By yacob on Sunday, July 08, 2007 - 08:54 am:

One of the things that I've always enjoyed in ADF books are the names he comes up with for characters. My personal favorite is Abalamahalamatandra. In part because of the sing-song way it was introduced "Manx, oryx, gelp nor panda my name is Abalamahalamatandra". ADF: Is this a totally invented name, or is there any etymology to it? What are other reader favorites?

By flinxer on Sunday, July 08, 2007 - 06:02 pm:

Flinx is definitely one of my favorites, as well as Truzenzuzex. Demichen Devilopes. And, of course, Ab.

By adf on Sunday, July 08, 2007 - 08:52 pm:

Ab's name is a total invention...I thought it nicely euphonious. Not etymology...unlike the Thranx, say, or the AAnn. The key to making alien names viable is making them pronouncable, no matter their length. Contrast is also useful, viz George the dog in the Taken trilogy.

By Rembrant on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 05:13 pm:

Euphonious means pleasing to the ear. etymology is the study of the history of words. I have pretty solid vocabulary but both of those stumped me. So maybe my vocab isn't so great. Euphonious is euphonious. Hehe.

By adf on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 06:10 pm:

By George, I think he's got it....

By McClance on Sunday, August 05, 2007 - 12:24 am:

I like many of the Thranx names.

By jeff the sith on Sunday, August 05, 2007 - 06:58 am:

I love the names, too. Jed the dead : simple for such a complex being. Since it is ok to discuss other author's here : Tery Brooks comes up with some melifluous (sorry about the spelling) names that seem real and believable.

By Daz on Wednesday, December 31, 2008 - 08:15 am:

Just 'cause I love pure silliness: Clothahump and Terry Pratchett's Mad Lord Snapcase