Continuity Between the Twenty Planets Books *Possible Spoilers*

[Sara (BookshelfSOS)]

I'm curious if other readers picked up on any examples of continuity between the books in Gilman's Twenty Planets series? If you have found any, post them here and let's discuss the implications!

The main one that I noticed was between Dark Orbit and Halfway Human. The character of Gossup appears in both novels as a significant, if behind-the-scenes, figure. He is mentioned in Halfway Human as already being of undetermined old age, presumably his lifespan has been extended because of space travel. In Halfway Human he is merely Magister Gossup, although he is highly respected and well-known. Dark Orbit seems to take place some time later, since by then he has been promoted to Delegate Gossup.

Based on Sara's interactions with Gossup and the timeline that she gives, I think Dark Orbit has to take place at least 24 years after Halfway Human. It could possibly be longer, but probably not too much longer. That brings the interesting possibility that if Gilman continues to write in this universe we may see familiar characters popping up again. Pretty cool!

Did anyone else notice any hints at an in-universe continuity?

Edit: I just went back to both books and fact checked: Dark Orbit definitely begins 14 years after Halfway Human. In Halfway Human Gossup's secretary tells Val that Gossup had just been nominated to the Magisterium. At the beginning of Dark Orbit, Gossup tells Sara that he has been on the Magisterium for 14 years. Boom!