[I think that Andrey Vakkhrulin's post presenting his solution to the calendar in "Lance" was accessible to everyone, but just in case I am reprinting it below. Meanwhile, here's the first note of congratulation. -- SES]

I was puzzled by the choice of years - 2145 AD and 200 AA in Lance - and suddenly yesterday it dawned on me that the logic could be as follows:
1. It's the two alternative names for one and the same year in the future
2. Given that, 2145 AD is quite clear, but 200 AA presents a difficulty. If it's one year we then can guess what is year 1 AA is like: 2145 - 200 = 1945! The new epoch seems to start at that year, according to VN.
3. What is so important of this year for VN? Obviously, end of WW 2 (Ameica coming to the forefront). But also VN getting Ameican citizenship.
4. So AA may mean Anno America - particularly as the narrator in the story is so close to Nabokov himself.
5. Another interpretation may be Anno Atomus - when the nuclear bomb was first tried. The text, incidentally, features later the phrase 'comics and atomics'.

What do you think?

Andrey

All private editorial communications, without exception, are read by both co-editors.

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