Note to fantasy authors

[owlectomy]

Thee is NOT the more formal version of 'you.'

Thee is (a) the singular, or (b) the LESS formal version, depending on what time period you're talking about; but if you're trying to be very polite, you don't just switch to thee. Do copy-editors not know this?

I might finish the book because I've already bought it*, but I wish I'd remembered how heavy this author could be on the hurt/comfort thing. Wow -- have I outgrown hurt/comfort??

*No, I wouldn't stop reading a book I otherwise liked because of this, but it's symptomatic of how it tries to pull off an epic fantasy voice but doesn't know enough to do it gracefully.

Comments

[owldaughter.livejournal.com]

Oh, that drives me insane. The only thing worse is characters suddenly switching into "tha" as a sign of super-tender, supposed-return-to-comfort-of-childhood mood/emotion when they've never shown it before. Gawds.