Another poll question - Alien Cameras!

[mary_j_59]

My sister and I are having a bit of a debate. She hates the word "holocam", which sounds, to her, too much like something from Star Trek I rather like it. At least it makes clear that it's a camera, and from the future. But what do you think? Should I change this word? If so, to what?
[Poll #1836699]

Comments

[condwiramurs.livejournal.com]

If you really need to you can explain somewhere that this is a translation of an alien word meaning roughly the same thing.

[anne-arthur.livejournal.com]

I'm happy with holocam - you know what it is and it doesn't draw attention to itself. But it does sound quite like something out of Star Trek.

I don't like 'electric scribe' or 'memory keeper' as names in English - they sound contrived. But an alien name (like 'ahnkat') which is explained as meaning, say, 'electric scribe', would be good. The question is perhaps whether you want to have a word that your readers won't necessary recognize, and whether you can get your characters to explain their culture without it sounding forced.

Sorry, that was a bit waffly. And just my tuppence worth, of course . . .

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your tuppence worth! I think it would probably be ideal to call it some alien thing and then explain later that it's a 3-d video camera, but my technique doesn't extend to figuring out how to do this smoothly and easily. So holocam it is, for now. I may put up my "new" first page so people can see how it flows now (and, hopefully, get interested in the book, if I manage to get it published!)Do you think that would be a good idea?

And, btw, would you like me to shoot you an epub file of the latest version?

[anne-arthur.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think you should put the first page up - it is a very strong start and would get people interested, I think. And I agree that stopping to explain everything would probably hold the book up.

And yes, I'd love a file of the latest version.

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

Okay - I'll send it tonight!

[deirdrej.livejournal.com]

Hi, Anne!

I fear that all my minor quibbles are making me sound unreasonable. Holocam is an OK word, as a word. I just don't think the novel has much in common with Star Trek, and the word sounds oddly
Star-Trekky or Star Wars-ish to me. But I think I do agree -- much as I would like some other word (like Ursula Leguin's "ansible"), I don't want to create problems of having to explain what it is. I was thinking that a generic word like "recorder" might work, too. Or, at some point, you talk about the "network." Maybe a word related to that.

Or maybe just "holocam," since everybody else likes it :-D

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

No, you don't sound unreasonable at all! A funny thing about SF - I think everyone uses "ansible" now, because everyone knows what it means and it's such a useful concept. Though I'm not sure the same is true of "holocam", I'm keeping it for now. There will be time to change the word in final edits, if that proves necessary.

Thanks, as always, for your input and encouragement. :)