendations for all the best restaurants, theatres, whatever. As you start along the Via from the Civil Gate the first public building you’ll come to is the Theatre of Roscius...

[The Megalopolis Guide (20:36 09/04/291).]

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