Eight Deadly Words
Encyclopedia
The Eight Deadly Words is the name for the phrase "I don't care what happens to these people." The phrase is used in science fiction fandom
as a criticism of stories that fail to engage the reader through a lack of interesting or compelling characters. A person reviewing a book would thus substitute the name "Eight Deadly Words" for the actual phrase to indicate loss of interest for this reason. (i.e. "The story is not engaging due to the Eight Deadly Words".) The phrase is usually capitalized despite its not being a proper noun.
The phrase was coined by Dorothy J. Heydt
in a June 11, 1991, Usenet
posting to rec.arts.sf-lovers in reference to The Copper Crown, a novel by Patricia Kennealy-Morrison
:
The phrase was first referred to by the term "Eight Deadly Words" by Heydt in a September 15, 1993, Usenet
posting to rec.arts.sf.written in reference to a Fionavar Tapestry book:
Although the term "Eight Deadly Words" is not actually trademark
ed, within two days the catchphrase was being used independently by John S. Novak. A few days later it was used in the title of a thread for the first time. In 1994, it spread beyond its original newsgroup when Heydt inadvertently crossposted it to the alt.books.deryni newsgroup. Later that year, the term took on a life of its own, spreading independently of Heydt into other newsgroups, such as rec.arts.comics.misc.
Heydt has also stated that she coined the term while reading The Great Hunt
by Robert Jordan
:
Science fiction fandom
Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or "fandom" of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy and in contact with one another based upon that interest...
as a criticism of stories that fail to engage the reader through a lack of interesting or compelling characters. A person reviewing a book would thus substitute the name "Eight Deadly Words" for the actual phrase to indicate loss of interest for this reason. (i.e. "The story is not engaging due to the Eight Deadly Words".) The phrase is usually capitalized despite its not being a proper noun.
The phrase was coined by Dorothy J. Heydt
Dorothy J. Heydt
Dorothy J. Heydt is a U.S. author of science fiction and fantasy. She lives on the U.S. West Coast and is an active participant in the Usenet newsgroups rec.arts.sf.written and rec.arts.sf.fandom, and in science fiction fandom in general. She is the originator of the Eight Deadly Words, and other...
in a June 11, 1991, Usenet
Usenet
Usenet is a worldwide distributed Internet discussion system. It developed from the general purpose UUCP architecture of the same name.Duke University graduate students Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis conceived the idea in 1979 and it was established in 1980...
posting to rec.arts.sf-lovers in reference to The Copper Crown, a novel by Patricia Kennealy-Morrison
Patricia Kennealy-Morrison
Patricia Kennealy-Morrison is an American author and journalist. Her published works include rock criticism, a memoir, and a series of science fiction/fantasy and murder mystery novels...
:
- I put it down and went to sleep. And when I woke up in the morning and picked it up again, I thought, "I don't care what happens to these people," and put it down again.
The phrase was first referred to by the term "Eight Deadly Words" by Heydt in a September 15, 1993, Usenet
Usenet
Usenet is a worldwide distributed Internet discussion system. It developed from the general purpose UUCP architecture of the same name.Duke University graduate students Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis conceived the idea in 1979 and it was established in 1980...
posting to rec.arts.sf.written in reference to a Fionavar Tapestry book:
- The Eight Deadly Words (tm):
- "I don't _care_ *what* happens to these people!"
Although the term "Eight Deadly Words" is not actually trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
ed, within two days the catchphrase was being used independently by John S. Novak. A few days later it was used in the title of a thread for the first time. In 1994, it spread beyond its original newsgroup when Heydt inadvertently crossposted it to the alt.books.deryni newsgroup. Later that year, the term took on a life of its own, spreading independently of Heydt into other newsgroups, such as rec.arts.comics.misc.
Heydt has also stated that she coined the term while reading The Great Hunt
The Great Hunt
The Great Hunt is the second book of The Wheel of Time fantasy series written by American author Robert Jordan. It was published by Tor Books and released on November 15, 1990. The Great Hunt consists of a prologue and 50 chapters...
by Robert Jordan
Robert Jordan
Robert Jordan was the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr. , under which he was best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He also wrote under the pseudonyms Reagan O'Neal and Jackson O'Reilly.-Biography:Jordan was born in Charleston, South Carolina...
:
- It was myself who coined them, and the occasion was getting to about Chapter Two, Volume Two, of The Wheel of Time, and shutting the book and giving the whole set (three or four books at that time, I believe) to my niece, who had a long train trip ahead of her.