Sci-Fi and Fantasy Names

[Jason]

As you'll hear when we air the podcast, we all disagreed on the pronunciation of Raadch, too. It's tricky! I just pick one and go for it.

[Karen]

Benjamin wrote: "Hi. I'm reading Ancillary Justice. About 25% in right now. I'm actually just wondering something kind of silly. How do you fellow sci-fi and fantasy readers determine the pronunciation of names in..."

I never actually thought through my "rules" for determining pronunciation. However, for what it's worth, for this book my version is exactly the same as yours.

On the other hand, I am still trying to wrap my head around the concepts of gender!

[Gary]

I actually listened to it on Audible, so the pronunciation wasn't a problem, but sorting out what 'Justice of Toren One Esk' meant took a few chapters for me. I also wondered what the fascination was with Otter's Tits until I figured out it was a God about 4/5ths of the way through the book.

[Gary]

Well, I don't know the proper spellings, so...

Say-Var-Ten
Awhn
A-nan-der Me-en-eye
Sky-Aht
Toe-Ren
Brek

I can't remember the Doctor's name.

[David]

Having just completed reading the excellent 'Nexus' and 'Crux' by Ramez Naam which had several