I know I've seen posts on this, but I haven't been able to find a search function for the forum. It's been several years since I last read Tangent and I see Gina has a revised version on her site. Any opinions on whether I should give the new version a shot or just stay with the original?
There is not a lot of difference. Some of the names change. If you read the original on SOL you lose one of the 16 stories you can read that day. If you read the revised story on Gina Marie's site, it doesn't restrict how many stories you can read. I'd recommend reading the new one, there, rather than the old one on SOL. But there isn't much difference in the story, either way.
There is not a lot of difference. Some of the names change.
From memory the changes are name related, and a few inconsistencies tidied up. The changes were made to bring the original story more inline with the later stories Gina has (and is) writing.
Generally, it's worthwhile reviewing a revision just to see what they did with it. While the author generally considers it better, if the plot doesn't change (i.e. the alien doesn't win the girl), the readers is unlikely to notice any difference. However, it gives you another peak into the mind of the author.
But a good rule to follow is just read the first chapter. If they've revised a story, they'll focus heavily on the first chapter, in order to sell the revision. If you can't see any difference, then there's no point in reading any more as the differences are more form than substance.
Many authors read a point where they prefer revising their older works to make them more consistent, style wise, with their later efforts. They'll often mark them as 'revisions' (i.e. new versions of old stories), but that's mainly to alert readers that the stories have been redone, not to denote that their entirely new stories based on the same premise (technically a complete rewrite).
Thanks to all for your answers. I'll read the new one.
Just report back on whether you think there was enough difference to justify reading the new one.
Just report back on whether you think there was enough difference to justify reading the new one.
Depends on what you consider to be justification.
If you're only ever going to read that story, it doesn't make any difference.
If you intend to read the others then read the new one as it resolves some discrepancies between them. As I've noticed here on occasion, some readers tend to get worked up over even slight discrepancies within a story, let alone between related stories.