Names (26/10/09)

Right, so I’m off to Germany, King of the Crags is with Gollancz and the great re-write-athon is briefly paused before I launch back into The Thief-Taker’s Apprentice for one last[1] time. Who knows, I might even manage to write something new for a few days. In the meantime, though, I have a little competition to keep the three of you who read this amused.

See, I’ve noticed several authors of fantasy offering up bit parts in their novels. I think there was a competition to get a name into the last Wheel of Time novel. One of the prizes at the David Gemmel Legend Awards was choosing a character name for a cameo appearance in a forthcoming Stan Nicholls story. Most recently, Pat Rothfuss is auctioning off an appearance in A Wise Man’s Fear for charity. Maybe it’s the next big thing in getting close to our readers?

Or maybe not. As Pat amusingly observes, there are… issues. So here’s the deal. I want to see your worst-nightmare names for a cameo appearance in any fantasy book. Not ones that infringe copyright or ones that look more like a password, but recognisable original names that would make someone like me tear out what little hair I have left if faced with trying to crowbar them into an existing story. Something to really make me cringe. The one that makes me laugh the most gets a randomly selected prize. The more I laugh, the bigger the prize.

The benchmark to beat is Spartacus Beefcake (Studd’s big brother), but I’m sure y’all can do better. Cringe-worthy RPG character names are welcome.

[1] Last except for the editorial re-write. And the copy-edit rewrite, the ‘oh, I’ve just had another good idea’ rewrite and the ‘oh, that wasn’t such a great idea after all’ rewrite. And the proof-read (but that doesn’t really count).

5 Responses to “Names (26/10/09)”

  1. Anja says:

    I like
    Gibberish Toadstool.
    Sounds vaguely H. Potterish, though….

  2. Nettie Thomson says:

    Cornelius Carbuncle….

  3. Sam Beaven says:

    Chet Strongbottom
    Powers Radishfoot
    Hercule Bricknose

  4. Stephen J Sweeney says:

    Theonate Rampivery

    An anagram of “Yet Another Vampire” :)

  5. Stephen Deas says:

    Powers Radishfoot: hobbit private detective?

    I apologise to any cornish readers. Apparently I am straying on your territory…
    http://www.consumingexperience.com/2007/08/funny-names-cornwall-record-office.html

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