Titles

[D James]

How important is the title of your book?

A novel came into work yesterday. The cover is wonderful. The premise looks interesting. Definitely a work I could sell to 8-10 year old girls looking for a fun, adventurous read.

Can I recommend it?

First I have to stop giggling every time I read the title, "A Load of Unicorns."

(sigh)

James

[emeraldcite]

i think i would prefer "a gaggle of unicorns"

how "corny" is that?

[maestrowork]

But it's for 8-10 yo girls. Uni-Corny is good.

[James D Macdonald]

First I have to stop giggling every time I read the title, "A Load of Unicorns."

Well, it's probably better than A Dump of Unicorns, and way better than Compressed Unicorn, Palletized, Eleven Metric Tons, FOB Chicago.

[KLH]

I dunno, James - that second option sounds like something I'd expect from James Thurber, and how could you go wrong with that?

(I'm having visions of unicorns packed in peanuts now.)

[maestrowork]

A Bag of Unicorns?
A Tub of Unicorns?
Large Unicorns with coke?

[James D Macdonald]

"Compressed Unicorn, Palletized, Eleven Metric Tons, FOB Chicago" is a short-story title, not a novel title. The shorter the work, the longer the title, y'know.

[D James]

"Load of Unicorns" is a printing press term (apparently) and is what the novel is about. I'm taking it home this weekend to read (it's about the take-over of the printing press and the scribes it subsequently put out of business).

Sounds great. Just gotta stop laughing!

James

[pdr]

I hope you do enjoy the book, James, it's good, but isn't the title 'A Load of Unicorn'?

I think it is the same novel as the children's historical novel I read a long time ago written by Cynthia Harnet. (Or Harnett?) Mind you the copy I have was printed back in the 1950s by a British publisher. Perhaps the title was changed when the book was reprinted for your US market?

[D James]

Yes, the correct title is "A Load of Unicorn" and it is the same novel you remember.

Glad to hear I'm in for a good read.

More good reads:
Doctor Illuminatus by Martin Booth
Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver

James

[Hapsburg]

A plethora of unicorn?






"Out damn spot, out!" from the book Dick and Jane

[mr mistook]

What the hell were the ODDS that somebody else on this board had not only read "Load of Unicorn", but could name the publisher and author?

[Flawed Creation]

I think titles are very important. As i see it, Titles serve a number of purposes.

they are an effective marketing tool. not only do, when bropwsing a book store, tend to pick up books with intriguing titles, but the title can convey the genre or theme of a book.

"star wars" sounds like what it is, space opera. "dragon Prince", while having little to do with the plot itself, conveys the fact that it's about a prince, which is crucial to the book.

a title can convey a sense of hope or despair, inform the reader how dark the book is likely to be, or hint at the most interesting and important part of the book. a title is what your book will be identified by, so i would think something catchy and pronounceable would be good.

[HConn]

This gives me an idea for a story.

[mr mistook]

This gives me an idea for a story.


Yes, but what shall the title be?

[Risseybug]

Doctor Illuminatus by Martin Booth

I just picked this up yesterday. I needed something new to read to inspire my middle grade WIP. I looks great, and I've only read the first few pages.
The sequel comes out in the spring.