From: kay@invalid.net   
      
   In article , seawasp@sgeinc.invalid.com   
   says...   
   >   
      
   > 	This happened with Arthur C. Clarke and Charles Sheffield ? both of   
   > them published novels on the design and construction of the world's   
   > first space elevator or "beanstalk" within MONTHS of each other, with   
   > some rather surprising parallels ? the main character was named Merlin   
   > in one and Morgan in the other, both main characters were the designers   
   > of the longest bridges in the world, both approached to tackle the   
   > ambitious project of constructing the space elevator, and both books   
   > featured a key device called "Spider".  Yet neither author was aware of   
   > the other's work when they began their writing. Sometimes, it's just an   
   > idea's time and everyone starts writing books with that idea.   
      
   Reminds me of two people on the freeway parallel to each other with an   
   empty lane between, who both try to change lanes into it at once - you   
   can't SEE the other guy signal.  Haven't read either, but I'll bet as   
   you say they were still two quite different novels.   
      
   --   
      
   Kay Shapero   
   Address munged, try my first name at kayshapero dot net.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)