Character names - what can i get away with??

[Jammill Khursheed]

Hello

One of the projects I'm working on, a full on space-opera style thing, currently has two characters with names I'm not sure 'fit' right, for different reasons, and was wondering what others who are into sci-fi/fantasy think about me being able to use them...

The two characters are called Tolkien and La Hainne and I don't know if they fit with a story taking place millions of years ago, especially 'La Hainne' because the ancient universe didn't speak French...

Would this jar with readers? And also it is okay to use such a widely established fantasy writer's name for a character in a sci-fi thing?

Thanks in advance for your assistance...


Jammill

[Esfires]

It would certainly jar me.

[Phyrebrat]

Hey Jammill,

I think that it would probably cause a bit of concern for your readers; I think us sci fi and fantasy nuts are sticklers for fact or authenticity and if your narrative does not explain the origin or appropriateness of these two names, then it may bring the reader out of the zone.

I'd be relatively forgiving of La Hainne as a name, regardless of the french not figuring, although I may be tempted to make it one word or change La to Luh or Lah.

Having said that, I am the person in the cinema, or book reader, who never ever sees something coming as I am so engrossed, no matter how strong the foreshadowing is. You'd have to shoot me with Chekhov's gun before I event went 'ahhh!' so the likelihood of La Hainne taking me out of the playworld would be miniscule. Tolkien on the other hand.....

Why are these names- esp Tolkien - so important to you? Would it cause you grief to rethink them?

pH

[Weird Era]

I have a feeling that using what many would call the 'king' of fantasy: Tolkien, as a name, would definitely make some readers pause, if not put some off altogether. La Hainne, as Pyrebrat said, would be okay if justified.

I don't think that changing said character from being called Tolkien would be that much of a problem to you. At least, I hope not. I think it'd be more of a problem for your readers, constantly with the picture in their mind of my J.R R himself roaming around in your books

Hope that helps, though I kinda just reiterated what's already been said.

Era

[j. d. worthington]

Unless the story is either a parody or these names in particular are absolute necessities within the context of the story (not because of some point you wish to make, or because of any preference you have, but demanded by the logic of the story itself)... I would really suggest losing them. If you feel you need to acknowedge a debt to these writers, this can be done in a prefatory note or a dedication.

[Sapheron]

Going to throw in and say I'm giving that a no as well. Don't use easily recognisable historical figures. Tolkien, for me, would count as too well known and too unique. Obviously there is more than one Tolkien out there, or has been at least, but it just isn't the same. In the same way, your characters shouldn't be called Ghenghis Khan, Michael Jackson or Adolf Hitler. Some names are just too connected to a certain individual, and this will immediately affect the perceptions of the reader in ways you probably don't intend them too.

Of course, exceptions are all over the place.

[Jammill Khursheed]

That's why I thought I'd check... There are plenty of sci-fi/fantasy characters named after non-fiction writers (usually philosophers, Locke from Lost is a prime example off the top of my head), but it's not massively important and can be changed to something else (it didn't have a sub-text, I just thought it sounded cool)...

As for La Hainne, that was a bit symbolic (a God that hates life) and I really, honestly, wanted to call him 'Hayte' like the resurrected Duncan Idaho from Dune but thought that was too obvious a name, but I can think of something different...

As always, thanks for the assistance, you all made soom decent points and answered ma question for me...


Jammill

[Stephen Palmer]

Another "no" from me. Also, isn't 'La Hainne' a French film?

[Jake Reynolds]

I think it just comes down to recognition being the issue. For example, you wouldn't have a charcater named Stephen King, unless you highlighted how having the same name as a famous author was a plot issue, or addressed in some way. For example, one of my ideas currently residing in the sematary is a guy called Joseph Heller Grey, but the first paragraph or thereabouts refers to how he was named after Jo Heller, so that's ok. It's when you start having Loke Starstrider and Hun Sala going off to save Princess Layla that you hit problems.

[Jennifer Cthulus]

Originally Posted by Jammill Khursheed

The two characters are called Tolkien and La Hainne and I don't know if they fit with a story taking place millions of years ago,

If you're wanting to have characters from millions of years ago with those names, then you're kind of stuck with the genetic memory/stuff happens in cycles arrangement, a la "Battlestar Galactica". That can be made to work if done well, but does seem to tug a little at suspension of disbelief, for me, anyway.

[atlhivemind]

If your story is set so far in the past then all bets are off. As your dialog "in character" isn't even in English or any other contemporary language. Nor are you stuck with the BSG-style "cycle of time" and "collective unconsiousness" issues.

Just use a translation convention. the reader sees English and Anglophonic names but they have no bearing on what the characters actually use as a language.

You can either make various races and nations 'themed' (i.e. have one group use british names, another French, another african, yadda) just as a convention or, ala BSG, mix things up origin-wise, just be consistent with your conventions and all will be well.

That said, there are some names to avoid because they're so damn recognizable in non-fictional contexts, i.e. Tolkien.

I'd think of a different name, or use a generator if there isn't a plot significance to the name. I'm a newbie, but I tend to avoid significant name meanings in my characters. Some people read too much into minutiae and get lost.

All of my characters either have unusual contemporary names (minor characters), or made-up (as far as I can tell) names for significant characters, and this is a human space-opera setting in Earth's BCE time.

[Mr. Aware Eagle]

Those particular names would jar me, were I reading your work. Like someone else said, it'd make the piece almost feel like a parody.
Perhaps you'd like to consider paying homage to Tolkien and La Haine in other ways.

[David Evil Overlord]

Yeah, I think it's going to drag readers out of the story.

Marvel comics did a were-pteradactyl character some years ago. In human form he was a nice guy. In were-pteradactyl form, he was a completely different personality, and chose to use his power for evil. He named himself Sauron, because he was a huge Lord Of The Rings fan and decided to pay homage to Tolkien's ultimate villain.

That worked. But in a time millions of years before Tolkien was born, I really don't think it would work.

[Jammill Khursheed]

Thanks for all the assistance everyone... I have since just gone with the interchangable 'l' nd 'r' thing because their names sounded right alongside the three other gods, so they are now called Tarkken and RaHainne (note the one word instead of two, thanks for the suggestion Pyrebat, it sounds better)...

Damm this place can be useful


Jammill

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Indeed it can be. And for some future reference, on my blog here I do have a rough list of naming guidelines, but they really only cover the basics...


But yes, I think it was a good idea to change the names over. You have to remember that any ancient civilization like the one you proposed would more than likely have a more gruff, guttural language than many of the ones we have today. So I would have probably thought more Russian or Germanic than Romantic French or English.