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From: db@cstvax.UUCP (Dave Berry)
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers,net.books
Subject: Re: JHEREG by Stephen Brust
Message-ID: <365@cstvax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 15-Oct-85 09:34:37 EDT
Article-I.D.: cstvax.365
Posted: Tue Oct 15 09:34:37 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 11-Oct-85 08:37:47 EDT
References: <1211@mtgzz.UUCP> <130@birtch.UUCP>
Reply-To: db@cstvax.UUCP (Dave Berry)
Organization: Comp. Sc., Edinburgh Univ., Scotland
Lines: 64
Xref: linus net.sf-lovers:9370 net.books:2302

This follows a flame on the use of strange names in fantasy books (see below).
I know some people who are put off fantasy/SF by the names of the characters,
saying it shows *LACK of imagination* on the part of the author.
The argument goes something like this:
	If all the characters' speech is translated into English, should
not the names be translated also?  If necessary, names that sound foreign
to most english-speakers can be used for foreigners in the book, etc.
	If the authors have to rely on strange names to create a "sense of
wonder", then they probably aren't good writers.
	If strange names are used, then they should have some derivation,
just as most english names have some derivation, such as familial structure,
reference to occupation etc.  Tolkein is sometimes cited as a good example,
I would think that Carolyn Cherryh is another.  This way the names help
to flesh out a world, and give it substance, history etc.

I'm used to strange names and don't notice them.  I agree with the last point
above.  I'm not sure about the first two points, but fantasy/SF writers could
bear them in mind - why put people off unnecessarily?

Minor points on the original article follow:

In article <130@birtch.UUCP> oleg@birtch.UUCP (Oleg Kiselev x258) writes:
>In his review of JHEREG by Stephen Brust Mark R. Leeper writes 
>
>>      Aside from the multiplicity of unfamiliar names--probably not a
>> drawback for most other readers--the story is fairly well-written.  I did,
>> however, all too often come up confused as to who was who in the book and
>> because of that, did not enjoy the book as much as I might have.
>
>Oh, poor you! I bet you put away Zelazny's "Lord of Light" after the first
>few pages. And how often do you read historical books? Especially the ones
>on times and lands quite remote. I am sure you've never read any of the
>Russian great writers -- because you couldn't remember the names and places...
>JHEREG does not sport an overwhelming cast of characters. Their names
>are easily remembered and pronunciation is given.

You're flaming here - obviously Mark didn't find them easy to remember.
Just because you find something easy doesn't mean everybody else will.

>Next time why don't you set up a list of names of characters you encounter 
>in a book and who they are and just give them plain English names (for your
>own benefit) like "Joe", "Pete", etc. and think of everything in those terms. 
>And as long as we are at it why not replace magic with something else. Like 
>cabs instead of teleports... CPR instead of "raise dead" spell... 
>If the story doesn't make any sense after all these transformations --
>I guess it wasn't good enough to start with... 

Often I find this can be done.  If the story does make sense after all
the transformations, there is little point writing it as fantasy.  I like
my fantasy/SF to show how the magic/technology affects the characters/story.
Obviously you & Mark disagree on whether Brust does this.
PS. what is CPR?

>As far as my opinion on Steven Brust's writing :
>	I think he is one of the finest new authors in fantasy/sf. JHEREG 
>	(and its sequel YENDI) are enjoyable reading. His "To Reign in Hell"
>	was an exellent analysis of an old story and is a very pleasant book.
I liked "To reign in hell".  However, I don't regard it as an "analysis"
of anything.  It's a fun retelling of some biblical ideas, but that's all it
is - good fun.  For example, it ignores most of the old testament after
from the creation story.
-- 
	Dave Berry. CS postgrad, Univ. of Edinburgh		
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