Authors who don't know the meaning of words... - Page 3

jasonkchapman · 11-14-2007, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yes, "codices" would be the correct Latin plural, but "codexes" is just fine too in English.

From the Delerium-Webster dictionary:

Quote:

Codex \ˈkäd'-eks\ n. singluar. A former spouse sharing several traits with a dead fish.

NatCh · 11-14-2007, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

A cormorant is a sea bird.

We call 'em "snake-birds" because when they're in the water about all you see is their necks and heads, which look like a snake rearing up out of the water.

Hey, maybe Nessie is a great big cormorant!

tompe · 11-14-2007, 01:39 PM

Part of the pleasure reading science fiction is to be introduced to new things like "decanting drugs" and "cryocap" and learn by continue to read what they mean. Its part of the world building and your experience learning the new world. I just bought Richard Morgans Black Man in paperback and will soon read it. It sounded interesting when he talked about the book at a science fiction convention where he was guest of honor.

yvanleterrible · 11-14-2007, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

We call 'em "snake-birds" because when they're in the water about all you see is their necks and heads, which look like a snake rearing up out of the water.

Hey, maybe Nessie is a great big cormorant!

The cormorant does not have the typical feather coat other aquatic birds have and thus does not have the same buoyancy ie the reason they float low in water. The same fact also has them standing with outspread wings for hours to dry out. That would be quite fitting to that expression "Cormorant Legacy", I would venture towards its meaning "Never being on top of things".

Sparrow · 11-14-2007, 03:54 PM

The common cormorant (or shag)
Lays eggs inside a paper bag,
You follow the idea, no doubt?
It's to keep the lightning out.

But what these unobservant birds
Have never thought of, is that herds
Of wandering bears might come with buns
And steal the bags to hold the crumbs.

-- Christopher Isherwood

nekokami · 11-14-2007, 06:29 PM

"Codices," yes. I did know that. Perhaps my brain is getting old.

I read sf partly because I love learning new words, or seeing words I know used in new ways. (Though I don't mean calling a scroll a codex!)

Goshzilla · 11-15-2007, 03:10 AM

Did the author confuse a "Rolodex" with a Codex?

This reminds me of a controversy that stemmed around the use of several hyphens in the movie title: The 40-Year-Old Virgin

Alot of people thought there were too many hyphens in the title.

If you remove the first hyphen, it means there are 40 year-old virgins

remove the second hyphen it it makes it seem like 40 years there is an old virgin.

I wonder if they had to hire an entire english department to get the title right, because I remember reading some of the letters written in Roger Ebert column about the title and it was pretty funny.

jasonkchapman · 11-15-2007, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

I only pick on people I like, Jason.

And I'm really enjoying Heretic.

Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying it.

astra · 11-15-2007, 08:21 AM

Someone who has read Black Man answered to my questions:

dorsal implies running along the top, back or spine of a ship, station or structure - like the dorsal fin of a fish that runs along its spine - the opposite is ventral

decanting means pouring out into another vessel - in context the "decanting drugs" are used when one is "poured out" of a cryocap; presumably in order to prevent shock.

In context the word "cormorant" is used as a code word; you'll understand later in the book as I do think it is more fully explained.

HarryT · 11-15-2007, 08:25 AM

I did in fact answer you too, AL, in post #29 on the previous page

.

astra · 11-15-2007, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I did in fact answer you too, AL, in post #29 on the previous page

.

Yes, thank you very much

Howevere, this is the reason why I said

Quote:

Someone who has read Black Man

Do you see any difference between your answer and the one above?

Your answers were pretty much dictionary like. Except A cormorant is a sea bird I found most of them myself. I didn't have to be smart..goggle helped me

but it didn't help me much in reading the book.

Thanks anyway!

yvanleterrible · 11-15-2007, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goshzilla

Did the author confuse a "Rolodex" with a Codex?

This reminds me of a controversy that stemmed around the use of several hyphens in the movie title: The 40-Year-Old Virgin

Alot of people thought there were too many hyphens in the title.

If you remove the first hyphen, it means there are 40 year-old virgins

remove the second hyphen it it makes it seem like 40 years there is an old virgin.

I wonder if they had to hire an entire english department to get the title right, because I remember reading some of the letters written in Roger Ebert column about the title and it was pretty funny.

As I've seen it often written in French, the word codex is used in a figurative sense as a repository of ancient laws, or codes. When you think of ancient, you think of scrolls. Probably this author tried to use it this way. The proper meaning of codex is identical from French to English.

Lemurion · 11-15-2007, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra_lestat

He cannot look up "Codex" or any other word in a dictionary anymore. He passed away half year ago I think.

I was not impressed by Belgariad.
I found it way too simple, naive, very young adult type fantasy.
He is a great fantasy author for kids and teenagers to get them into fantasy (10-15 years old). However, if you read him for the first time when you are older, after you have read a lot of other fantasy works then it is meh...

If I am not mistaken, The Belgariad was rebranded kid's fiction. Which suits it quite well

David Eddings is still kicking. It was his wife Leigh who passed away this year. She died of complications from a series of strokes in February.

HarryT · 11-15-2007, 01:40 PM

AL,

I agree with you entirely that Eddings' books are simple, unsophisticated stories in which the "good guys" always win. Sometimes it's just nice to read stories like that when you don't feel like anything too "heavy". I read lots of more "serious" stuff too, but Eddings is nice when I want to relax with a pleasant story.

The Belgariad (or at least the last three books in the series) has recently been released as a MobiPocket eBook, which is what prompted me to re-read it.

astra · 11-15-2007, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lemurion

David Eddings is still kicking. It was his wife Leigh who passed away this year. She died of complications from a series of strokes in February.

Oh, shame on me

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11-14-2007, 01:39 PM	#33
tompe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,452 Karma: 7185064 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Linköpng, Sweden Device: Kindle Voyage, Nexus 5, Kindle PW	Part of the pleasure reading science fiction is to be introduced to new things like "decanting drugs" and "cryocap" and learn by continue to read what they mean. Its part of the world building and your experience learning the new world. I just bought Richard Morgans Black Man in paperback and will soon read it. It sounded interesting when he talked about the book at a science fiction convention where he was guest of honor.

11-14-2007, 03:54 PM	#35
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	The common cormorant (or shag) Lays eggs inside a paper bag, You follow the idea, no doubt? It's to keep the lightning out. But what these unobservant birds Have never thought of, is that herds Of wandering bears might come with buns And steal the bags to hold the crumbs. -- Christopher Isherwood

11-14-2007, 06:29 PM	#36
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	"Codices," yes. I did know that. Perhaps my brain is getting old. I read sf partly because I love learning new words, or seeing words I know used in new ways. (Though I don't mean calling a scroll a codex!)

11-15-2007, 03:10 AM	#37
Goshzilla Zealot Posts: 104 Karma: 346 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: Rocket Ebook 1150	Did the author confuse a "Rolodex" with a Codex? This reminds me of a controversy that stemmed around the use of several hyphens in the movie title: The 40-Year-Old Virgin Alot of people thought there were too many hyphens in the title. If you remove the first hyphen, it means there are 40 year-old virgins remove the second hyphen it it makes it seem like 40 years there is an old virgin. I wonder if they had to hire an entire english department to get the title right, because I remember reading some of the letters written in Roger Ebert column about the title and it was pretty funny.

11-15-2007, 08:21 AM	#39
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	Someone who has read Black Man answered to my questions: dorsal implies running along the top, back or spine of a ship, station or structure - like the dorsal fin of a fish that runs along its spine - the opposite is ventral decanting means pouring out into another vessel - in context the "decanting drugs" are used when one is "poured out" of a cryocap; presumably in order to prevent shock. In context the word "cormorant" is used as a code word; you'll understand later in the book as I do think it is more fully explained.

11-15-2007, 08:25 AM	#40
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I did in fact answer you too, AL, in post #29 on the previous page .

11-15-2007, 01:40 PM	#44
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	AL, I agree with you entirely that Eddings' books are simple, unsophisticated stories in which the "good guys" always win. Sometimes it's just nice to read stories like that when you don't feel like anything too "heavy". I read lots of more "serious" stuff too, but Eddings is nice when I want to relax with a pleasant story. The Belgariad (or at least the last three books in the series) has recently been released as a MobiPocket eBook, which is what prompted me to re-read it.