So just what the heck is a Habble?

[polarglen]

Okay, I've read my ARC and enjoyed it.  My ONLY question throughout the whole thing is wtf is a habble?

I have not finished ARC, but I've come to believe that "Spires" are vertical constructs with "arches" as we know them.  "Habbles" are horizontal parts of the Spire/Arch.  Perhaps Habble Morning faces toward the sun as it rises.

[Simon Hogwood]

There's a fairly convincing WMG over at TvTropes that it's a contraction of "Habitat Level".

[Quantus]

I have not finished ARC, but I've come to believe that "Spires" are vertical constructs with "arches" as we know them.  "Habbles" are horizontal parts of the Spire/Arch.  Perhaps Habble Morning faces toward the sun as it rises.

I think the "Arch" is always describing the person/position of Spirearch, as in Monarch. 

[DFJunkie]

There's a fairly convincing WMG over at TvTropes that it's a contraction of "Habitat Level".

Damnit, I was just about to guess that it was a portmanteau of habitat and level.   

[Tsunami]

Damnit, I was just about to guess that it was a portmanteau of habitat and level.

You are not alone. *g*
Though i was gonna start from "Habitation Level" :-)

[raidem]

The Spires per Jim are like Borg Cubes.

[Simon Hogwood]

The Spires per Jim are like Borg Cubes.

In what way?

Scale? Regenerative properties? Shape?

[Rygar]

In what way?

Scale? Regenerative properties? Shape?

They are 2 mile x 2 mile black cubes.

[Quantus]

In what way?

Scale? Regenerative properties? Shape?

I believe from the context that it is general proportion.  It cant be literal shape, they arent literal Cubes since the outer edges of each level is a circle.  I think he was addressing the fact that many people were picturing something very tall and narrow, as is more typical for a "spire", wheras the novel describes these as being equally wide as they are tall.   

[Rygar]

They are cubes.  The circle is within the cube, and the excess space is where things like the ventilation tunnels go. 

[Quantus]

They are cubes.  The circle is within the cube, and the excess space is where things like the ventilation tunnels go.

You have it backwards:

"While the Builders had created Spire Ablion in the shape of a perfect circle, each habble was laid out as a square fitting within that circle.  The extra spaces, at the cardinal points of the compass, were filled with a variety of support structures-cisterns, ventilation tunnels, waste tunnels, and the like." 

[Rygar]

Deeeeerp.  Sorry, I guess altered my mental picture to align with the Cube comment and never realized it. 

[Quantus]

Deeeeerp.  Sorry, I guess altered my mental picture to align with the Cube comment and never realized it.

Ya, I think that is becoming a chronic problem with the whole Borg Cube imagery now in the mix.  I think Im now picturing more of a Cylindrical equivalent to the Borg Cube; short and stout, but with a stacked Circular cross-section.  Which makes me immediately begin to wonder about the purpose/function of the roof...

Another thing to consider is that, at least in the case of the quote I provided from the text, it was specific to Spire Albion. There is no guarantee that The Builders used the same floor-plan for all Spires, and it would be interesting to me if they had differences in shape that contributed to their national identity in some small way. 

[tig1977]

That's a great explanation, but where does it come from? I'm 3/4 through the book and just plain got tired of not knowing what spire, habble, and batman means. I've read and loved every Jim Butcher book so far, I find it odd and frustrating that he would leave the reader clueless like this.

[Beereakfast]

Seems more like a conjugation of 'Hobbit Hole'. But that may be my own specific
influences. City sates are what they are. With 250 or so to choose from it can get complicated! It leaves a lot of open ground to cover.