[FirePrincess]

In many fantasy novels, I believe that the names of characters and places have a big impact on the way those places and characters are perceived in your imagination. I think naming things realistically, creatively and originally is a real skill, and not all authors possess it.

Who do you think are good and bad?

I think that Robert Jordan, Tolkein, Feist and Rowling are excellent at names. Cairhien, Shadar Logoth, Tear, Kinslayer's Dagger, Galadedrid Damodred, Cadsuane Melaidhrin, Lan Mandragoran, Isengard, Aragorn, Osgiliath, Sauron, I could go on and on...

Recently I've read some novels where the names leave a fair bit to be desired. It's like no thought has gone into them and the authors have just accepted the first thing that came into their heads. As I said, I think it's a real skill...

Anyone agree or disagree??

[U-Borat]

1. i refuse to dignify rowling with anything 'good'. and really, half her characters have normal names so really, what are you on? eg. dumbledore reminds me of a bee, not an all-powerful wizard...
2. names dont mean much to me in a fantasy novel. i read somewhere that most authors just write random letters and stuff to form names.
the following site is a satirical guide to writing fantasy.

http://members.ozemail.com.au/%7Eimcfadyen/notthenet/fantasy.htm

[FirePrincess]

1. i refuse to dignify rowling with anything 'good'. and really, half her characters have normal names so really, what are you on? eg. dumbledore reminds me of a bee, not an all-powerful wizard...
2. names dont mean much to me in a fantasy novel. i read somewhere that most authors just write random letters and stuff to form names.
the following site is a satirical guide to writing fantasy.

http://members.ozemail.com.au/%7Eimcfadyen/notthenet/fantasy.htm
Yeah, I meant Rowling's names for things like The Shrieking Shack and The Whomping Willow, Spellotape, etc....not people so much. I think kids would love her ideas - she's very imaginative.

Thanks for the link - that was funny! :p

[kron]

I don't mind different/difficult spelling and definitely don't see the connection between name and hero's characteristics (except if it is a nickname, of course). :rolleyes:

But have you wondered how the names in a novel never coinside? Never 2 Peters or 2 Rands or 2 Jaimes

[Crow]

Tolkien is good out of the ones you mentioned, the rest.. are not.

[AuntiePam]

Steven Erikson does a good job with naming, except that it'd be easier for readers if everyone had just ONE name. :)

Tattersail fits perfectly. So do Whiskyjack, Quick Ben, Anomander Rake, etc. I had some problems with some of the soldiers who had unisex names -- I've forgotten now what they are, but one female soldier I always thought was male.

Kruppe reminds me of my Krups coffee grinder, because you know Kruppe has to have his coffee freshly made. :)

In the book I'm reading now (Illusion by Paula Volsky), Eliste is perfect for the main character, because it's so close to "elite", which is what she is.

[BarVybe]

its obviously intentional that different characters in the same book rarely share the same name - how confusing for the reader!

About Erikson - i mostly agree about liking his names but i'm starting to find that the names aren't always a good indication of which race the character is and i think names like "Rallick Nom" and "Mallick Rel" are a bit too similar - looking like random name gen software output to me ;)

Tolkien's names stand out for their consistency - all his names follow linguistic rules for the languages he devised, and so they all seem to make sense and "sound right".

[Bond]

Must say Jordan comes out tops for me in this department. Large cast of characters with a mixture of plain and exotic names with the plain names not generally being too blunt or the exotic names being too esoteric.

Cabriana Mercandes, Alviarin Friedhen, Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan, Siuan Sanche, Morgase Trakand, Dyelin Taravin, Perival Mantear, Nynaeve al'Meara, Eamon Valda, Jaichim Carridin, Rhadam Asunawa, Geofram Bornhald, Pedron Niall, Rodel Ituralde, Gareth Bryne, Davram Bashere, Tenobia si Bashere Kazadi, Semirhage, Lanfear, Demandred, Guaire Amalasan, Logain Ablar...so many...even if confined to those starting with just one letter.

Sabeine Ocalin
Saera Deosin
Saerin Asnobar
Sahra Covenry
Saine Tarasind
Salia Pomfrey
Salita Toranes
Samel Crawe
Samitsu
Sammael
Sarainya Vostovan
Sareitha Tomares
Sarene Nemdahl
Sari Ayellin
Sarin Hoigan
Sashalle Anderly
Seaine Herimon
Sebban Balwer
Segan do Avharin a'Roos
Selande Darengil
Semaradrid Maravin
Senine din Ryal
Seonid Traighan
Serancha Colvine
Serenla: Min Farshaw
Seta Zarbey
Setalle Anan
Sevanna
Shadar Nor: Latra Posae Decume
Shaidar Haran
Shalon din Togara Morning Tide
Sharina Melloy
Sharmad Zeffar
Sheraine Caminelle
Sheriam Bayanar
Shiaine Avarhin: Mili Skane
Sierin Vayu
Silene Dorelmin
Sillia Cerano
Silviana Brehon
Solain Morgeillin
Sora Grady
Spiron Narettin
Suana Dragand
Sumeko Karistovan
Sunamon Haellin
Surlivan Sarat
Suroth Sabelle

[Iskaral Pust]

In Ricardo Pinto's series, The Stone Dance of the Chameleon, all the characters had names that were familiar, mostly stones such as Carnelian, Jasper and Obsidian. I remember reading somewhere about his decision to do this, saying that in many fantasy books he discovered he wasn't actually taking in any of the name. In the course of the book he would learn to recognise the names by sight, but because they were completely foreign he went away with no real impression of identity. (I can't find the interview, but I think I got the gist of it). I personally have had a similar experiance with fantasy novels and so found Pinto's books very refreshing in that respect.

[Boll Weevil]

One's brain almost literally does not "see" names that are too unusual either in sound or spelling, the eye passes right over them and moves on. This is also true with Russian novels. Names such as thpreq'r'frzgtyh; obviously that's a an extreme version. Hence names to be successful either have to be simple or phonetically obvious, at least visually as to their pronuciation.