OK, so I'm having a dilemma with the CUSWE regarding the terminology used to describe two of the galaxy's political factions.

We all know and love the Rebel Alliance, which is sometimes known as the Rebellion but usually referred to as the Alliance. For many years, entries in my encyclopedia have talked about "the Alliance" with little ambiguity, because it was the only major force that had the term "alliance" in its name.

Now, however, we have the Swarm War and the Legacy of the Force books, which follow the history of the galaxy in the wake of the Yuuzhan Vong war. The prevalent government is the Galactic Alliance, short for the galaxy far, far away ... um, er, the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances, which is now being referred to as "the Alliance" in the LotF books.

I have found myself referring to both factions as "the Alliance", but this is bound to confuse or confound readers. Anybody have any ideas on what I should call these two entities? I'm leaning toward keeping "the Alliance" as the Rebel Alliance, and making sure to differentiate it from "the Galactic Alliance." (This will probably be just as easy as differentiating Anakin Skywalker from Anakin Solo... sometimes my fingers type stuff that's different from what my brain commands them to do.)

Thoughts?

Bob
February 22, 2007