I did a fairly extensive edit of Market Panic (wanted to get it out by first week, but life eh) which (exceeded the character limit so in two parts) is in the spoiler below (and the next post after this).
I approached it as if it was dropped on my desk to edit like in a previous job where I routinely edited stuff (so working for the same team attitude and what not).
None of what's below is with any expectation that, if the comment/edit/note is better for the book, it will get implemented (the book is published/public after all). I did it as an exercise in editing since it's been a while and to help the authors in their future work (free editing, woot!). I also avoided this forum thread so there's probably stuff that has been covered.
Regardless of the edit notes...I loved the book, overall a great read, lots of stuff to start incorporating into my campaign, and so on. If it isn't mentioned, pointed out, commented on you should go with the assumption that it both read well and that I liked it.
Anyway, they're in spoiler tags for a reason (though since it's notes most of the quotes should largely be out of context, but still)
Market Panic Notes
I'm still catching up on a few of the more recent books, like I haven't read Bloody Business yet, but in searching for a date on Samantha Villers' death, saw that on 15-March-2077 the CC announced the Megacorporate Revision (so ignore comments relating to that and similar comments).
No JackPoint page (no 'hard' in-game date for book)
FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE (fiction) & DRONING ON (in-game)
Enjoyed the en media res and the transitions to the "beginning"; worked for the fiction. Enjoyed the indie-report-style of Droning On. Still on the fence about whether fiction should tie so closely with in-game. Enjoyed the timeline consistency between the fiction and in-game. Would have preferred the use of wageslave over drone to avoid connection to vehicle drones.
Notes/Questions
Fuchi? "'...now that Fuchi bought us.'" pg 7. "'...wanted to be a Fuchi astronaut when I grew up...'" pg 10. "FuchiLand" pg 23. Gets touched on in NeoNET, but would like at little more info for the reader as Fuchi is rarely mention in current books.
pg 7: PBB (supposed to be PCC)? "Most of those buyers are in PBB and CAS..."
Bottle imp? "he's suck with the reporter's bottle imp who is glued to Karl until the agreed upon twenty-four hours are up." pg 7. "...looking directly at the bottle imp our editor assigned to him." pg 10. "...but the bottle ip 411'd me as to his location when he didn't show." pg 12. "I et the bottle ip rest on my shoulder; he might come in handy later if Karl wants to have a privat moment." pg 12. "I wonder if he remembers the bottle imp was watching his soykaf debacle this morning." pg 15. "...but I remind him the bottle imp still has him through the wee hours..." pg 26. (word searched Rigger 5.0, Hard Targets, Street Grimiore for "bottle imp", nothing and not until the end of the story is their indication as to magic or machine (watcher/spirit or drone)
pg 20: Seepage sidebar: "Awakening: 1948", all others "1949"
pg 25: Drone Types sidebar: Pronoun usage change. Maven/Ladder Climber are neutral. Burnout/Bright Young Thing/Elder Statemens are gendered.
COURTING DISASTER
Fiction
Liked the intro fiction, especially the “mouse” bookends. Would have liked a little more detail on how the cord to the CC was inserted.
In-game
Good refersher and update on the CC and Z-O in general. Would have liked some hard dates on the Megacorporate Revision (i.e. when was it [was it?] publicly announced, when were all the Big Ten finally on board [or when do JackPoint members think the Big Ten okay'd the Revision], etc.) which ties in to the no JackPoint page for the start of the document.
Notes/Questions
pg 28: "in front of" used three times in one paragraph (twice in once sentence).
pg 30: "Operation Reciprocity. Air strikes. Ground strikes. Drone strikes. Ares, Novatech, Mitsuhama, and Saeder-Krupp..." Novatech?
pg 31: "...but deciding the way Kirilenko wanted her to." First time use of "Kirilenko" in better to use full name and/or title for contect/reminding/etc.
pg 33: "...and yes, haters, I'm including Michele Borden in that assessment..." then "Its' because that seat is currently occupied by Michelle Borden..." pg 34. "Michele Borden (Ares):" pg 35. Name spelling.
pg 32: "While the real Hino was not killed when she was replaced, she was put into cold storage, and the fate of her froze body is not exactly clear." Then "Ren Iwano (Evo): When the plot to replace the deceased Justice Yoshiko Hino with a digital version..." pg 35. Both quotes from Cosmo, the primary writer of the section.
Ending to the section is abrupt, not strong on the "Disaster" part of the section title.
ARES MACROECHNOLOGY
Fiction
Writing good. But an unknown main character going to assassinate an unknown target. Would have liked it to be more fleshed out/a bit more details.
In-game
Loved the brackets of the second paragraph. Solid writing for the section. Conscise early history of the company. "Even though that's the real story." pg 43 - excellent. Would have liked a restating of Damien Knight's position in Ares (in addition to the intro side bar for the corp) and any other known positions (if any) in Knight's write up as is done for Vogel.
Notes/Questions
The main corporation sidebar lists the Corporate Court Rankings as 2077.
While seemingly obvious, would have liked Dominant and Secordary Business Languages listed in overview side bar as in the Aztechnology side bar.
pg 50: "With the Awakening turing sixty-six years old, come December..." So at the time of Cosmo's Ares section writing it is sometime in 2077 before December, before Shadows in Focus: City by Shadow: San Francisco Metroplex.
pg 44: "For reasons unknown, the project’s plug was pulled, and Avalon was folded into standard Ares Arms R&D." and "Avalon had the chance to be a weapon Ares could market to wide success across the globe and recoup some of those expenses, but the project’s shuttering killed that idea. The Excalibur’s abysmal failure only worsened the corp’s hemorrhaging." pg 45, make is sound like Cosmo is not aware of the connection but "(This is probably why the Excalibur-née Project Avalon...)" pg 54, does.
Would have like mention of Ares microgravity mana research (or the failure there of).
AZTECHNOLOGY
Fiction
Heh, nomnomnom. Like Ares, a bit on the short side and would have loved a few more details on the metaplane and nature of the run that lead up to the story. Otherwise good fun for all.
In-game
Yay! Azzie PR!
Notes/Questions
The main corporation sidebar lists the Corporate Court Rankings as 2078.
A Brief History Of The Big A: Acquiring A Nation: 1st paragraph (pg 63): "Calling itself Aztlan to differentiate itself from he collapsed [Mexican] government..." Would have like to see Cosmo or JackPoint member comment on its relation to the NAN.
Also in the history secion, would have liked mention of taking San Diego/SoSoCal, and Dunkelzahn's Will ("...end to the use of blood magic by Aztechnology...", "To Juan Atzcapotzaco of Aztechnology...", "...what lies behind the door of room 5B78 of the Aztechnology Pyramid in Tenochtitlan..." etc.)
Kay St. Irregular's comment on pg 68 concerning Dzitbalchén and that Motechuhzoma servers him. Dzitbalchén has been dead for a while. Serves his memory? Wishes? And why is Kay's comments on Dzitbalchén all in present tense, "...the feather serpent who also owns some of Azechnology..." and "I believe Dzitbalchén would take care of his own business..." ?
EVO
Fiction
Like the other Megacorp fiction entries, writing good but would like more details; what kind of run is Vice there for?
In-game
Over all good, see notes/questions for critiques.
Notes/Questions
The main corporation sidebar lists the Corporate Court Rankings as 2078
Corp overview side bar: Miltech missing entries, would have liked more subsidiaries listed. Again, would have liked Dominant and Secordary Business Languages listed in overview side bar as in the Aztechnology side bar.
pg 74: Anatoly Zhukov Kirilenko side bar: 16 DEC 2077 death date. Still before San Francisco Metroplex document.
pg 75: "The company is yet to name a new CEO even months after [Kirilenko's] death..." So Market Panic in-game published date is 16 FEB 2078 or greater (months being plural) or is Plan 9 projecting down the road.
pg 78: "Opposition to Ysil’s CEO consideration has been inciting violence against nagas around the world." Not clear as to who would be incited or doing the inciting. Internal to Evo, would be going against Evo culture and kept in the shadows. External...less incentive if Evo isn't one's "nationality". Would have liked more info, or JackPoint commentary to give insight.
pg 85: "...in the event it finds a planet that can be terraformed or one that supports life, but certain plant and animal life from home would be needed until the travelers have adapted to ingesting the local flora and fauna." This kind of crazy talk seems more in Plan 9's sphere than Slamm-0!'s
HORIZON
Fiction
Liked the background given to explain the current situation. The transition at the end isn't clear, which may be the point, but sets up the expectation for the rest of the section to be about other corps impersonating Horizon.
In-game
Good overview of Horizon's marketing PR, like the detail on corporate structure, mobility in the corp, etc.
Notes/Questions
The main corporation sidebar lists the Corporate Court Rankings as 2077.
Again, would have liked Dominant and Secordary Business Languages formatted similiarly in overview side bar as in the Aztechnology side bar (or visa versa).
pg 98: "Headquarters: Portland, Tír Tairngire" no longer using Tír name for Portland?
Hoping for Host information for the Host that houses HIP.
pg 102: Last sentence of the section ties back to the section's opening fiction, but still confusing; is the male Lone Star dwarf a DG member using magic to appear as a female DG member (complete with identifying Horizon pin).
Would have liked some profies of key players in the corp.
MITSUHAMA
Fiction
Again, overall good. Didn't like description "...next to a wide hole dotted with black holes..." (pg 104). Nice background as to why the story's action was taking place.
In-game
Yay! Dates "Ryumyo awoke in 2011, but it wasn't until 2027..." pg 107.
Notes/Questions
Want consistence (i.e. primary languages of the corp) in the corporate intro side bar.
The main corporation sidebar lists the Corporate Court Rankings as 2078.
pg 108: "...rankings won't be made official by the Corporate Court until March of '78..." So Market Panic should be said to be posted after Feb 16 2078 (see Evo notes) but before March. But then the Mr. Bonds quote "Expect S-K to try and avoid an audit by the end of the year..." (pg 109) which, at best, just puts the Evo section written post Feb 2078 and this section pre 2078.
pg 109: right column, 1st paragraph: Written too in the future: "Their new position has..." they haven't officially gained that position. "Now that MCT can claim that title..." they can't, as of the writing. 2nd paragraph also falls into this, "...now that MCT is on top of the corporate ranks." And then the rest of the paragraph has Shiawase acting, in the past, against the new rankings which won't be official until March 2078...so much so that "These lessons are putting a strain on the cooperative relationship between MCT and Shiawase..." and again with "...the Emperor has been praising Renraku for their efforts..." tied with "Now that [Renraku] are earning praise over [MCT] that has become the dominant force in the world..." This paragraph should have been written with the expectation that MCT will become #1 (even if S-K avoids an audit), that rumors are starting/beginning with the news that MCT will likely become #1 that Shiawase wants to teach MCT lessons and that the Emperor has started praising Renraku. 3rd (final) paragraph at least has "While it isn't official enough..." and 1st full paragraph, left column, pg 110, focuses on "MCT's growth" rather than yet to be official ranking (which is due in large part to MCT's growth after all) and "Being the biggest kid on the block is going to get them..." is good as it forcasts the assumption as someone writing in the moment rather than previously as someone writing from outside the moment.
pg 110: "(yup, nothing on Shiawase...suspicious, huh?)" seems particularly out of character for Takata based on the previous totality of Takata's writing.
The Future Endeavors section (pg 113) also written out of the moment, "They may have gained the crown..." and Mr Bonds' comment "...to maintain the top spot."
pg 114: Would have liked an "email" date for the Mr. Bonds "Mitsuhama Prospects" full page sidebar.
Same Mr. Bonds sidebar extends over the border, half-covering, the page number.
pg 115: Another out of moment, "If it wasn't enought that they've managed to snag the top spot..."
pg 117: "...even tough the process has been in the works for over a year now." So interest in/formulation of the global SIN registry started around beginning of 2077.
pg 117: Another out of moment, "followed by [S-K's] loss of the top spot..."
pg 117: In moment, "Mitsuhama's bing move is going to...but they will say..."
NEONET
Fiction
Well written
In-Game
Pre-NeoNET history felt rushed. Understandably, but rushed. Enjoyed the drunken posting at the beginning of the "Future" section (and helps set up any mistakes made in the post can be blamed on in-game Icarus being drunk).
Notes/Questions
The main corporation sidebar lists the Corporate Court Rankings as 2078.
Hard Targets (July 28, 2077) posits NeoNET may, rumored, move to St. Louis. Main corporate sidebar indicates they have.
Annoyed Fuchi Industrial Electrons is listed as a Major Internal Corporation when in Corporate Guide (4E) it is not.
Slamm-0! introduces the section (indicating he wrote it after the Icarus complies the post) with "...world's second largest megacorporation, including the possible loss of that title." while the main corporate sidebar indicates by (March, going by MCT section) 2078 it will have slid to #8. Yet Icarus writes "The end of '77 was the the lowest value for NeoNET shares..." pg 119, so 2077 4Q is over or just loosely talking?
Nice St. Louis section to keep it in the moment, going there, but not finalized. Would have liked a "(projected)" note in the main corporation sidebar though.
pg 123: When was the NeoNET vote, where "Voting hosts were even directly monitored by members of GOD during the twelve hours of voting."?
Dying Family Tree, pg 124. When did, the date, Samantha Villers die?
pg 124: "In 2078, one is..." indicates Market Panic is in 2078.
pg 130: "MCT should up their net worth..." and Mihoshi Oni's following comment, "They'll most certainly be a solid number two if something were to happen to NeoNET" (both pg 130) means this section should have preceeded the MCT section (or keep the order but date each entry with NeoNET being posted before MCT or someone comment that Oni should have read the MCT section instead of skipping to NeoNET or...)
pg 131: left column, last paragraph ties back to use of Fuchi in the book's opening fiction.
RENRAKU
Fiction
Great fiction; backstory is included, motivation of characters is clear, pacing is good.
In-game
Nice Baka Dabora remembers originally it was only 8 AAA Corps, pg 136.
Liked Orbital DK's "One hundred nuyen per kilo is the simply the lowest rate around." comment (pg 143).
Notes/Questions
The main corporation sidebar lists the Corporate Court Rankings as 2077.
In opening runner chat, "Facing East" beginning section pg 135, Glitch says to Pistons about Haze writing the section, "...I haven't seen your name on a byline for quite a while..." then section starts...with no byline.
Haze explains a corporate kami pretty well on pg 139, no need for the sidebar on the same page.
For the "Where's the Party?" section (starting pg 140), headers "Renraku [Division]" should be a larger size than headers of the "Renraku [Division]: Subdivision" headers (or the subdivison headers smaller than the division headers).
Haze's comment, pg 148, "Which explains the push for the Neo-PD." Might have missed it, but what's the Neo-PD, new police department? PD? Push for it...la Mar pushing SIN Registry, and there's the Corporate Revision. Ah, its detailed on pg 152, use full title when first appearing.
Would have liked a comment or expansion on "Renraku runs the SIN registry of over one hundred and fifty countries..." (pg 151) with the upcoming global SIN registry (is Renraku on board, against, etc.)
Fashion section (pg 154) is largely restating the Services section on pg 152.
Section cuts short, "Other Major Sectors" and then...one sector (tourism), remove "Other Major Sectors" and just put tourism in "Products" section.