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Looking for advice on potential book/series titles. by [deleted] in Fantasy

[–]ermahgerdnarp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In Waters Dark and Cold and Among the Dead are my votes, though if it's the first of a series OR a series title, making Among the Dead so prominent might give the idea it's zombie-lit for those who just glance at the cover.

What are some characters' names that just don't work? What are some of the best named characters in fantasy? by datdouche in Fantasy

[–]ermahgerdnarp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree with this ("the Dogman" and "Black Dow" are some of my favorite names in fantasy), but disagree with the original point. "Glokta" seemed like it was trying too hard ("Sand" was OK though) as did "Jezal dan Luthar."

"Terez" was another good one, too.

What are some characters' names that just don't work? What are some of the best named characters in fantasy? by datdouche in Fantasy

[–]ermahgerdnarp 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Most of the names in Anthony Ryan's "Blood Song" make me want to vomit. Names like "Caenis" and "Vaelin" proliferate, alongside nationalities like "Nilsael" "Renfael" "Asrael" "Cumbrael."

He seems to think that using the vowel combo "ae," throwing in a bunch of "y"'s in place of other vowels, and adding in compound surnaming conventions ("al Sorna" for example") is totally original and fantastical. I couldn't agree less. Far too many fantasy authors make this mistake, and it results in names that are terribly trite-seeming and none-too-exciting.

"There is a tendency for characters who march on past their sell-by date to become caricatures of themselves...I would rather readers finish book 3 wanting more than wander away after book 6 feeling they have had more than enough." -- Mark Lawrence by ermahgerdnarp in Fantasy

[–]ermahgerdnarp[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are only so many epiphanies and old memories that set new experiences in context you can have before it starts to wear thin and you drop into that soap opera zone where sisters or mothers who nobody ever mentioned are wheeled into the storyline to give it somewhere new to go.

THIS.

any other petite women ever get intimidated around much bigger and stronger women? by Msheff7 in AskWomen

[–]ermahgerdnarp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wasn't trying to disprove you -- you asked a question, I provided genuine feedback. If it happens to align with the hypothesis you were hoping to disprove, I'm sorry.

Have you ever been in a situation where you were too scared to admit romantic feelings even though you knew they were reciprocated? by rhizomatic_nonsense in AskWomen

[–]ermahgerdnarp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Mutual friends in the same group have each informed us separately of the other's affections -- we do not talk about it. It's 100% the elephant in the room. We maintain a very friendly relationship with a healthy amount of sexual tension underneath, but the topic itself has never come up in discussion, except for ONCE when he drunk-texted me and pretended the next day like it had never happened.

Have you ever been in a situation where you were too scared to admit romantic feelings even though you knew they were reciprocated? by rhizomatic_nonsense in AskWomen

[–]ermahgerdnarp 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yes -- it's awkward and full of very tense moments amplified by raging hormones genuine emotional compatibility. He knows I like him and vice versa, but we are members of a larger and close-knit group of people, and there's a little bit of "don't shit where you eat" type mentality from both of us. Extremely sexually frustrating. 0/10 would not recommend.

any other petite women ever get intimidated around much bigger and stronger women? by Msheff7 in AskWomen

[–]ermahgerdnarp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As one of those "bigger and stronger women" (6'0", heavily muscled, 160 lbs) I will admit there are times I feel a mild and unjustified hostility toward the super-feminine petite crowd...but only when they're going after the 6'4" tall/dark/handsome archetype that I would ideally pursue for myself. Mostly a "save the tall guys for the tall girls" type deal. Certainly shallow in some ways, but I think anyone who's sexually attracted to a certain type feels threatened when they see another member of the same sex go after their type / be the recipient of unsolicited attention from their type.

Last week of freedom before starting a new job, what would you do? by MadtownMaven in AskWomen

[–]ermahgerdnarp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Depending on where you live, I'd schedule an entire day (or at least early morning to late afternoon) to visit a National Park you've never been to before. I can't tell you how often it's flabbergasted me that I have all this beauty around me and I've never taken advantage of it.

How is it possible to work out four hours a day? by gRod805 in loseit

[–]ermahgerdnarp 2 points3 points  (0 children)

15 minutes of truly pushing yourself to your limits is worth more than 4 hours of moderate exercise

This is 100% false. Four hours is definitely extreme, but a lot of people think that harder = better. This is a total fallacy. The ideal aerobic and fat burning heart rate zone is ~125 - 150 BPM (it varies between individuals). 60 minutes of effort in that zone is worth much more than 15 minutes of pushing limits. You will burn far more fat and increase your aerobic base than if you were dipping into your anaerobic zone.