Eight Deadly Words

Eight Deadly Words

The Eight Deadly Words are "I don't "care" what happens to these people." [cite web| url=http://www.geocities.com/Athens/4824/sf-written.htm#34F | title=The Eight Deadly Words| work=rec.arts.sf.written Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)| accessdate=2006-07-04| year=2005| first=Evelyn C.| last= Leeper] The phrase is commonly used in science fiction fandom as a criticism of stories that fail to engage the reader through a lack of interesting or compelling characters. A person reviewing a book might for example write "...and at that point I said the Eight Deadly Words" to indicate loss of interest for this reason.

The phrase was coined by Dorothy J. Heydt in a June 11, 1991, Usenet posting to rec.arts.sf-lovers in reference to The Copper Crown, a novel by Patricia Kennealy-Morrison:

:I put it down and went to sleep. And when I woke up in the morning and picked it up again, I thought, "I don't care what happens to these people," and put it down again.cite web| url=http://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.sf-lovers/msg/9c5e879597b7fd4d| title=de gustibus| publisher=rec.arts.sf-lovers| first=Dorothy J| last=Heydt| date=11 June 1991| accessdate=2006-04-29| id=message-id <1991Jun12.030517.26647@agate.berkeley.edu>]

The phrase was first referred to by the term "Eight Deadly Words" by Heydt in a September 15, 1993, Usenet posting to rec.arts.sf.written in reference to a Fionavar Tapestry book:

:The Eight Deadly Words (tm):

:"I don't _care_ *what* happens to these people!"cite web| url=http://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.sf.written/msg/c0c86ef8c3d067df?dmode=source| title=Re: The Fionavar Tapestry vs. The Wheel of Time| publisher=rec.arts.sf.written| first=Dorothy J| last=Heydt| year=15 Sep 1993| accessdate=2006-04-10| id=message-id <277tn4$q62@agate.berkeley.edu>]

Although the term "Eight Deadly Words" is not actually trademarked, within two days the catchphrase was being used independently by John S. Novak. A few days later it was used in the title of a thread for the first time. In 1994 it spread beyond its original newsgroup when Heydt inadvertently crossposted it to the alt.books.deryni newsgroup. Later that year, the term takes on a life of its own, spreading independently of Heydt into other newsgroups, such as rec.arts.comics.misc.

Heydt has also stated that she coined the term while reading The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan:

:It was myself who coined them, and the occasion was getting to about Chapter Two, Volume Two, of _The Wheel of Time_, and shutting the book and giving the whole set (three or four books at that time, I believe) to my niece, who had a long train trip ahead of her.cite web| url=http://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.sf.written/msg/c67003d462c72a07?dmode=source| title=Re: Surviving the brain-eater?| publisher=rec.arts.sf.written| first=Dorothy J| last=Heydt| year=21 Nov 2003| accessdate=2006-04-29| id=message-id ]

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Dorothy J. Heydt — Born June 6 Pen name Katherine Blake Occupation writer Nationality American Genres Science fiction, Fantasy …   Wikipedia

  • Witchcraft — For other uses, see Witchcraft (disambiguation). Witch redirects here. For other uses, see Witch (disambiguation). The classic image of the witch astride a besom broom …   Wikipedia

  • literature — /lit euhr euh cheuhr, choor , li treuh /, n. 1. writings in which expression and form, in connection with ideas of permanent and universal interest, are characteristic or essential features, as poetry, novels, history, biography, and essays. 2.… …   Universalium

  • religion — religionless, adj. /ri lij euhn/, n. 1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and… …   Universalium

  • performing arts — arts or skills that require public performance, as acting, singing, or dancing. [1945 50] * * * ▪ 2009 Introduction Music Classical.       The last vestiges of the Cold War seemed to thaw for a moment on Feb. 26, 2008, when the unfamiliar strains …   Universalium

  • international relations — a branch of political science dealing with the relations between nations. [1970 75] * * * Study of the relations of states with each other and with international organizations and certain subnational entities (e.g., bureaucracies and political… …   Universalium

  • Law, Crime, and Law Enforcement — ▪ 2006 Introduction Trials of former heads of state, U.S. Supreme Court rulings on eminent domain and the death penalty, and high profile cases against former executives of large corporations were leading legal and criminal issues in 2005.… …   Universalium

  • Europe, history of — Introduction       history of European peoples and cultures from prehistoric times to the present. Europe is a more ambiguous term than most geographic expressions. Its etymology is doubtful, as is the physical extent of the area it designates.… …   Universalium

  • List of Marvel Family enemies — Through his adventures, Fawcett Comics/DC Comics superhero Captain Marvel and his Marvel Family gained a host of enemies, including the following: Contents 1 Acrobat 2 Adolf Hitler 3 Amoeba Family …   Wikipedia

  • Mortal Kombat — For other uses, see Mortal Kombat (disambiguation). Mortal Kombat The dragon logo of Mortal Kombat Genres Fighting …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”