Holtzmann and Boltzmann


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mrpsbrk
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Holtzmann and Boltzmann

Post by mrpsbrk »

Do any of you think that maybe Herbert's "Holtzmann" could actually be Boltzmann, a 19th century physicist?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_Boltzmann

Obviously the historical Boltzmann did not invent shields or hyper-drive, but in typical FH way maybe his theories where used as a base to many things and his name at the same time became misspelled AND imbued with a mystical aura of having understood all there was to be understood?

Maybe it could also be a nod from Herbert in that maybe science should embrace more of a statistical take on nature and less of a deterministic view?

I had for the longest time confused "Holtzman" with "Boltzmann", and now reading Prigogine (who is full of praise for Boltzmann) i went wikipediaing and found my mistake, so maybe i am just trying to rationalize the thing...
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Re: Holtzmann and Boltzmann

Post by SandChigger »

Probably.

The last, I mean: you're just rationalizing your mistake.

Maybe FH was thinking of Boltzmann, maybe not. Holtzmann is a real name, too, after all. And there seems to be little connection in the science.

As for Boltzmann being the source of Holtzmann IN the Duniverse, it seems highly unlikely to me that people would do something as radical as change the initial B to H while leaving the rest of the name untouched.

(More statistical and less deterministic? Yes, yes.)
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Schu
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Re: Holtzmann and Boltzmann

Post by Schu »

Or possibly he just thought Boltzmann was a cool name and wanted to use something similar?
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Re: Holtzmann and Boltzmann

Post by SandChigger »

Boltzmann
Choltzmann
Doltzmann
Foltzmann
Goltzmann
Holtzmann
Joltzmann
Koltzmann
Loltzmann
Moltzmann
Noltzmann
Poltzmann
Pholtzmann
Pfoltzmann
Quoltzmann
Roltzmann
Soltzmann
Toltzmann
Tholtzmann
Voltzmann
Woltzmann
Zoltzmann

Given the possibilities.... ;)
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Eyes High
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Re: Holtzmann and Boltzmann

Post by Eyes High »

SandChigger wrote:Boltzmann
...
Voltzmann
...
.... ;)
That one sounds like a Superhero from a bad movie or a bad comicbook.

:lol:
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SwordMaster
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Re: Holtzmann and Boltzmann

Post by SwordMaster »

lol eyes high

I think Frank did this kind of thing a lot. But it really means very little what you decide to name a person in your book, I always wonder how fiction authors come up with names in their work, sort of like naming a child, but much less important... good find!
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Re: Holtzmann and Boltzmann

Post by SandChigger »

Good find?

What evidence was offered other than similarity in sound/spelling and the fact that both were scientists? :?

Hey, do you think FH named Bellonda after Stevie Nicks' Bella Donna album? Bel and Stevie are both witchy women. Maybe FH was a fan! :roll:

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Re: Holtzmann and Boltzmann

Post by GamePlayer »

I agree that this is a stretch. Nothing definitive.
However, in the OP's defense, I think there's more contextual links between "Holtzmann" and "Boltzmann" than just some random names from pop music :)
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Re: Holtzmann and Boltzmann

Post by SandChigger »

FH should have named him Feinstein. :P
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Re: Holtzmann and Boltzmann

Post by TheDukester »

SandChigger wrote:Hey, do you think FH named Bellonda after Stevie Nicks' Bella Donna album?
"Just like the white winged dove...
Sings a song...
Sounds like she's singing...
Whoo... whoo... whoo...
Just like the white winged dove...
Sings a song...
Sounds like she's singing...
Ooo baby... ooo... said ooo"

Rock on, Stevie! :dance:
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trang
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Re: Holtzmann and Boltzmann

Post by trang »

dont think there is a connection, but...

Holtzman and Boltzman, the wright brothers of Foldspace has a nice ring to it:)
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