Word of the Day
Saturday, July 21, 2007
It's the final day of the Choices Meant for Gods Online Book Tour! So let's end the fantasy words from CMFG with a really powerful one…

Naegling (proper noun) — Sergeant Brendan Naegling is the leader of Arcana's "army" as it were in the fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods; he's your typical Arcanan man—dark brown eyes, dark brown hair, strapping muscles from all that outdoor work, a good work ethic, lots of common sense, the ability to keep a secret about himself, the ability to keep the secrets that people share with him, good with a sword (please read innuendo into that), he's just fabulous all around

Etymology: Fantasy Author Sandy Lender used this word for the name of the man Amanda Chariss will promote to captain in her army in Book II of the Choices Meant for Gods trilogy because Naegling is the name of the sword Beowulf used…

I really recommend people read Beowulf.

Word in a Sentence (from the high fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods, page 409): Sergeant Naegling also had success pulling her into a discussion with Wold and Rohne that seemed to last the better part of an hour.

Your turn! Bonus points if you make up a sentence about the sword…

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, Sandy Lender, word of the day, fantasy author, fantasy novel, Naegling, Sergeant Naegling, online book tour, dragon, sword, Beowulf

Today’s Old English Poem is About the Mead Hall
Or…an excerpt from Beowulf

(Heorot is the most famous of mead halls, built on order from old King Hrothgar so he’d have a place to hold feasts for his men and hand out rings and other gifts. Hrothgar is in the line of Sceld Scylding – and there’s a name you’ll find in the Taiman genealogy in Choices Meant for Gods – so he’s a worthy king, you see. Heorot means “Hart”.)

The following excerpt is taken from the Donaldson Translation, 1975.

“Then Hrothgar was given success in warfare, glory in battle, so that his retainers gladly obeyed him and their company grew into a great band of warriors. It came to his mind that he would command men to construct a hall, a mead-building larger than the children of men had ever heard of, and therein he would give to young and old all that God had given him, except for common land and men’s bodies. Then I have heard that the work was laid upon many nations, wide through this middle-earth, that they should adorn the folk-hall. In time it came to pass—quickly, as men count it—that it was finished, the largest of hall-dwellings. He gave it the name Heorot, he who ruled wide with his words. He did not forget his promise: at the feast he gave out rings, treasure. The hall stood tall, high and wide-gabled:”

etc.

The problem with Heorot is that a nasty beast dwelt nearby (you all know the story of Beowulf and Grendel) who hated hearing the mirth and happiness exuded from the hall every night. He got fussy and decided to appear, tearing men apart after they fell asleep (read: passed out drunk) in the hall. I have to admit that the ryfel in Choices Meant for Gods were created in Grendel’s image. Don’t ask me why I gave them a completely foreign name, but they resemble the creature that came to my mind when I pictured a monster stalking the king’s hall from the deeps of the fen; a little scaly, a little slimy, poisonous, huge, hulking, no lips, jagged teeth, the whole this-thing-can-rip-you-apart-and-poison-you-for-good-measure kind of monster that little kids would be afraid of finding in the closet—if it could fit in a closet. Nigel particularly hates the beasts, and you can find out why if you feel compelled to pick up the book through one of the online book sources (or at your local book seller). The direct link to get Choices Meant for Gods by Sandy Lender from ArcheBooks Publishing (thus saving 25% off the price) is www.archebooks.com/BookIDX/Indexes/Fantasy/CMG/CMGsa.pdf. And Amazon has it set up as a super saver so you don’t have to pay shipping if you order it at www.amazon.com. Obviously, I’m pushing the fantasy novel shamelessly here. Forgive me.

“Some days, I just want the dragon to win.”

Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, Sandy Lender, Old English, Beowulf, mead hall, Heorot, ryfel, ArcheBooks, fantasy novel, dragon