In the Guardian, Darragh McManus bemoans “samey title” virus:
By rights there should be a moratorium put on certain words being used in the name of a novel: “Notes from”, “Letters from”, “Confessions of”, anyone’s ” … Daughter” or ” … Son”, anything involving quirky-but-annoying juxtapositions (“Searching for Tractors in Alaska During Ramadan”).
His suggestions for “tremendous genre-specific monikers for your next book” are dead-on:
Chick Lit: Is He as Much of a Bastard as He Seems?
Sci-fi: //_MultiVerse UnderTime Chronicles Vol. 1_//
Crime: Joey Jones’ Downbeat Goddamn Downtown Blues
Serial killer thriller type yoke: Blood on the Edge
Action-espionage: The Armageddon Code
“Serious” historical novel, i.e. something set in an immigrant community during the 1970s: Claggy Alley
Popular historical novel, i.e. something jolly and unpretentious written by Bernard Cornwell: Pirate Lords of Old Bristol
Fantasy: Mandala: Empress of the Golden Plains
Whimsical comic novel: The Spectabulicious Adventures of Lord Pettlesnook and his Patchwork Dirigible
Edgy fiction for hip twentysomethings: Fuckepedia
Booker winner: The Persimmon Gatherers
Bitterly disappointed Booker runner-up: Notes from the Spice-monger’s Daughter
But what about my upcoming zombie-espionage-cooking crossover novel?
How about “Cloak, Dagger and Brains over easy”?
How about, “I Ate the Double-Agent’s Brain…with Truffle Oil…And I Liked It” ?
Good one, Monita. Or how about:
“Treason and Grey Matter: A Deadly Seasoning”
Nope, can’t come up with anything except ‘Brainfood’.
They Soup to Conquer?
The dead pan list.
How about Charlie Stross and the Leftovers Nobody Wants to Touch?
Don’t forgot the trendy uber subtitle, so that potential readers have no doubt as to the book’s content and the author’s viewpoint:
“Treason and Grey Matter: A Deadly Seasoning –
How zombie chefs are being used to infiltrate the government and why the CIA* is actively working to supply them with fresh human brains”
*Culinary Institute of America
So, is that going to be Jo Beckett or Evan Delaney?
Superb suggestions!
Susan: I’m planning the menu and will let you know who’s on it.