4 ms·

I was wondering about this too.

• rsynnott 5y ago
  Actually, I think there almost must be an earlier common origin. The chain started in 1971 in New York. The book was published in 1974, so probably written in 1973 if not earlier. Neither Niven nor Pournelle lived in New York or anywhere near New York, so it's unlikely to be inspired by the store (unless it became so instantly culturally relevant that everyone knew about it within a year or so, which seems unlikely)... I mean, maybe it's coincidence and they both just came up with the same name, but that also doesn't seem likely.