- Joined
- May 29, 2014
- Messages
- 114
- Reaction score
- 17
What are your feelings on them? I'm a huge fan of China Mieville and my writing style has inevitably become somewhat derivative at times. Neologisms such as whispersmith are rife throughout his books and I find them delightful.
Of course, they have to be of quality. I'm sure nobody would be too impressed by "And Viera'th of the Sunless Sea picked up his whistleknife and stared out over the warscape beneath him, licking his lips as his blood-memories came rushing back," but I think they can certainly serve a purpose in high tier fantasy/sci-fi.
I believe I heard Christopher Priest being very critical of their use in Embassytown, and described it as lazy writing.
So... thoughts? Are neologisms in your fantasy absolutely ultragreat or not? How do you feel when you come across them?
Of course, they have to be of quality. I'm sure nobody would be too impressed by "And Viera'th of the Sunless Sea picked up his whistleknife and stared out over the warscape beneath him, licking his lips as his blood-memories came rushing back," but I think they can certainly serve a purpose in high tier fantasy/sci-fi.
I believe I heard Christopher Priest being very critical of their use in Embassytown, and described it as lazy writing.
So... thoughts? Are neologisms in your fantasy absolutely ultragreat or not? How do you feel when you come across them?