[Takoren]

Anybody got any good examples of books you read that you really, really liked, or even loved, but almost didn't read thanks to an unwieldy or stupid-sounding title?

I have one: I almost didn't read Gardens of the Moon because the title sounded so pretentious. I also had no interest in anything written by Robin Hobb because her titles made the books sound like they were for kids (the cover art didn't help either).

I also have heard very good things about Acacia Book One: War with the Mein but that title couldn't be worse. I, for one, have never been a fan of titles that are overly bulky and contain words that don't exist in the real world. I can handle this to some degree, but it's always a turnoff.

For a series, the worst title I have heard in a while is Instrumentalities of the Night.

For the record, nothing against these books or authors, but I just can't imagine who approved those titles to be used.

[firqoret]

You know that Acacia is a type of tree, right?

[Takoren]

You know that Acacia is a type of tree, right?

I do know that. However, something I read seemed to be saying it was the name of the continent/world. If he really does mean it as a tree, then that's fine, but the official title of book one is still flat, dull, and unimaginative. Despite that I have heard the novel is not and while I have never read Pride of Carthage I have heard good things about it, too.

The thread is about good books, even great books, whose titles you don't like. I stress again, that I am saying nothing at all about the books themselves.

[Gildor]

For a series, the worst title I have heard in a while is Instrumentalities of the Night.


Hah, I quite liked that one ;)

I think this was done a while back, here (http://sffworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16297&highlight=Book+Titles), although this Thread does have a slightly different twist to it.

[Hobbit]

Might have mentioned it before, but Doomsday Book by Connie Willis is a great book. Terrible terrible title, though.

Hobbit

[Takoren]

In the other thread on this topic somebody mentioned David Eddings' Demon Lord of Karanda. This is actually one of the better titles in his bibliography.

Nearly all the Belgariad titles are terrible. The books themselves are enjoyable, but come on, Castle of Wizardry? Could it get more cliche'd than that? Guardians of the West? I guess it can.

Plus, as I've said I really get annoyed when the title contains words that don't exist in real life, which nearly every book in The Mallorean does, not to mention the titles of both series are, more or less, nonsense words to one who's never read them.

[Gary Wassner]

Many years after it was too late to do anything about it, a SFF reviewer said to me that the worst thing I could have done is name my series GemQuest. He, fortunately, loved the books and felt that they were anything but 'quest' fantasy in the negative sense of that characterization. He felt that the series title disuaded serious readers of SFF from purchasing them.

Now, I tend to agree. Then, I had no idea. I was not plugged in to these issues pre-internet, pre-SFFworld et al. It just seemed like a good title.

[Takoren]

Many years after it was too late to do anything about it, a SFF reviewer said to me that the worst thing I could have done is name my series GemQuest. He, fortunately, loved the books and felt that they were anything but 'quest' fantasy in the negative sense of that characterization. He felt that the series title disuaded serious readers of SFF from purchasing them.

Now, I tend to agree. Then, I had no idea. I was not plugged in to these issues pre-internet, pre-SFFworld et al. It just seemed like a good title.

Credit where credit is due: I like The Shards as a title and When Monsters Call Out the Names of Men is awesome.

[Takoren]

I just thought of another: The Magic of Recluce. First of all, "Recluce" is a ridiculous name for a place. It's a misspelling of a real word.

Second of all, "The Magic of..." anything is a terrible title for a book.

[Gary Wassner]

Thanks Takoren. I spent a lot more time finding good titles for each individual book as the series progressed. But the series title, though not emphaszied even on the covers, is still the series title.

Titles should be meaningful, or at least not gratuitous. As authors, we don't always realize what the title may connote to a reader. And I guess it's different for each reader. My newest book, The Revenge of the Elves, is an ironic title and very appropriate for the story. But most people will assume it means something quite other than it actually does.

A bad title is an obstacle, I agree totally.