Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi → The Archangel Syndrome
Are you still looking for power names? How about using the Carnot Cycle in a name? The Carnotron! It's not used that I could fine. Just a suggestion.
By Carnot's theorem, it provides an upper limit on the efficiency of any classical thermodynamic engine during the conversion of heat into work, or conversely, the efficiency of a refrigeration system in creating a temperature difference through the application of work to the system.
I was hoping to find a term that obviously refers to the power generator in the ship without having to stop mid-battle (chapters 1/2) to explain it. I'll have to anyways, though, now that I've decided I want the atreidite as part of the power generating system (reserve power for times when the ship needs extra power, such as when engaging the stardrive) rather than being part of the stardrive. I still need to think about what, if anything, might break if I do that.
I finally came up with a unique term for my version of a "Republic", a word I'd still prefer to avoid due to its close association with Star Wars. How about the Enduring Worlds? The adjective would still be Enduring as it is for the Enduring Republic of Stars (Enduring systems, Enduring fleet, Enduring troops, etc.). In addition to getting rid of the word Republic and having my own term, it also eliminates any confusion arising from the fact that my current name (usually shortened to just Republic) is different from the adjective I use (Enduring).
After a quick search tonight, I did find a reference to Enduring Worlds within a role-playing game (whose name escapes me). I'll search some more tomorrow. As long as it's not the name of an existing game, book, show, or film, I think it's safe.
Thoughts?
In addition to getting rid of the word Republic and having my own term, it also eliminates any confusion arising from the fact that my current name (usually shortened to just Republic) is different from the adjective I use (Enduring).
Sorry Dirk, I don't understand this sentence. I'm back on pain meds again, so perhaps, I'm suffering from brain fog.
The other issue I have is when you form sentences like "The Enduring soldiers are enduring a great deal of suffering." It doesn't feel right. You might have to avoid sentences like this.
In addition to getting rid of the Star Warsian word Republic from the name (currently the Enduring Republic of Stars) and having my own unique name for it (the Enduring Worlds - still a democratic republic, btw), it also eliminates confusion arising from the fact that the current name (usually shortened to just Republic) is different from the adjective I use to describe things "of" the Republic (e.g., Enduring fleets instead of Republic fleets, Enduring systems instead of Republic systems, etc.). I defaulted to Enduring to minimize references to the word Republic in the story to minimize comparisons to Star Wars.
My whole purpose in renaming the Realm of Stars to a republic in the first place was to eliminate confusion caused by the fact that a realm is generally a kingdom, whereas the Realm is actually a republic that might one day be led by King Joseph, albeit serving as a president. I was fielding questions like: So is Joseph crown prince of the Realm? Oops. 
If I change the Enduring Republic to the Enduring Worlds, then the adjective can remain Enduring, without causing any confusion (e.g., the Enduring fleet and the Enduring troops are part of the Enduring Worlds - much simpler terminology). Is also eliminates the word Republic altogether.
I'm not concerned about sentences like "The Enduring troops endured..." since I have no trouble avoiding the verb to endure in cases like that. I already have that problem anyway if I leave the name of the republic as the Enduring Republic. You'd still have to avoid sentences like "The Enduring troops endured..."
The only issue with the Enduring Worlds is that the "Star" of Bethlehem is part of the Enduring "Worlds", rather than the reverse, which is a little goofy. Ditto for things like "the star systems of the Enduring Worlds". I'll just have to be careful how I word sentences that involve both, at least until I've established in the reader's mind that the name of my interstellar republic is the Enduring Worlds, which is made up of star systems and planets.
I considered calling it the Enduring Systems, but that seemed too bland for a name.
Is that clearer?
Thanks, Dirk, I appreciate it.
Of course, there's always the Enduring Stars or the Eternal Stars. The latter is kind of cool because you then get Eternal planets, Eternal fleet, Eternal troops, etc., but I may then get readers wondering how stars could become eternal.
There's also:
Fellowship - yup, I'm back to that one; probably the Eternal Fellowship
Confederacy -> Confederate fleet, Confederate worlds, Confederate troops
Brotherhood
Kinship?
Clan
The above might be preceded by the word Enduring or Eternal, and/or followed by the words "of Stars" (when these things make sense).
Or:
The Free Stars -> Freedom fleet, Freedom worlds, Freedom troops
The Bonded Stars
The Eternally Bonded Stars -> Bonded troops, Bonded worlds, Bonded fleet
The United Stars - too close to the United States
The Union of Stars - ditto; also, not as cool as Confederacy
My favorite is The Free Stars.
There's something awe inspiring about Freedom Troops coming to save me.
And - The Freedom Fleet is almost here! The Imperial Fleet better run now!
Or let's combine a couple...
United Confederacy (UCON). Or United Confederate Stars (UCS). Or perhaps - United Confederacy of Stars (UCOS).
Call them feds for short. I hear the feds are comin'. We better fly outa here.
An option I don't recall seeing is no moniker at all.
For example in my main series a group of humans settle at a star named Tirak (Name changed to foil google).
They call themselves the Tirakites. Even when they colonize other worlds, they still just call themselves the Tirakites. Eg not the Republic of Tirak or United Tirakites etc.
Picture my last comment like this:
Elon Musk invents a rocket that can reach the nearest habitable planet. We happily scoot over there and meet a race of talking frogs. How do we introduce ourselves? Earth isn't a republic or much of anything.
Fast forward 100 years and Earth founds a central government and acquires a prefix. Would the Frogees bother changing all their records? Or would they just keep calling us Earthlings?
Ugh, Kdot, how do I use that here, where I'm trying to name an interstellar republic?
Picture my last comment like this:
Elon Musk invents a rocket that can reach the nearest habitable planet. We happily scoot over there and meet a race of talking frogs. How do we introduce ourselves? Earth isn't a republic or much of anything.
Fast forward 100 years and Earth founds a central government and acquires a prefix. Would the Frogees bother changing all their records? Or would they just keep calling us Earthlings?
It would depend on if Earth conquered them and demanded a change in name. Or to be polite, on all legal documents they use the new name but, in the bars, and taverns they still use the old name.
I've tentatively whittled it down to:
The Confederacy - my only concern with this is that readers may be wondering how/if this relates to the US Civil War, which it doesn't
The Eternal Fellowship (of Stars?) - the mantra becomes "For the Fellowship!" - I still like this
The Free Stars - "Freedom!" - this probably requires a bit of explaining early on that it's freedom from the Imperium. It would have been founded shortly after colonization of the stars began, as people left/fled Earth.
The Free Colonies - "Freedom!" - like this a lot; requires no explaining
The Eternal Worlds - "For Eternity!"
Ugh, Kdot, how do I use that here, where I'm trying to name an interstellar republic?
For example, Simmons (iirc) used simply "The Ousters" even though they were technically a republic.
This option would see the whole group named after a place
Star Craft used Confederacy but they boldly leaned right into the civil war aspect down to the character's accents. lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftQoP47wTRo
I've tentatively whittled it down to:
The Confederacy - my only concern with this is that readers may be wondering how/if this relates to the US Civil War, which it doesn't
The Eternal Fellowship (of Stars?) - the mantra becomes "For the Fellowship!" - I still like this
The Free Stars - "Freedom!" - this probably requires a bit of explaining early on that it's freedom from the Imperium. It would have been founded shortly after colonization of the stars began, as people left/fled Earth.
The Free Colonies - "Freedom!" - like this a lot; requires no explaining
The Eternal Worlds - "For Eternity!"
My vote is for Free Colonies. This is more generic than Free Stars. What if you're in the middle of an asteroid belt or dust cluster sans star or planets? A space station is all there is and it mines the local region. The designation of colony covers them all.
What if there's no space station there either?
I just realized the Free Colonies has the same need to explain "What are they free of?" as the Free Stars, but I don't care. The Free Colonies it is, and the adjective will be Colonial: Colonial fleet, Colonial troops, etc., which is a cool word imo.
We have [yet another] new name! LOL I wonder if early Canadians and Americans had as much trouble naming our countries.
That reminds me of a joke I once heard from a comedian: The settlers of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan were trying to name their new settlement. One of them suggested they open the door to the cabin they were in and whatever they saw first, that would be the name. Hence Moose Jaw. It's a good thing they didn't see the other end of the moose, otherwise they'd have to call it ... Edmonton (our oft-mocked provincial capital). It was a Calgarian audience, so it got a lot of laughs. Of course, the comedian regularly did the same comedy routine in Edmonton, too, so I can guarantee the punchline there was "Calgary". Imagine the reception that joke would get in either city if the comedian ever mistook which one he was in.
Thanks for your help, gents.
Dirk
What if there's no space station there either?
I just realized the Free Colonies has the same need to explain "What are they free of?" as the Free Stars, but I don't care. The Free Colonies it is, and the adjective will be Colonial: Colonial fleet, Colonial troops, etc., which is a cool word imo.
Dirk
If there is an Imperial Fleet or planet then the reader should be able to say - the Colonial Fleet must be the antithesis of anything Imperial. Also, I thought you would use Freedom troops, Freedom fleet, but Colonial is pretty cool, too.
Also, I thought you would use Freedom troops, Freedom fleet, but Colonial is pretty cool, too.
I would have used those if the name of the republic were the Free Stars.
New naming contest:
I need a name for an island in the Pacific Ocean on which the Libertarian Church is founded in the 24th century, which was originally a tax dodge for the obscenely wealthy (followers of the Greedy Gospel). So far, I've considered Billionaire's Island, Koru Island (named after Jeff Bezos's yacht), and Lord High Admiral Bezos's Island, among others. So far I like the latter best.
New naming contest:
I need a name for an island in the Pacific Ocean on which the Libertarian Church is founded in the 24th century, which was originally a tax dodge for the obscenely wealthy (followers of the Greedy Gospel). So far, I've considered Billionaire's Island, Koru Island (named after Jeff Bezos's yacht), and Lord High Admiral Bezos's Island, among others. So far I like the latter best.
Wow. Not Mar-a-Lago in the Caribbean? Just make sure you have a lake on it. Of course, there are probably copyright issues. But I'm conservative so maybe you shouldn't use it.
Hunter's Island? Sounds pretty good but Hunter Biden isn't that rich.
Something along the lines of LABI (Lord Admiral Bezo's Island)?
But go really big - something with Elon Musk as a patron saint. Tesla Atol or something. Tesland? Hmm...
I'd prefer Koru over your last one.
No, Elon is already in the scene as Imperator Elonus "the Socialist", who increased taxes by 2% to feed the poor. As Ozzie said, "Madness!"
Minor change: the Eternal Colonies are now the Independent Colonies, which seems pretty clear that they're (duh) independent (i.e., not colonies of the Earth/Imperium, as one might otherwise assume). "Free" would have worked as well, but Independent sounds loftier IMO.
Fantasy/Magic & Sci-Fi → The Archangel Syndrome
