Following on from the MWT interview, I thought you guys might like to know one of the other Norton Award nominees is a MWT fan. Justine Larbalestier always says very nice things about our favourite books.
I’ve read the first two books, The Thief and Queen of Attolia, many times and King twice. They get better with every read. I hug them to my chest. I honestly can’t think of a better fantasy trilogy.
That is fabulous. Thanks for sharing, emmaco. It must be extra-gratifying when another author feels that way.
and extra-extra gratifying when it's the author of a book like Magic Lessons. I do love an author who rebels against the i-will-solve-everything-with-a-wave-of-my-magic-doohickey convention, especially when she uses some foreign word for doohickey, as she did in her SCI-FI wire interview.
I didn't know it was Australian but guess it must be if Justine and I know it and you guys don't :) But we also use doohickey so if you came to visit we'd still understand you!
Her husband Scott Westerfeld wrote today saying that "littlies", "pressies" and "musos" (amongst other words) are Australian. I didn't know that!
Emma - Thanks for bringing Justine Larbalestier to my attention. Alex is finishing up the Naomi Novik dragon trilogy and quite enjoyed it (having read the three books in about, oh, 3 days). I hope the next one(s) are published in the US at some point. I am going to see about getting the Magic and Madness ones for him next.
You are a great resource for Books Of Interest To Teenage Boys!
*cannot remember recommending Novik but loves the books so is happy to take credit for the rec anyway*
Has he tried Scott Westerfeld, too? His Midnighters books are a modern fantasy, his Uglies series a futuristic post-apocalyptic sociey type thing and Peeps is one of the best vampire books I've read.
Small children, presents and musicians, respectively. He also mentions "Chrissie" for Christmas and "crumblies", which I personally am unfamiliar with but guess means old people?
*reflects on the laziness of the Australian English language*
I thought he made the word up for his books, but that post said it was Australian, like "littlies". I shall go investigate the usage amongst family and friends.
I was under the impression they meant something vaguely cookie-like. (Forgive me, biscuit-like)
Aussies seem to have a habit of shortening words and ending them instead with -es or -os. Musicians = musos. Afternoon = arvo. And such.
Which doesn't explain how an outhouse becomes a dunny or a chicken a chook. Which might turn into a emu and kick your dunny down. But that's another story.
It's a little like what remains after four years of high school Spanish -- you may not keep enough to be fluent, but you can read the subway ads for legal services and beer.
We use thingamabob. Have never heard 'littles', 'pressies', or 'musos', or anyof the other words Emma mentioned being used. I thought Scott Westerfield made them up for his books. :)
Are pressies presents? That's the only time I've heard it used.
Thingamabob. I love that word, except where I am it mutates to thingymabob. Very useful when you can't remeber a person's name. Like, for example, "Oh, Mrs Thingymabob gave us homework."
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=92.2){kind=small}
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif?v=92.2){kind=small}
March 28 2007, 09:21:22 UTC 5 years ago
March 28 2007, 16:31:01 UTC 5 years ago
That is fabulous. Thanks for sharing, emmaco. It must be extra-gratifying when another author feels that way.
Anonymous
March 30 2007, 16:18:37 UTC 5 years ago
mwt
March 30 2007, 16:32:30 UTC 5 years ago
March 30 2007, 22:32:41 UTC 5 years ago
foreign word for doohickey
Emma - So is "doobalackie" the Australian word for "doohickey"?I really like the word "doobalackie" and resolve to work it into conversation
March 30 2007, 23:07:42 UTC 5 years ago
Re: foreign word for doohickey
I didn't know it was Australian but guess it must be if Justine and I know it and you guys don't :) But we also use doohickey so if you came to visit we'd still understand you!Her husband Scott Westerfeld wrote today saying that "littlies", "pressies" and "musos" (amongst other words) are Australian. I didn't know that!
March 30 2007, 23:27:35 UTC 5 years ago
Re: foreign word for doohickey
Emma - Thanks for bringing Justine Larbalestier to my attention. Alex is finishing up the Naomi Novik dragon trilogy and quite enjoyed it (having read the three books in about, oh, 3 days). I hope the next one(s) are published in the US at some point. I am going to see about getting the Magic and Madness ones for him next.You are a great resource for Books Of Interest To Teenage Boys!
March 31 2007, 00:44:52 UTC 5 years ago
Re: foreign word for doohickey
*cannot remember recommending Novik but loves the books so is happy to take credit for the rec anyway*Has he tried Scott Westerfeld, too? His Midnighters books are a modern fantasy, his Uglies series a futuristic post-apocalyptic sociey type thing and Peeps is one of the best vampire books I've read.
March 31 2007, 00:56:28 UTC 5 years ago
Re: book recs
Thanks! They sound right up his alley.March 31 2007, 00:37:07 UTC 5 years ago
Re: foreign word for doohickey
"littlies", "pressies" and "musos"??? Translation, please?
March 31 2007, 00:48:55 UTC 5 years ago
Re: foreign word for doohickey
Small children, presents and musicians, respectively. He also mentions "Chrissie" for Christmas and "crumblies", which I personally am unfamiliar with but guess means old people?*reflects on the laziness of the Australian English language*
March 31 2007, 00:53:50 UTC 5 years ago
Re: foreign word for doohickey
?!?!?!?
That does not sound very respectful at all.
March 31 2007, 01:08:06 UTC 5 years ago
Re: foreign word for doohickey
I thought he made the word up for his books, but that post said it was Australian, like "littlies". I shall go investigate the usage amongst family and friends.March 31 2007, 14:55:01 UTC 5 years ago
Re: foreign word for doohickey
and "crumblies", which I personally am unfamiliar with but guess means old people?Sounds like the title of Westerfeld's new book. :)
April 6 2007, 01:24:58 UTC 5 years ago
Re: foreign word for doohickey
I was under the impression they meant something vaguely cookie-like. (Forgive me, biscuit-like)Aussies seem to have a habit of shortening words and ending them instead with -es or -os. Musicians = musos. Afternoon = arvo. And such.
Which doesn't explain how an outhouse becomes a dunny or a chicken a chook. Which might turn into a emu and kick your dunny down. But that's another story.
April 6 2007, 02:24:47 UTC 5 years ago
Re: foreign word for doohickey
And here I thought Aussies and Americans spoke the same language. Shows how much I know.I just learned some cool new words. Kick your dunny down, indeed.
April 6 2007, 14:41:06 UTC 5 years ago
Re: foreign word for doohickey
It's a little like what remains after four years of high school Spanish -- you may not keep enough to be fluent, but you can read the subway ads for legal services and beer.March 31 2007, 01:09:13 UTC 5 years ago
Re: foreign word for doohickey
Is thingamabob Australian too?March 31 2007, 01:20:33 UTC 5 years ago
Re: foreign word for doohickey
No. We use it in Wisconsin, and I expect it is used throughout the US.What about you Brits out there? Are any of these words familiar to you?
March 31 2007, 13:14:57 UTC 5 years ago
Re: foreign word for doohickey
We use thingamabob. Have never heard 'littles', 'pressies', or 'musos', or anyof the other words Emma mentioned being used. I thought Scott Westerfield made them up for his books. :)March 31 2007, 14:25:21 UTC 5 years ago
Re: foreign word for doohickey
Are pressies presents? That's the only time I've heard it used.Thingamabob. I love that word, except where I am it mutates to thingymabob. Very useful when you can't remeber a person's name. Like, for example, "Oh, Mrs Thingymabob gave us homework."
Never heard of the others though.
March 30 2007, 22:37:25 UTC 5 years ago
* adds Justine Larbalastier's trilogy to book list *
March 30 2007, 23:07:12 UTC 5 years ago
Re: foreign word for doohickey
I'm glad you read Justine's comments, Megan! And I love the magic vs madness basis for her books as well.