Repetitious phrases

[Trent Roman]

I've noticed Peter David likes repeating gags or plot points from one medium to another. Like how everybody gets the word 'decimation' wrong.

As for me, I never repeat phrases.

Fictitiously yours, Tr... hey, wait a minute.

 

[David cgc]

Honestly, PAD's repetition of anecdotes, sayings, riddles, and suchlike never really bothered me that much. Except...

In something like a half-dozen books, he had a character say, "'Tis enough. 'Twould serve." I found that incredibly annoying, to the point that now, when I hear or read 'tis, 'twould, 'twill, 'twas, or any i-less "it" leading to word starting with "w," I want to punch the 'twit who said it.

 

[ToddCam]

Oh, my god, that decimation thing is so annoying! Trek, X-Men, all the freaking time!

 

[Christopher]

Well, the meanings of words shift over time. If most people use "decimate" to mean "devastate" or "almost totally destroy," it's kind of misguided to insist that it still means "destroy ten percent of." That was its original meaning, that's its derivation, but neither of those dictates what a word means in the modern language.

 

[foravalon]

Peter David has done the "planet's orbit puts it in Tholian space for half of the year." bit at least twice.

 

[JD]

I'm still trying to figure out why this is such a big deal.

^ Slow news day.

Not a slow news day, but I noticed it in another book I finished reading and it reminded me of The Angel of Death/Mack the Knife's usage.

Why do you keep using it?

Maybe he thinks it sounds better than saying it was very, very dark?

 

[Trent Roman]

"It was a Stygian and tempestuous night..."

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Dayton Ward]

It was dark.

Too dark.

So dark that even Stygians stood around and said, "Damn, it's dark."

 

[Cicero]

^ Slow news day.

And over here all that was on the lunch time news (okay that was nine hours ago) was that some red neck was found with some guns and drugs in his pickup and then claimed he was going to try and off your next prez!

Was not their target someone else than he?


Oddly enough, I remember noticing Stygian each of the three times I've read it in one of David's books. (Each time I appreciated it.) Certain terrible cliches are inflicted in some Star Trek novels, though. Mostly, they are reverential, like the Uhuran pattern already described, which doesn't seem coincidence.

 

[Cicero]

It was dark.

Too dark.

So dark that even Stygians stood around and said, "Damn, it's dark."

Surely golden-haired Achilles provides a light of his own.

 

[captcalhoun]

my only problem with Mack's writing is his use of 'picayune' three times in Harbinger.

i'd never heard it before, but now, for some reason, i fucking hate that word...

but, the book's still made of win.

 

[Star Treks]

Amazing, really. I have more than a million paid words to my credit so far, and what do I hear about? The fact that I've used "Stygian" seven times out of one million fucking published words.

Respectfully, this sounds a bit defensive to me.

 

[TGTheodore]

Amazing, really. I have more than a million paid words to my credit so far, and what do I hear about? The fact that I've used "Stygian" seven times out of one million fucking published words.

Respectfully, this sounds a bit defensive to me.

You've not read of lot of David's posts, have you?

--Ted

 

[DimesDan]

Honestly, PAD's repetition of anecdotes, sayings, riddles, and suchlike never really bothered me that much. Except...

In something like a half-dozen books, he had a character say, "'Tis enough. 'Twould serve." I found that incredibly annoying, to the point that now, when I hear or read 'tis, 'twould, 'twill, 'twas, or any i-less "it" leading to word starting with "w," I want to punch the 'twit who said it.

Never ever go to Yorkshire then.

 

[Timo]

Well, the meanings of words shift over time. If most people use "decimate" to mean "devastate" or "almost totally destroy," it's kind of misguided to insist that it still means "destroy ten percent of." That was its original meaning, that's its derivation, but neither of those dictates what a word means in the modern language.

That, really, is one of the most annoying mannerisms of PAD's writing. All the dialogue where his hero characters come out looking clever and witty and the villains come out looking slow on the uptake seems to depend on the deeper understanding of 20th century English. Never mind it's unfair to expect the aliens of the week to know such stuff, it's unrealistic that any of the heroes would have the slightest idea of what English words and phrases used to mean three hundred years prior, either. How come Calhoun of all people knows 20th century wittisms?

Timo Saloniemi

 

[David Mack]

Respectfully, this sounds a bit defensive to me.

"Respectfully," why should I give a fuck what you think? At the moment, I'm coping with an ulcer, caffeine withdrawal, an upcoming surgical procedure that requires me to fast, an insurance-paperwork fiasco, juggling three projects, trying to line up next year's paying work, and struggling to meet the deadline for my first original novel. And I log on yesterday to find a thread in which I'm being taken to task over individual fucking words in my dozen or so books? I'm sorry, but "respectfully," give me a fucking break.

 

[Nardpuncher]

Amazing, really. I have more than a million paid words to my credit so far, and what do I hear about? The fact that I've used "Stygian" seven times out of one million fucking published words.

Respectfully, this sounds a bit defensive to me.

Yeah, it was a tad defensive. I'd notice the word 'stygian' even if it was used by an author twice in a million words I think.

I noticed Peter David uses "For his part" a lot.

 

[Nardpuncher]

Respectfully, this sounds a bit defensive to me.

"Respectfully," why should I give a fuck what you think? At the moment, I'm coping with an ulcer, caffeine withdrawal, an upcoming surgical procedure that requires me to fast, an insurance-paperwork fiasco, juggling three projects, trying to line up next year's paying work, and struggling to meet the deadline for my first original novel. And I log on yesterday to find a thread in which I'm being taken to task over individual fucking words in my dozen or so books? I'm sorry, but "respectfully," give me a fucking break.

Whoa...just read this one. Poor form. Please do not give a fuck what I think after either.

 

[Steve Roby]

That, really, is one of the most annoying mannerisms of PAD's writing. All the dialogue where his hero characters come out looking clever and witty and the villains come out looking slow on the uptake seems to depend on the deeper understanding of 20th century English.

A lot of PAD's characters seem to speak with the same voice, meaking endless wisecracks and sarcastic remarks.

 

[BrotherBenny]

"Respectfully," why should I give a fuck what you think? At the moment, I'm coping with an ulcer, caffeine withdrawal, an upcoming surgical procedure that requires me to fast, an insurance-paperwork fiasco, juggling three projects, trying to line up next year's paying work, and struggling to meet the deadline for my first original novel. And I log on yesterday to find a thread in which I'm being taken to task over individual fucking words in my dozen or so books? I'm sorry, but "respectfully," give me a fucking break.

First of all, David, I was not taking you to task, merely asking why you like using that phrase and my apologies if you thought I was taking you to task.

Secondly, good luck with disposing of the ulcer and the upcoming surgical op, hope all goes well. The insurance stuff will work out, so don't stress - it'll only aggravate the ulcer and I am typing from experience. My dad was a real bear with a sore head when he had his.

Thirdly, I'm looking forward to the next million words of yours, regardless of whether "Stygian" appears in there or not.

Curiosity certainly killed this cat, sheesh