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

Hi Teasswill. I'm subbing your A-Z of Black at A87740391.

You mention being in someone's black book meaning being in disgrace. Shouldn't this be "black books"?

You also don't mention "little black book", a single man's directory of all his girlfriends. Do you mind if I put that one in?

I'm not happy with your "black death" section.

My understand was that there were two diseases:

- The Black Death, which killed something like one third of the population of Europe in the 14th Century, was not plague, and was not carried by rats or their fleas (rats were quite rare at the time).

- Bubonic Plague, which struck Europe many times, including when Newton had just started in university in Cambridge, was carried by rats.

I've come across both. Depends if someone has one, or multiple books! Don't mind if you wish to change it.



Hadn't thought of that one - do add it.

'Black death' was there already when I took the entry over, so I have no objection to you altering it. I didn't check it out - I think probably both can be described as plagues, but have different causes.

I'm ready to return this now. A87740391

You asked to be given a look over it before I send it back, so here it is.

The main changes I made were:

I reworded the Black Death section slightly to make it clear that the term "Black Death" only applies to the septicaemic plague of the 14th century, not the other plagues.

I changed the wording of the sentence about coloured noises.

I expanded the black hole section slightly.

Other changes I made were just formatting.

I plan to publish this entry on the front page on Sunday evening 4-March or Monday morning 5-March.

Thanks, I'm happy with the changes.

Great. This should be published on Sunday night.