Why the rash of "Epic Stories"?

corroonb · 10-06-2012, 01:28 PM

Has anyone noticed that it is now obligatory for a history book to have a title that includes "the Epic Story"? Usually this is a subtitle. For example this is from a search on Amazon uk:

America's Game: The Epic Story of How Pro Football Captured a Nation
Coral Sea Story: An epic tale of adventure on the Queensland frontier
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration
The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge
The Longest Winter: The Battle of the Bulge and the Epic Story of World War II's Most Decorated Platoon
The Fourth Part of the World: The Epic Story of History's Greatest Map
The Miracle: The Epic Story of Asia's Quest for Wealth
Chasing the Sun: The Epic Story of the Star That Gives Us Life
Lords of the Sea: The Epic Story of the Athenian Navy and the Birth of Democracy
Epic: The Epic Story of Epic Stories

and so on. That last one is a joke.

Is this just a fad or are writers/publishers so bereft of imagination that epic is the only word they have to describe how awesome their "story" is?

Of course this is not a majority of history books but it's something that's irritated me more and more lately. Are these really all epic?

Jozawun · 10-06-2012, 05:44 PM

They use "epic" because it takes less space than "magnificent, sweeping, grandeur".

theducks · 10-06-2012, 06:23 PM

Just a cycle

in the 1950's they had all those Epic Movies
Cleopatra, Spartacus, Jason and the Argonauts, How the West was Won ...

Freeshadow · 10-06-2012, 09:05 PM

Marketing strategy.
Just because "Epic Story of Crapball" sounds better than "How doggy-like 'get the ball' with humans keep the masses happy, or 'panem et circenses' in a nutshell"

teh603 · 10-07-2012, 08:25 AM

"Epic" is a flavor of the month word, just like "fever" around 1980. It'll be gone in a few years, just like Bjork and Leonardo di Caprio.

spindlegirl · 10-07-2012, 08:37 AM

Title colon subtitle seems to be a way books are marketed.

Buying Purses: Why handbags, purses, and knapsacks are a Fashion Statement in Today's World and What we can Do about it. (I made that title up, obviously)

Here is a funny blog post about it.

corroonb · 10-07-2012, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spindlegirl

Title colon subtitle seems to be a way books are marketed.

Buying Purses: Why handbags, purses, and knapsacks are a Fashion Statement in Today's World and What we can Do about it. (I made that title up, obviously)

Here is a funny blog post about it.

That is a funny blog post and pretty much reflects my feeling about this. Thanks.

morriss003 · 10-09-2012, 04:20 PM

Now here is an excellent reason for a MR poll. What should be the next "epic" word? Suggestions, anyone?
(BTW, I was crushed to read that "Epic: The Epic Story of Epic Stories" was a joke)

Andrew H. · 10-09-2012, 04:29 PM

It's not a *real* epic unless it begins in medias res and has a trip to the underworld.

Lemurion · 10-10-2012, 11:34 PM

It's not a real epic unless Leonardo di Crappio dies.

BenG · 10-11-2012, 01:08 PM

I came across this one today. Two colons!

Game Six: Cincinnati, Boston, and the 1975 World Series: The Triumph of America's Pastime by Mark Frost

http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-me...m_aya_bb_lists

spindlegirl · 10-11-2012, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenG

I came across this one today. Two colons!

Game Six: Cincinnati, Boston, and the 1975 World Series: The Triumph of America's Pastime by Mark Frost

http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-me...m_aya_bb_lists

haha!

RainingLemur · 10-11-2012, 02:26 PM

It's just one of those fads that has leaked into a lot of things these days. Everything is epic, it seems. Or, at least has the potential to be. It'll pass. Hopefully.

Apache · 10-11-2012, 02:43 PM

I need to use the restroom for an epic.........................

Apache

Andrew H. · 10-11-2012, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainingLemur

It's just one of those fads that has leaked into a lot of things these days. Everything is epic, it seems. Or, at least has the potential to be. It'll pass. Hopefully.

Didn't everything use to be awesome?

10-06-2012, 01:28 PM	#1
corroonb Addict Posts: 317 Karma: 1232685 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Ireland Device: Kindle Voyage, Kobo Aura, Nexus 9	Why the rash of "Epic Stories"? Has anyone noticed that it is now obligatory for a history book to have a title that includes "the Epic Story"? Usually this is a subtitle. For example this is from a search on Amazon uk: America's Game: The Epic Story of How Pro Football Captured a Nation Coral Sea Story: An epic tale of adventure on the Queensland frontier The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge The Longest Winter: The Battle of the Bulge and the Epic Story of World War II's Most Decorated Platoon The Fourth Part of the World: The Epic Story of History's Greatest Map The Miracle: The Epic Story of Asia's Quest for Wealth Chasing the Sun: The Epic Story of the Star That Gives Us Life Lords of the Sea: The Epic Story of the Athenian Navy and the Birth of Democracy Epic: The Epic Story of Epic Stories and so on. That last one is a joke. Is this just a fad or are writers/publishers so bereft of imagination that epic is the only word they have to describe how awesome their "story" is? Of course this is not a majority of history books but it's something that's irritated me more and more lately. Are these really all epic? Last edited by corroonb; 10-06-2012 at 01:32 PM.

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10-06-2012, 05:44 PM	#2
Jozawun Fanatic Posts: 519 Karma: 2693434 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Australia Device: Cybook Gen 3, Pocketbook 902, Sony 650	They use "epic" because it takes less space than "magnificent, sweeping, grandeur".

10-06-2012, 06:23 PM	#3
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,908 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Just a cycle in the 1950's they had all those Epic Movies Cleopatra, Spartacus, Jason and the Argonauts, How the West was Won ...

10-06-2012, 09:05 PM	#4
Freeshadow temp. out of service Posts: 2,815 Karma: 24285242 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Duisburg (DE) Device: PB 623	Marketing strategy. Just because "Epic Story of Crapball" sounds better than "How doggy-like 'get the ball' with humans keep the masses happy, or 'panem et circenses' in a nutshell"

10-07-2012, 08:25 AM	#5
teh603 Autism Spectrum Disorder Posts: 1,212 Karma: 6244877 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Coastal Texas Device: Android Phone	"Epic" is a flavor of the month word, just like "fever" around 1980. It'll be gone in a few years, just like Bjork and Leonardo di Caprio.

10-07-2012, 08:37 AM	#6
spindlegirl Wizard Posts: 1,594 Karma: 21245891 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra h20, Paperwhite 2017, Phone & Tablet w Moonreader	Title colon subtitle seems to be a way books are marketed. Buying Purses: Why handbags, purses, and knapsacks are a Fashion Statement in Today's World and What we can Do about it. (I made that title up, obviously) Here is a funny blog post about it.

10-09-2012, 04:20 PM	#8
morriss003 Evangelist Posts: 438 Karma: 3409790 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Maui Device: kindle	Now here is an excellent reason for a MR poll. What should be the next "epic" word? Suggestions, anyone? (BTW, I was crushed to read that "Epic: The Epic Story of Epic Stories" was a joke)

10-09-2012, 04:29 PM	#9
Andrew H. Grand Master of Flowers Posts: 2,201 Karma: 8389072 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Naptown Device: Kindle PW, Kindle 3 (aka Keyboard), iPhone, iPad 3 (not for reading)	It's not a real epic unless it begins in medias res and has a trip to the underworld.

10-10-2012, 11:34 PM	#10
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	It's not a real epic unless Leonardo di Crappio dies.

10-11-2012, 01:08 PM	#11
BenG Home Guard Posts: 4,730 Karma: 86721650 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6	I came across this one today. Two colons! Game Six: Cincinnati, Boston, and the 1975 World Series: The Triumph of America's Pastime by Mark Frost http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-me...m_aya_bb_lists

10-11-2012, 02:26 PM	#13
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	It's just one of those fads that has leaked into a lot of things these days. Everything is epic, it seems. Or, at least has the potential to be. It'll pass. Hopefully.

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10-11-2012, 02:43 PM	#14
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,259 Karma: 90000484 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	I need to use the restroom for an epic......................... Apache