Source
r/Fantasy•
Mournelithe

Beyond Redemption, by Michael R Fletcher

Not a review as such, because I’m only a third or so through the story. The underlying concept is quite interesting, it’s effectively a grimdark setting with mental illnesses as magic powers.
The characters so far are mostly archetypes, but the plot is at least novel.

But I’m really really struggling because of the names.

All the names are in German, which is a nice variation on the usual suspects, and reinforces some of the Nietzschean style undertones to many of the delusions. But Fletcher obviously started having too much fun with his google translate and I know just enough German that it is doing my head in!
Every character name is a literal description. The thief is named “Steal”. The ruler is named “King”. The number two swordsman in a town is “Second Place”, the super loyal henchman is named “Most Trustworthy”, the walk on person reporting a death is named “News Bearer”.

Anyone else read this series, and what did you think of it?

Posted Mar 3, 2020, 4:51 AM UTC

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VinjiiReading Champion III•

I love the book but as a German speaking person I ended up reading the German translation where they gave everyone proper names and fixed all the “errors.” (I did read the original first.)

Fletcher “apologised” for this, and it would have bothered me a lot less had there not been many “errors” in his semi German constructions.

I think it was a clever idea, well executed and just needed a German speaking editor to go over it and make sure we don’t flinch too often...

Other than that, the book is fantastic.

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onthevergeofposting•

I love the book but as a German speaking person I ended up reading the German translation where they gave everyone proper names and fixed all the “errors.” (I did read the original first.

If you don't mind me asking, do you happen to remember what the proper German names were in the translation?

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VinjiiReading Champion III•

I don’t remember all of them, but as an example:

Deckard, Robyn and Argos instead of Bedeckt, Stehlen and Wichtig.

The city of Selbsthass is called Egoloth.

Konig is Ethenor.

To be fair, most of the meaning Fletcher tried to give these names by using German is now lost in the German version, but it’s good fun.

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onthevergeofposting•

Interessant! Vielen Dank!

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MichaelRFletcherStabby Winner, AMA Author Michael R. Fletcher•

Honestly, I don't know what the fuck that guy was thinking. Like, unpronounceable German names everywhere! I bet he can't even say half of them!

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slinky1372•

I find it completely shocking an author would do this, lol.

Are you any further forward getting an audio book version of thisnovel produced Mark?

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MichaelRFletcherStabby Winner, AMA Author Michael R. Fletcher•

Mark?! Has the Lawrence character been sneaking around here despoiling my fine name?!

Sadly, that's a no on the audiobook front. The rights aren't mine. On the high side, all the new stuff has audiobooks. I even got a little nuts and narrated the last one (Black Stone Heart, due out in April) myself. See that slick self-promo I snuck in there? dang I'm good!

And from now on I'm staying away from German!

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slinky1372•

Thanks so much for the info & please excuse my name slip.

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MichaelRFletcherStabby Winner, AMA Author Michael R. Fletcher•

No worries. I've recently had some fun (kind of) at Mark's expense: https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/a-letter-to-the-editor-from-michael-r-fletcher/

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MournelitheOPReading Champion IV•

Haha!
I gotta say, it really is an interesting setting, and I like the concept of the delusions. But I definitely understand why you felt the need to apologise to any German speakers in the preface!

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MichaelRFletcherStabby Winner, AMA Author Michael R. Fletcher•

It only seemed fair, seeing as I'd made a hash out of their language.

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RobJHayesAMA Author Rob J. Hayes•

I didn't know that about his naming of characters being literal interpretations. But it kinda makes sense. The world he has built exists in such a way that people become what they believe themselves to be. The best swordsman in the world IS the best swordsman in the world only because he believes he is, regardless of training. His skill is a literal manifestation of his belief. It kinda makes sense that his name would reflect that.

​

That being said, I don't know a hint of German so I pretty much just glossed over the names and they became whatever my over-taxed brain believed them to be. :)

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MournelitheOPReading Champion IV•

Yeah, I think they work really well on that level for some characters for sure.
Like Koenig as the premier gefahrgeist for the region naming himself "King Forever" would definitely reinforce his delusion. And Raincaller as a shaman fits well.

But who on earth would be happy to be named "message bearer" or "walk on part"? Actually I think it was a bit part nun who was a "throwaway" character. It's like .. who names their child that?!

Actually to be fair naming a girl child "throwaway" does kind of fit the grimness of the setting. And would make sense why they become a nun. But you'd think the order'd give her a new name, like Sister Pious or something.

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onthevergeofposting•

'Really glad to see Beyond Redemption, and Fletcher in general, getting more post recognition! In my opinion, he's one of the best authors out there and you can't go wrong with the Manifest Delusion Series (*Other than the wait for book three to be publish*).

In regard to the naming system, it's a tough question because it depends on the individual. Personally, I found the names to be cute eastereggs and it didn't impede my ability to enjoy the prose or the world-building. However, I'm only a German speaker, not a native German citizen so perhaps I would felt differently otherwise?

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MichaelRFletcherStabby Winner, AMA Author Michael R. Fletcher•

Manifest Delusions... Someday. There's some damage there that's gotta heal a bit more first.

For now, I've sworn an unholy oath that I'm not allowed to write anything else until I've finished the City of Sacrifice, and Obsidian Path series.

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onthevergeofposting•

hahah, sorry to bring up unpleasant memories!

The hype for Obsidian Path is unreal though! April can't arrive fast enough!

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MichaelRFletcherStabby Winner, AMA Author Michael R. Fletcher•

No worries. I know the last Manifest Delusions story I want to tell. I'll get there eventually.

I can't wait to get the first Obsidian Path book out there. The print version will be illustrated by Stas Borodin! We're now finalizing the last pictures. Absolutely kicked the crap out of my budget, but I want this to be something special.

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Meret123•

When I wrote the book I didn't expect anyone other than a few close friends to read it. None of them speak German and I had this idea of hiding Easter-eggs in the names, hints as to personalities and eventual fates or personal goals.

https://www.goodreads.com/questions/480835-hi-mr-fletcher-i-had-a-great-time

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TriscuitCracker•

I loved it. Loved the concepts and portrayal of how the mental illnesses manifested as magical powers and how unflinchingly violent and gory it was.

The author acknowledges he butchered the German, I just choose to ignore it honestly.

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Sa1ph•

I didn't read it, because as a German those names are really putting me off.

He had a page with the literal meanings behind those names on his Blog. Page seems no longer to exist, but is accessible via Archive.org. Though bear in mind that the translations aren't half as bad as the original names, since most names are just words put together without respecting any grammar rules (i.e. translating "Gehirn Schlechtes" with "Bad Brain" is not correct. It's rather "Brain Bad One").

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Cabaneri•

I tried reading it and DNF'd it. I took German in high school, so the names were a big turnoff for me, but that was only one of the problems I had with it.

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