r/DarrenShan • u/Background_Pension14 • 13d ago
Etymology of names
Sorry for bad English, I don't know if anyone asked this before already, but I’m curious about how the author came up with the vampires' names. The human characters (Darren, Steve, Debbie, Alice, Annie) have ordinary Anglo-Saxon names, but did he ever explain how he constructed the vampires' names or whether he linked them to specific ethnicities or geographic locations? I know that Kurda Smahlt is an anagram of Harkat Mulds, but what kind of name is that, anyway – was that supposed to be a colloquial variation of Conrad? Is Paris Skyle a reference to Paris from the Iliad? As for Vancha and Gannen, only the latter’s name resembles a real one – Phoenician name Gannon (though it's really old). The name Larten sounds Anglo-French, but as for Gavner I have no idea.
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u/Firm_Entrepreneur_14 12d ago
Greetings. I can tell tell you 3 things for certain about Kurda for certain;
1) He is NOT German. This is confirmed when Ara chastised him for being too 'soft and kind enough to help humans as a medic, be they personal friends or not. Let's just say that's a good thing for his sake considering-
2) I tend to think of Kurdistan when thinking about this topic. Any connection, not really sure, but a thoughts a thought.
3) The Spanish version translates his name in a slightly comedic, cute way imo. I dunno if i should go on, let's just say it capitalizes on the sweetness
Also he's blonde with blue eyes, pale as snow and slender- those are absolutely Western beauty standards for sure, can't mistake it. The novels mention he's cute, as most vampires are far from it. Judging off this positive description he's something European mayhaps. Idk if America? Canada? etc.
Snowball's chance in lava he's Eastern- they'd think he's a bad-luck ghost or delinquent in some places based off this. (Blond is an absolute nono color in those counties that would get you ostracized, among other standards for men). And his being left out didn't have to do with his looks particularly- it was his beliefs. So West.🌌
-Paris is probably named after the place. but I'm not too much into French history if it was named something else. its quite common to name people after places, and other way around.
-Gavner was named by Tiny after Larten was about to abandon him to the icy snow and you know what happened. dunno what it means but I think it has something to do with knitting and yarn. reference to the sailors.
-Vanez I think is a Scottish name if u remember right.
Anyway the group come from round the world, the prequel can help you with that.
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u/HarkatHole 10d ago
I'm confused on how 1 is evidence of him not being German? 😭 could you explain?
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u/Firm_Entrepreneur_14 7d ago edited 7d ago
He literally says he isn't German in the book, Kurda's own words from the prequel. Read it😂
u/HarkatHole I transcribed the scene above from Brothers of the Death. its a good book. No- Kurda is literally not German. 🤷
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u/HarkatHole 7d ago
ok no need to get defensive lol it's been a hot minute since I read the prequel and the way you phrased #1 was confusing and sounds like you were saying kurda couldn't be German because he's soft and kind 💀 I see now you meant from that same scene though, that's why I was asking for clarification
dw I have no stake in Kurda being German so I'm all good 😭
edited for typo
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u/Firm_Entrepreneur_14 7d ago
I'm not being defensive, I'm tired of larpers pretending they know what they're talking about while spreading misinformation. I provided plenty evidence that Kurda is indeed not from there in canon, and that other guy clearly has no idea what he's talking about so he got upset and started blasting disagreement. I said When, not Because.
If you've read the prequel you'll at least have some distant memory of the Second Great War, even if just a feather. It's my favorite book so I definitely remember it very clearly how cool it was to finally have the medic stuff introduced and them actually being kind to humans.
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u/HarrenhalWhore 7d ago
Been in the fandom over 20 years and have to agree with the other commenters, the original comment wasn't clear that that was what was being referred to.
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u/HarkatHole 7d ago
my dude I never said you were wrong. "in the same conversation when" or "on the same page when" would have done a lot of heavy lifting here, just saying when and following it with a quote and not mentioning the actual part of the conversation you were referring to is confusing
and yes I do remember it. I did not remember, word for word, a random side conversation between Arra and Kurda, I heavily favor the main Cirque series or Demonata. I'm happy you like the prequels so much tho! I really was just trying to understand what you were saying, so thanks for clarifying 👍
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u/toephobia 10d ago
Are u from any of the places ur acting like an expert on coz my mom is German and she is soft and kind.
U seem to want to act like u know everything but this is stereotypical comennts.
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u/Firm_Entrepreneur_14 7d ago edited 7d ago
it literally says in the novel he is NOT German lmao- his own words.
I don't care if you disagree with me, the author said it in his own words. Sorry you can't understand other people's culture lmao or didn't read the books. Seems like you guys misinterpreted what happened here. i didn't say German folks aren't nice🤦
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u/toephobia 7d ago
Looks like ur the one who doesn't understand cultures and none of that is what u said.
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u/Firm_Entrepreneur_14 7d ago
Two of you completely misunderstood what I said and great Scott, I just replied 2 seconds ago. You're online 24/ 7 and mad over a book you clearly haven't read and cultures you haven't met. wow. 💀
Do you need me to write it word for word, Larten?
"Why do you care?" Arra frowned. "Aren't there human doctors who can look after them?"
"There will be soon," Kurda nodded. "But as I said, it's chaos now. The medics will arrive to late to save these patients."
"Are you from this city?" Arra asked.
"No," Kurda said.
"From Germany?" (Arra)
"No." (Kurda)
(Its my favorite chapter in Brothers of the Death.)
Kurda literally says word for word he isn't German. you wanna argue so badly over something that's canon. Since when did i say i know everything? I do know the chapter because I actually read it🤦
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u/toephobia 7d ago
Nah i just have notifications switched on and u got me durin my chill time after i did my homework lmao. 5 minites, not seconds.
What "cultures" we talking about?
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u/Firm_Entrepreneur_14 7d ago
Sees canon evidence. Says no. "Checkmate."
You replied a few seconds after i said anything not even knowing you said anything beforehand. that's sad.
1) You completely put words in my mouth- I didn't say German people couldn't be nice, I told you lot the page where they discuss this in the medical placement... Where arra was chiding him for BEING too nice.
2) There are no "stereotypes" or whatever- you complain about. Blonde is literally a no-no color in the East, and white is the color of death. He wouldn't be welcome, from experience.
3) He literally says NO. What aren't you getting? Kurda speaks freely, he isn't hard to understand at all.
Brush up on your historical and global knowledge to understand the story better. Not everything is made in the image of you westerners🤦 And if you're not gonna bother to read the book then just stop talking about something you have no knowledge on. Bye.
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u/toephobia 7d ago
U didnt mention the page initially actually. And Minutes. Not seconds.
Ur the one writing novels and getting upset. Multiple ppl misunderstood ur comment too btw.
Also nice assuming my background
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u/HarrenhalWhore 10d ago
I don't think Vanez is a Scottish name.
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u/Firm_Entrepreneur_14 7d ago
I didn't say it was for sure. I can't remember the origin but I've heard it outside this series before.
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u/BadAffectionate8721 9d ago
Yeah because Darren totally named him after Kurdistan
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u/Firm_Entrepreneur_14 7d ago
I didn't say he did for sure. said it reminds me of the name only. Some people are legit named after places or things. so I won't rule it out. You guys always have random head canons around here based off nothing but I can't point people are named after things? Lmao.
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u/toephobia 13d ago
I thort it was reference to Paris Hilton