Dammit. I had a sneaking suspicion that might be the case (well, not the Helen Mirren bit, that would have been a weird thing to have a sneaking suspicion about, but the real name thing). Trust Jordan's good names to be taken from the real world.
Since his story is very much a fusion of Real World myth and legend.
I don't know.
It made sense to use mythical names. But current real-world ones? Well, maybe. Was long as I don't have to read about a Tah'wretgaf'xlkzrs I am happy.
But where do you draw the line on whether names are of mythical background? So many of our "modern" names are versions of something older.
It's also sensible for a writer to use real names that are slightly unusual because there'll still be a sense of strangeness for the majority of readers (how many people would know that Ilyena is a name from our world?) but the name will still sound vaguely sensible. Otherwise there is more of a likelihood that there'll be characters called Tah'wretgaf'xlkzrs.
As long as they don't use Dutch girl's names, that is.
*MySmiley*
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx
Good names
19/09/2010 11:25:23 AM
- 1303 Views
Hmm.
19/09/2010 02:03:49 PM
- 765 Views
Awww
19/09/2010 02:06:44 PM
- 906 Views
It makes sense for him, though.
19/09/2010 02:12:23 PM
- 727 Views
Re: It makes sense for him, though.
19/09/2010 02:14:36 PM
- 722 Views
Re: It makes sense for him, though.
19/09/2010 02:19:07 PM
- 792 Views
sorry to keep nitpicking
19/09/2010 02:40:35 PM
- 636 Views
Re: sorry to keep nitpicking
19/09/2010 02:42:45 PM
- 660 Views
Re: sorry to keep nitpicking
19/09/2010 02:44:32 PM
- 714 Views
Mat and Elayne and Thom are pretty recognizable as English names *NM*
19/09/2010 04:32:20 PM
- 330 Views
I actually rather like David Eddings' names.
19/09/2010 02:26:52 PM
- 891 Views
Ce'Nedra is one of the rare cases where the apostrophe is justified.
19/09/2010 04:16:51 PM
- 728 Views
Nynaeve ("Neigh-neev" )
19/09/2010 02:45:22 PM
- 786 Views
Mild-may-your-sufferings-be-at-the-hands-of-the-wicked.
19/09/2010 04:18:31 PM
- 792 Views
iain m banks has some great names...
19/09/2010 04:52:49 PM
- 712 Views
I was grumbling to myself about his names last night
19/09/2010 04:56:44 PM
- 800 Views
hehe... sometimes i just make up my own nicknmes when his are too long
21/09/2010 04:37:43 PM
- 722 Views
I've always been quite impressed by Anomander Rake.
19/09/2010 10:05:10 PM
- 666 Views
I like that the older beings in Malazan have varying names (e.g. Anomandaris Purake). *NM*
20/09/2010 02:20:15 AM
- 313 Views
I was going to mention that one myself, too. Just rolls right off the tongue. Delicious. *NM*
20/09/2010 06:13:10 AM
- 388 Views
Robb Hobb has the easiest names in the Fitz series *NM*
20/09/2010 03:50:07 AM
- 338 Views
oh man, i don't know how i forgot robin hobb...... i adore her names. especially nighteyes. *NM*
21/09/2010 04:31:33 PM
- 344 Views
A Song of Ice and Fire tends to have good names. Grounded, but just exotic enough. *NM*
20/09/2010 06:14:13 AM
- 320 Views
I don't know who has the best names overall, but I'll always love the name Bellatrix Lestrange.
20/09/2010 07:12:18 PM
- 724 Views