Saturday, June 19, 2010

Worst Word Ever

Want to know one of the absolute worst words in the realm of fantasy fiction?

"Piwafwi."

Try saying it and NOT laughing. The writer, R.A. Salvatore, is a NYT bestselling writer, and he coined that term as a Drow (dark elf) word for "cloak." The Drow are supposed to be super badasses -- and anybody who was an AD&D gamer geek like I was as a boy can't mention the Drow without thinking "Badass." So, along comes Salvatore, looking to make some money writing throwaway fantasy fiction, and does quite well with it. But he created the word piwafwi.

And for that, in truth, he should live in infamy. Just try sound like a badass while saying "Piwafwi." You invariably turn into Elmer Fudd. "Where's my piwafwi? Where is it, you wascally wabbit?!" Tone-deaf writer.