Finding Names for Characters

 

Friends and readers ask me how I find names for the many characters in my books. There are several sources that are easily accessible. I look up favorite male names or favorite baby names on the Internet. Or I search the International Movie Database for appropriate names from different countries, sometimes mixing first and last names. The names have to have a sound to me, and - I admit - when I write them, they have to be easy to type on the keyboard (okay, joke...).

When I write science fiction stories, I try to invent new forms of names that do not follow the pattern of first and last names, or I create new combinations and meanings. For example, I had a character named Antoniasis Nivellanor Ekris because on his home planet the first name was for him, the second was derived from the house he belonged to, and the third was added by the family branch. When he flew to another world to participate in a race, the immigration guard looked him up and down and claimed that having so many letters in a name was vanity. He immediately told him that he couldn't run around using so many letters just for one person. So he shortened the name to Anek and ordered him to use the short form wherever he went in the city and not to brag about his origins. Anek then found out that all the inhabitants used abbreviations in their daily lives, for food, clothing, even for activities. This caused some problems for the proud heir of a great house, but he managed to understand the people. He never participated in the race, but he certainly learned a lesson for life.

In science fiction and fantasy novels, it is satisfying to find a group of similar names associated with a people. So the reader identifies that kind of name with the people. This means that other races have different types of names. For example, all male names end in "ac", while all female names end in "au". This makes for a good distinction and identification of who they belong to.

As I write this, I'm thinking about going back to science fiction stories, which used to be very satisfying to write because they offered so many possibilities. It felt like writing without limits. Maybe that's what I need right now...

 

I add an excerpt from my 2012 novel Living for the Act, which took a long time in the making and is, so far, the longest novel I’ve written.

What the book is about

On the verge of extinction after a long war, the women of Raskayen take the only chance to enlarge their population–they capture men from other worlds to use them in closed facilities. Restricted by rules, men are only for mating, not for love and the clan chiefs watch their groups of fertile males closely. But when it comes to love, not even leaders can predict the outcome for their society. And there are men who want more than spending their lives as objects of lust.

 

Excerpt

The room, lavishly furnished had a large, broad bed made of carved wood, lushly covered with light brown blankets. It was cool to his careful touch. There were couches, chairs, a small table, a cupboard, and even an oversized bathtub. A pleasant smell rose from the different small bowls filled with dried flowers. The light was dim, almost like sunset, and his eyes still saw every detail clearly.

Ferris smiled bashfully. The scientist had quite a taste.

Mysan entered, closed the door behind her, and exhaled with pure bliss. She smiled, so satisfied to have come here that she did not know what to say.

All thoughts, including his mind, reason, and twenty-five years of experience as a man, vanished from Ferris's brain. He almost forgot to breathe and could not help but gape at Mysan. He had judged her a beauty upon first sight, but in a nice nothing of underwear, all lace and black and half transparent like a thin cloud, she took his breath away and made his knees buckle.

“You look…surprised.” Her husky voice was too much.

Ferris took a quavering breath and slowly shook his head.

“You mean you're appalled at my ugliness.”

“Oh, but no, I…”

“Just kidding.” She got closer. She had looked forward to that moment and chosen her outfit deliberately to stun him. How wonderfully it worked! Mysan put her hands on his shoulders and stole a kiss from his still parted lips. He felt so warm and smooth under her fingers it was amazing.

“Am I allowed to touch you?” The number of hormones outmatched that of his red blood cells at the moment, and his bashed brains spun with images of having sex in thousand varieties. “They told us that we—”

“I know. However, allowed is what we want. And I allow you to touch me where you want.”

Given so much freedom suddenly, Ferris got the impression of walking a whole moon whereas they had allowed him only a small island before. Shivering with expectation, he ran his fingers along her shoulders and arms, her flat belly and ribcage. He looked in her eyes, as she got closer for another, more intimate kiss. He put his hands on her buttocks and kneaded her. It was an overwhelming stimulation. He panted. “I never thought it to be like this.”

“Me, too.” Mysan devoured him with her kisses, then slowly, deliberately, let her hands travel down his neck and spine. “Hum, just like I thought it would be.” She nipped his lower lip, smiling impishly. “You're so good to touch, Ferris.”

“I don't even know your real name.”

“You know all you need to know.” Mysan gave his balls a soft squeeze that left him gasping. “On the bed, man from Ryk.” She directed him backward until he sat.

“Why did you put these—”

“Sshh.” Mysan gently urged him to lie down, kissing, and fondling him. She pushed his arms up on the covers. A soft humming emerged from under the covers, and suddenly Ferris's arms and legs were drawn and the metal bracelets clanked. Ferris tried to pull his arms down, but could not.

“No! Don't tie me up! No!”

“Be calm, Ferris.” Mysan caressed his face with her hands. “I will do you no harm. Just relax.”

“But…why?”

“It's just a game.” She cut off his rebuke by placing a finger on his lips. “You'll love it.”

* * * *

4.5 out of 5 stars. Reviewer Top Pick!

“The author of “Living For The Act Part 1” has presented an elaborately depicted alternative society ruled by women which I found to be extremely compelling and enjoyable.”

 

The complete review can be found here:

http://nightowlreviews.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.aspx?daoid=5297