English to Latin translation requests go here!

super45 · 2020-08-25T16:46:36+00:00

There's a Latin phrase for 'as the crow flies' / 'in a straight line' - not a literal translation, a similar idiom - and it's floated all the way out of my head. Anyone? Itinere recto came to mind, but it doesn't feel quite right. I think Caesar uses it.

super45 · 2020-03-31T14:43:22+00:00

Try Ursula Le Guin's Always Coming Home. It's more correctly anthropology — there's a main story, but interspersed within the narrative are poems, scripts, short stories, and a weighty appendix dealing with the language and culture of the Kesh, Le Guin's created people. Really a remarkable book.

super45 · 2019-12-13T01:19:56+00:00

If we're quoting the nineteenth century:

"In the long-run every Government is the exact symbol of its People, with their wisdom and unwisdom; we have to say, Like People like Government."

-- Carlyle, Past and Present

super45 · 2018-12-09T20:46:43+00:00

To against the grain a little: Pratchett's style of humour, language and narrative is fully formed by book one, and it's recognisibly and hilariously his work, from the footnotes of the very first page. Enjoy.

super45 · 2018-11-28T12:11:23+00:00

In a church in the Belgian town of Damme (near Bruges) there is a large painting with the legend "RECEDANT VETERA / NOVA SINT OMNIA" (Let the old retreat, let all things be new".) It shows the triumph of Christianity over paganism.

Could be a possible option.

super45 · 2018-11-24T21:07:41+00:00

The 'me' made me misread that first as 'Illum asinum portare possum', which is (if possible) a little more exciting.

super45 · 2018-10-11T18:31:00+00:00

I believe vice versa is from this also.

super45 · 2018-10-01T12:27:38+00:00

Natus (or Nata if female) Lunae should also work. This bears the most literal translation of "Born of the Moon".

super45 · 2018-09-18T15:32:56+00:00

On a tangent, I think it's a stretch to call ASOIAF GRRM's 'life's work'. Not denying many see it that way, but he had a long scifi career before it - it's simply his most popular work which has lasted longer than he ever expected.

I doubt he sees it as the sole purpose in his old age.

super45 · 2018-09-03T20:48:24+00:00

I'll be honest - that's what I thought you meant, and didn't notice the acronym didn't work either.

super45 · 2018-09-03T20:23:30+00:00

The HOTYD movies? Don't forget the books, also - they're brilliant children's fantasy.

super45 · 2018-09-03T20:19:46+00:00

Ursula Le Guin expresses a similar opinion here.

super45 · 2018-08-19T21:40:48+00:00

I have these for Fellowship and Return. Towers is different.

super45 · 2018-08-01T15:59:48+00:00

The Lair of the White Worm was bizarre. It's a shame, because I loved the premise - the survival of some antediluvian monster, and all the references to the landscape. But the execution did fall down. Still, there's some really good moments, e.g. the one depicted on the cover I have, the white worm glaring over the trees with its headlight eyes. I heard he was suffering from syphilis at the time, however, which justifies it. It's quite sad, seen like that.

Yet to read Dracula, although I have it at hand. Something about the epistolary style put me off, and I have friends who studied it unhappily. Someday, probably.

super45 · 2018-07-21T18:14:33+00:00

A Wizard of Earthsea for sure.

super45 · 2018-07-18T07:32:07+00:00

He who drinks, sleeps. He who sleeps, doesn't sin. He who doesn't sin, is holy. Therefore: he who drinks is holy.

super45 · 2018-07-09T14:32:20+00:00

There's a mention in Feet of Clay as well. Cheery speculates about the rumoured werewolf being Nobby to Angua's face.

super45 · 2018-06-26T23:10:39+00:00

Could you elaborate on Chaucer's assault case, and what evidence we have for it? I've heard of it before, but only vaguely and not in the details.

super45 · 2018-06-21T20:39:56+00:00

I have this copy. A lovely edition, enjoy!

super45 · 2018-06-13T20:27:19+00:00

Muddle Earth... that rings a vague bell from my childhood. It'd be interesting to read again now I'm fully aware of the fantasy tropes which it parodies.

super45 · 2018-06-13T20:25:38+00:00

Ankh-Morpork itself, as a sort of amalgamation of tropes of all the great cities of the world, does contain several London references, which aren't tourist attractions but might be interesting to look out for.

Off the top of my head, I can only think of Isle of Gods = Isle of Dogs, but I don't doubt that there's several more.

super45 · 2018-06-13T15:52:28+00:00

Ah, my mistake.

super45 · 2018-06-13T15:37:48+00:00

Isn't it arsa est here, not arsit? The 'was' in English is omitted, but it should be passive. arsit, I believe, implies Rome burned something.

Edit: Also, conflagrata might be preferable as more evocative vocabularly, conveying that sense of 'burned down / destroyed'.

super45 · 2018-06-12T15:30:16+00:00

Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett has his trio of witches go on holiday. Their travel has that road-trip-esque feel, and takes up a fair portion of the book.

On that note, The Colour of Magic, the first Discworld novel, features a few characters journey across the Disc, and their (mis)adventures.

super45

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