Wednesday, May 30, 2007

ABC's LOST and Flashforward



I have to confess to never having watched an episode of the ABC TV series Lost, but I know it's hugely popular -- and I know it has a main character named Sawyer.

Well, a fan both of Lost and my work, points out that the name of a funeral home in a recent episode is "Hoffs/Drawlar" -- which is an anagram of Flashforward, the title of my 1999 novel.

And he's enumerated other similarities here.

Fascinating!

The Robert J. Sawyer Web Site


8 Comments:

At May 30, 2007 9:45 AM , Blogger Joel Kelly said...

As a fan of both Lost and Flashforward, I have to say that I think that this is just a serious case of apophenia.

The Hoffs/Drawlar sign was there because...

*SPOILER WARNING*

...it had something very specific to do with that episode's narrative structure.

As well, it was recently revealed why the character's name is Sawyer (Small spoiler: He named himself after another con-man who went by that name. And that con-man had taken the name from Tom Sawyer).

Only one character was able to see into the future on Lost. And we saw how his attempt to change the future worked out...

 
At May 30, 2007 10:39 AM , Blogger RobertJSawyer said...

Well, who knows, Joel? Right now, the connection to my book is the number-three most popular theory on LostTheories.com.

 
At May 30, 2007 12:45 PM , Blogger Old Darth said...

Grab the DVD sets before you go up north Rob! Heck, I'll lend you the first two seasons if you wish.

 
At May 30, 2007 1:49 PM , Blogger Joel Kelly said...

Well, it's certainly a possibility and, don't get me wrong, I hope that they're connected.

(Minor Spoilers)
And the similarities between Theo and the characters of Desmond and Charlie are interesting.

Theo tries to prevent his own death, and for much of the 3rd season Desmond had been trying to prevent Charlie's death (as Desmond was the person who would 'flashforward' periodically).

So there's that.

 
At May 31, 2007 6:57 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think whatever similarities we see are coincidental ; yet another example of a theme approached from slightly different angles ( but both great imo ).

PS to M Sawyer : don't get hooked on Lost IF it might interfere with your writing lol.You're the only author I follow that has a steady output!!

 
At September 12, 2007 9:05 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am an author and TV writer (for NBC Universal), though not of Science Fiction, and I must say Mr. Sawyer, I think you're in for a lot more attention than you already receive from readers. That is to say, most likely you can expect non-sci-fi readers to pick up your book because of the similarities with ABC's LOST.

The character of James Sawyer in the show is constantly reading, and the thing most important to him is a written letter. I believe the writers of LOST are tipping their hat to you.

And as Joel Kelly mentioned about the character DESmond, it seems his ability is to see DEStiny not necessarily the future.

If I were you, I'd get signing some first edition hardcovers and put them up on Ebay. Either way though, you've made a reader out of me, and I'm sure of a bunch of my own readers.

 
At September 12, 2007 9:07 PM , Blogger RobertJSawyer said...

Hi, Stephanie. Cool! Many, many thanks!

Cheers,

Rob

 
At February 25, 2009 5:44 PM , Blogger Ir0nY said...

"The Hoffs/Drawlar sign was there because...

*SPOILER WARNING*

...it had something very specific to do with that episode's narrative structure."

That is s right, The narrative was being presented in the form of a
"flashforward" ;) The connections are there, if it was not meant to simile the content of the book itself, fine, But its a little too coincidental to say there are no ties at all. That and its in the ABC.com lost bookclub thingy..

 

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