Even in cell phones, if you are adding a new contact, when it comes time to enter the contact's number, the phone asks if the number is Home, Work, or Mobile.

So the cellphone actually still uses the term mobile as well.

Our cell bill is from AT+T Mobile.

Also the term "Mobile Phone" was used in a conversation between Jack and Abe which in 1990 would've been the term used, later a "cell phone" was mentioned lead me to wonder when the term "cell phone" originated.

I signed a bunch of ARCs for Gauntlet and they send others out for review. As for cell phones, back in the day they were called "car phones" and "mobile phones" and were the size of a brick. In the UK they're still called "mobiles."

As stated in 1990 "Mobile Phone" would've been the term used. The possible question was later in the book - without giving too much away because even though Spoilers is in the title obviously people who haven't read it yet are in the conversation- find the quote " "Spare us the details." said the first as he handed a cell phone past Jack. "Call him." "

The possible nit is establishing that they were referred to as "mobile" phones earlier and then later in the book switched up to being called "cell" phone. There was even a reference to cellular phone which would have been from that period. I don't remember them being called "Cell Phones" until the mid-90's so as stated it left me to wonder when that term originated. I'm thinking it was with the shift from the old analog brick models to the (slightly) smaller full digital units. And as stated only a possible nit because I don't really know...but because it was established already that back then they were "Mobile" phones when the more modern term popped up it seemed out of place.

As stated in 1990 "Mobile Phone" would've been the term used. The possible question was later in the book - without giving too much away because even though Spoilers is in the title obviously people who haven't read it yet are in the conversation- find the quote " "Spare us the details." said the first as he handed a cell phone past Jack. "Call him." "

The possible nit is establishing that they were referred to as "mobile" phones earlier and then later in the book switched up to being called "cell" phone. There was even a reference to cellular phone which would have been from that period. I don't remember them being called "Cell Phones" until the mid-90's so as stated it left me to wonder when that term originated. I'm thinking it was with the shift from the old analog brick models to the (slightly) smaller full digital units. And as stated only a possible nit because I don't really know...but because it was established already that back then they were "Mobile" phones when the more modern term popped up it seemed out of place.

The terms have always been interchangeable. Back in the early 90's we had a car phone that was made by a company called "Cellular One". We called it both back in the day. Actually it was "cell", "cellular", "mobile", or simply "car phone".

In the sentence you quote above, a character does not say "cell phone" that is in the narrative. So, if the verbiage doesn't sit right with you, you can rationalize it that the author refered to it as a cell while the characters use the more era-appropriate "mobile".

A commercial from 1990 where they refer to the hardware as a cellular phone.
[video=youtube;694TX2lQ7Uo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=694TX2lQ7Uo[/video]

The Online Etymology Dictionary states that the term "cell phone" originated in 1984: http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=cellphone

The Online Etymology Dictionary states that the term "cell phone" originated in 1984: http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=cellphone

Thank You, I've been trying to find something that could pin-point a date. I remember them as mobile phones, car phones, and even cellular phones but couldn't remember when I first started hearing them as just cell phones.

I signed a bunch of ARCs for Gauntlet and they send others out for review. As for cell phones, back in the day they were called "car phones" and "mobile phones" and were the size of a brick. In the UK they're still called "mobiles."

so gauntlet just randomly sends out the ARC'S to people who preordered the limited edition?

I'm sure his proofreader was busily checking terminology and dates to keep the timeline continuity along with fixing typos from everything I can find, mobile and cell were both in use at the time, and I distinctly recall using the terms interchangeably. yeah, I'm old........ Predator 2 though? good catch..about a month off. can't catch 'em all I guess.

there's references throughout the series to Jack's love of the big screen so skipping a tv isn't out of character. eventually he gets one- and a load of golden oak Victorian furniture -but failing to buy a tv in his crummy itty bitty city apartment seems right for him. isn't a movie theater his "preferred method of oblivion" anyway?

I'm not sure how much sooner it could be mentioned Jack didn't have his own phone... ?

can't wait to get my copy

kind of on topic- I saw a reference in Vince Flynn's most recent Mitch Rapp prequel (Kill Shot) to the "latest" technology, a star tac! laughed my head off, I remember getting one back in the day

I'm sure his proofreader was busily checking terminology and dates to keep the timeline continuity along with fixing typos from everything I can find, mobile and cell were both in use at the time, and I distinctly recall using the terms interchangeably. yeah, I'm old........ Predator 2 though? good catch..about a month off. can't catch 'em all I guess.

In my first post I asked if Paul had a new proof-reader because it really did show. I didn't know it was you. Great job I didn't see a single typo which is a major improvement over previous Gauntlet editions. Again I haven't got the last few but had planned on getting them. It's always been worth the payoff to read the Gauntlets before the Tor's come out but it's a little frustrating to spend $60 on a collectors edition and see that many mistakes. Predator 2 is one that is easy enough to give a pass to, Jack is in a slightly different reality from ours where it opened as a summer movie. At least they didn't make a date to go see the new John Hughes movie

there's references throughout the series to Jack's love of the big screen so skipping a tv isn't out of character. eventually he gets one- and a load of golden oak Victorian furniture -but failing to buy a tv in his crummy itty bitty city apartment seems right for him. isn't a movie theater his "preferred method of oblivion" anyway?

Agreed on his preferred method.... but Jack is from the video generation. When we first meet him he is watching a James Whale marathon on Betamax/Laserdisc/ or DVD depending on the release date of the first book. He also has a friend in one of the early books he networks with by exchanging rare out of print movies with. It's a pre-established characteristic of his that ended up disappearing in the books once the "otherness" took over. While he's landscaping I can see him getting by without one, but once he starts making all that money that he doesn't know what to do with I'd think he'd want one of the top of the line laserdisc players that even flipped the disc over. I mean it is 1990 right? What is he a savage? To me it does seem out of character, he's already a movie geek by this point as referenced by him mentioning Der Golem...

I'm not sure how much sooner it could be mentioned Jack didn't have his own phone... ?

It wasn't that it wasn't established sooner. It was. It's just that after it's established that Jack doesn't have a phone he leaves his phone number with the guy making his "Lonnie" id. .... Later on it's established that the number is to a phone in the hallway of his apartment. When Jack gives out the number it should've been mentioned that it was to a communial phone and to just leave a message for Jack.

can't wait to get my copy

kind of on topic- I saw a reference in Vince Flynn's most recent Mitch Rapp prequel (Kill Shot) to the "latest" technology, a star tac! laughed my head off, I remember getting one back in the day

Hopefully soon for you then. Again it's a great book. The nits I bring up are only slight and minor. So thank you again Paul and also a big thank you to the proof-reader(s) for their work.... Because it really shows by not showing. The character debate is interesting though. After more people read it it'll be interesting to see if they view Jack with the start of a video collection in 1990 once he's come into some money or if they feel that he wouldn't buy a tv until later.