"Stanspotting" is a common pursuit of those who are fans of both Stirling and folk music. Little quotes appear in the majority of the books. I guess he grew up in Ontario, so it makes sense.

Poul Anderson also did a story called "Sam Hall," about a rebellion against a future "1984"-ish dictatorship, started by a computer geek working for the dictator but with a secret grudge against it, creating a mythical rebel by that name within the computer system.

It has a wonderful ending:

The victorious rebels are wondering what will happen to Sam Hall now that he's no longer needed. His creator says:

"He'll go to whatever Valhalla there is for the great characters of fiction. I can see him squabbling with Sherlock Holmes and shocking the hell out of Long John Silver. Do you know how the ballad ends?" He sang softly: "Now up in heaven I dwell, in heaven I dwell..."

Unfortunately, the conclusion is rugged. Sam Hall never was satisfied.