20 replies to this topic

[Kortoso]

The usual preamble: When fans refer to different Conan tales, the tendency is to use abbreviations. Some fans may not recognize these very well. Here's a guide. I use lower-case letters for "minor" words that are not normally capitalized; these might just as well be left out. There is at least one pair of stories with an identical abbreviation.

The Phoenix on the Sword = TPotS

The Scarlet Citadel = TSC

The Tower of the Elephant = TTotE

Black Colossus = BC

Xuthal of the Dusk = XotD

The Pool of the Black One TPotBO

Rogues in the House = RitH

Iron Shadows in the Moon = ISotM

Queen of the Black Coast = QotBC

The Devil in Iron = TDiI

The People of the Black Circle = TPotBC

A Witch Shall be Born = AWSBB

Jewels of Gwahlur = JoG

Beyond the Black River = BtBR

Man-Eaters of Zamboula = MEoZ

The Hour of the Dragon THotD

Red Nails = RN

The Frost Giant's Daughter = TFGD

The God in the Bowl = TGitB

The Vale of Lost Women = TVoLW

The Black Stranger = TBS

The Snout in the Dark = TSitD

Drums of Tombalku = DoT

The Hall of the Dead = THotD

The Hand of Nergal = THoN

Wolves Beyond the Border = WBtB

The Hyborian Age = THA

[Scott Oden]

I like it! I'm using the same scheme for referencing stories in the Encyclopedia that I'm (slowly) working on. A citation follows this format: an italicized abbreviation for the particular Del Rey volume (C for The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian, B for The Bloody Crown of Conan, and S for The Conquering Sword of Conan), followed by the story abbreviation and page number. So far, it seems to work pretty good.

Best,

Scott

[deuce]

Right on, Kortoso! I feel the system you describe (and subscribe to) is by far the most sensible. *

The "deCampian" system was alright, but it had its problems.

*I'd say so even if I hadn't been using the same system myself.

[Kortoso]

Maybe we can dispense with initial "The"'s.
I am thinking to leave this as a guide for newbies who see our shorthand and ask "wtf dude?"

[Scott Oden]

I would keep the initial 'the' since, by way of example, the story is called "THE Frost Giant's Daughter", not "Frost Giant's Daughter". But, I'm weird and anal that way . . .

Scott

[The Adventurer]

Maybe we can dispense with initial "The"'s.
I am thinking to leave this as a guide for newbies who see our shorthand and ask "wtf dude?"

Keep the "The'"'s. They are usually present in other abbrevaited titles in other fields/generes

Having the abbreviations in bold would also aid the eye.

Great thread, Kortoso. Muchly appreciated by n00bs like myself.


TA

[Ironhand]

What I've been doing, is, the first time I mention a story, I name it in full; then I abbreviate it in subsequent mentions.

[Taranaich]

An excellent idea, Kortoso! I must confess when I started out sometimes I'd get confused by abbreviations, so I know how newbies must feel. I think leaving in "The" is a good idea for completeness, and lower-case for articles and prepositions gives further aid in deciphering intent: you'd get the idea the "ot" in TTotE and THotD might mean the same thing (of the), making it easier to jog the memory.

What I've been doing, is, the first time I mention a story, I name it in full; then I abbreviate it in subsequent mentions.

That's a good idea too, for clarification purposes.

[The Adventurer]

Hi Kortoso, I'm not being picky, because as a new REH reader, I appreciate your system for helping those of us who are unfamiliar with all the abbreviations, but I have spotted a small typo on your list...

The Scarlet Citadel = TSS

Should be "TSC" shouldn't it?


TA

[Kortoso]

Hi Kortoso, I'm not being picky, because as a new REH reader, I appreciate your system for helping those of us who are unfamiliar with all the abbreviations, but I have spotted a small typo on your list...

The Scarlet Citadel = TSS

Should be "TSC" shouldn't it?


TA

Fixed! Thanks.

[Axerules]

Good idea, Kortoso!

I say: make this thread a sticky and keep "The"'s.

[PFunkJAzz]

I'll try to make note of these, but I'm likely to just use a single noun in reference like Rogues for RitH or Circle for PotBC. My habit is also to use bold-face.

[Buxom Sorceress]

Good list and reminder, Kortoso.
thanks.

I usually type the tale title in full [1st time in a post], and add the abbreviation in brackets if i use it again, later...
for example...

Queen of the Black Coast [ QOTBC ] .

Or, in a long thread where many have already used the same abbreviation, i sometimes just start my post with...

QOTBCoast
or
HOTDragon

[ i like this format above, where i just type out the last word in full ]

--
Have you added this topic link to the main FAQ list yet?
The new members need all the help in 1 easy list.

[Kortoso]

I usually type the tale title in full [1st time in a post], and add the abbreviation in brackets if i use it again, later...
for example...

Queen of the Black Coast (QOTBC).

Yes, that's how I would do it professionally.

[drush9999]

Taranaich made the suggestion for renaming the untitled fragments to avoid using the De Camp versions here: Referring To The Unfinished Tales

The Shumballa Fragments = TSF [The Snout in the Dark]

The Tombalku Fragments = TTF [Drums of Tombalku]

The Nestor Synopsis = TNS [The Hall of the Dead]

The Yaralet Fragment = TYF [The Hand of Nergal]

[Ironhand]

Man this is confusing.I thought I left English and high school behind.

What language are you writing in, Portuguese?

Actually, I would rather avoid using acronyms for fragments and other more obscure things that we don't all have memorized.

[korak]

I would have to vote against adding T for The to every title-- it is misleading and doesn't add anything substantial, just adds unnecessary letters. I agree with Ironhand's and Buxom Sauceress' approach to clarifying your terms by first using the full title, and then in parenthesis your own abbreviation, which, in my case, habitually, seems to be to use just the dominant word from the title in all caps, such as PHOENIX for Phoenix on the Sword, etc.

[Ironhand]

Man this is confusing.I thought I left English and high school behind.

What language are you writing in, Portuguese?

Actually, I would rather avoid using acronyms for fragments and other more obscure things that we don't all have memorized.

Lets face it iron were all a bit lazy here.I guess to be proper we should not use abbreviations.But I think were all smart enough to figger out whats what.

I have often seen abbreviations that I didn't have the slightest idea what they referred to.