h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

1. Etymologically, does 'world' refer to the cosmos, this planet, all the people there are, or the age of mankind?

2. When was the ukulele introduced to Hawai'i? 1665, 1798, 1879, or 1910?

3. Lewis Carroll's muse Alice Liddell's middle name: Pleasance, Daisy, Verity, or Petunia?

4. Which year was 'Utopia' published?--in 1516, 1631, 1767, or 1890?

5. The name 'Vanessa' was coined in the 18th century--by whom?

6. Sophie is sent a birthday card addressed to Hilde. She is stupefied because she knows nobody of that name, yet Hilde has already received it. How?

I'm leaning towards 1. being the age of mankind. The word must be quite old (but I don't know how old exactly) and it just seems like a concept more suited for the age of man, whereas those larger concepts were largely explained away by religion.

I listened to a radio play of Utopia recently, and the setting seemed more modern than I would have expected (although it could have just been designed that way). I'd guess one of the later two - maybe 1767?

I can think of a couple of scenarios for 6, but I'd like to know whether the envelope was addressed to Sophie or Hilde. (I'm assuming the card message named Hilde). I'm also a little confused by the word 'stupefied'. It seems a little strong for this situation.

Age of mankind is right. From German 'wer' (man) 'alt' (age). The Greeks had 'cosmos' and 'aeon', and 'world' originally translated 'aeon'.

Not 1767

I don't think there was an envelope; Sophie receives a postcard in her mailbox addressed to Hilde Møller Knag. She is mildly surprised and doesn't know what to do with it.

Utopia was written by Sir Thomas More, a saint in general acceptance (A Man For All Seasons) but coloured rather villainous in Wolf Hall...

Sophie and Hilde feature in A87809124 (but is it true?)

Oh and so does Utopia.

I knew Utopia and Vanessa straight away (1516 and Jonathan Swift) but had trouble posting. The Hilde/Sophie thing is from the book Sophie's World but try as I might, I couldn' t get anywhere with that book, so I don't know the answer there.

I counted on you to get 'word' = 'Weralt' but I shouldn't have misundersetimated you for the rest either.

Vanessa was Swift's name for his lover Esther Vanhomrigh, derived from 'Essy Van'.

They are mentioned in A3472986

Yes, it's all a ploy to get you to read my Entries

Now how about

2. When was the ukulele introduced to Hawai'i? 1665, 1798, 1879, or 1910?

3. Lewis Carroll's muse Alice Liddell's middle name: Pleasance, Daisy, Verity, or Petunia?

Hints: A241057 and A289064 (final sentence. Not one of mine).

'World' = 'weralt' I mean

Well, if it's not cheating: according to your entry (which I remember) the uke was introduced to Hawaii in 1879.

That's the kind of cheating I like! My plan has clearly backfired, with your honourable exception, and even you had read it already.