posted
Ack. That is close. You're right. *bonks head*
Edit: On thinking about it--is it too close? I suspect no matter what you title something, somehwere there will be another title that is at least somewhat similar. They both have the word talon in them. I'm not sure whether it's a big issue or not. Opinions?
[This message has been edited by JeanneT (edited April 03, 2008).]
posted
I'm not a big fan of titles of the "Something of the Something" variety. Reminds me too much of "Return of the Jedi", "Lord of the Rings", "Planet of the Apes", "Lord of the Flies", and so on. Just seems cliche to me.
Posts: 487 | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
Sorry to say between reading your first post and the first reply I also thought Talon of the Silver Hawk, I think it is just too damn famous. My trilogy used to be called Balance of Flame and Ice, but I have renamed it, far too close to Song of Ice and Fire. I think it is like a recent discussion about having the same name as other authors: David Something. It shouldn't matter if it is outside of the genre, but Feist IS in the genre (even if it is SciFi the overlapping fans and shelving together...) and big in the genre. But in the end it is up to you.
Talon of the Raptor Clan, Cut and slashed with sword in hand, and baddies fell upon the sand, He's Talon of the Raptor Clan.
As titles go it is a good title, although I tend to veer away from using names in story titles. I always think they are less hooky (after all we don't care about Talon yet) than some enigmatic phrase.
[This message has been edited by skadder (edited April 04, 2008).]
[This message has been edited by skadder (edited April 04, 2008).]
posted
I haven't read the Silver Hawk book so I didn't think of it, but in all honesty (and I'm sure that's what you want), the title doesn't make me want to pick the book up and flip it over to see what it's about. (Neither does Talon of the Silver Hawk, if it makes you feel any better. )
It's not the "of the" that gets me. This is a perfectly good title configuration that has worked for many big and small books and movies. Of the big words in the title -- talon, raptor, and clan -- I hear about talons and clans so much in fantasy....
Now, raptors don't come up as often, assuming you're talking about the dinosaur and not a different type of dragon. But even if you are talking about another type of dragon, I might be tempted to flip to the back -- which is your entire goal. So, IMO, I'd focus on that word.
posted
Yes--the reference is to a bird of prey. And arriki was pretty close. A talon is the hooked claw on a bird of prey, not a name.
The Raptor Clan is the name of the mercenary clan that SHE (*smiles*) is a member of. The young members are called Talons. It happens she rarely uses a sword, being much better with her knives.
Maybe the name is a bit to esoteric. It didn't occur to me that what a talon was might not be in most people's vocabulary. *ponders* On the other hand Christine says you hear about talons too much in fantasy. *ponders more*
The name is definitely going to be in the novel as what the members are called. Whether that will be the title--still up in the air. I must admit I'm prone to assume that something that is part of my working vocabulary is common when that isn't always the case.
[This message has been edited by JeanneT (edited April 04, 2008).]
posted
Just to clarify -- I wasn't trying to discourage you from using the name Talon in the novel, just the title.
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posted
Well, because it's about one Talon not all of them.
And I don't think the title is that much like the Feist book. They have one word in common. I don't think there is any way to have a title that won't have a word in common with other books of the genre. How many fantasies have the word Sword in them? It doesn't keep them from selling.
I think a much more salient issue, and the one I was looking for, is would the title tempt you to pick the book up and look at it. Christine said it wouldn't. Fair enough--and it's not a matter of feeling better. My feelings aren't invested. You're right that I was looking for an honest answer.
I'm just trying to decide if the title works. After giving it some thought, the discussion seems to have gotten side tracked, but I am wondering if a lot of people didn't know what a Raptor was or what a Talon was, if that might be a problem in it catching people's interest--or a publisher's interest for that matter which is the issue at this point.
Edit: For instance, if a lot of people would look at it and thing dinosaur when they saw the word raptor or name when they saw Talon--definitely not good. If you saw the title and yawned--not good either. LOL
And thanks for the comments. They have helped to raise some good questions.
[This message has been edited by JeanneT (edited April 04, 2008).]
posted
No offense, but I realised I hadn't answered your original question (the whole point!) and so I did. The title, as stated, would not put me off. I have to honest about how superficial I am--cover art is often the thing I see first, then the title, then the blurb, then a random (not the first) page.
So my question is: Do you have a great picture on the cover?
posted
I knew what a talon and a raptor was. I was thinking it would be about an "enforcer" type of some feudal group. I'd probably flip to the back cover for the blub based on the name but, then, I'm very fond of raptors.
posted
But if the reader doesn't know that "talon" means anything other than claw (especially with "raptor" already in the title), why would there be anything special about the word "talon" being in the title, as well?
It sort of makes the title misleading, doesn't it?
What about YOUNGLING OF THE RAPTOR CLAN? (A bit better, I think than, MAIDEN OF THE RAPTOR CLAN, or GIRL OF THE RAPTOR CLAN.)
posted
I don't think titles tend to be interpreted literally in fantasy.
I would never look at Feist's Talon of the Silver Hawk and mistake that he had taken to doing a naturalist treatise.
I'm still considering whether this title would be too close to that. But my feeling at the moment (subject to change) is that all I really need is a catchy title for selling it. The other might be better for an editor to decide.
I could easily be wrong though. Wouldn't be the first time. LOL
[This message has been edited by JeanneT (edited April 04, 2008).]
posted
I wonder if the confusion over Talon was because Talon of the Silver Hawk's main character's name was Talon.
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posted
I know you aren't really looking for suggestions but...Does it have to be Talon in the title? Obviously I know that in the book they will retain that title but your MC is different from the other talons(I imagine and more pivitol) to highlight that difference how about:
The Claw of The Raptor Clan
[This message has been edited by skadder (edited April 05, 2008).]
posted
Does it have to be "Raptor" in "Raptor Clan?" The tribe names I recall---and anthropology and history is too vast a field for me to know every tribal name---and I recall only specific animals, not a Latinate name for a group of birds.
quote:rap·tor
rap·tor [ráptər] (plural rap·tors) n bird of prey: a bird of prey
posted
The title is fine, I've never even heard of that other book, and neither have most readers. if the publisher doesn't like it, he'll change it.
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