So, as a result of the interesting discussion that emerged on the post below, I did a little more looking around on ye worlde wide webbe and came across some great sites.
First, I found an outstanding (and quite comprehensive) glossary of swears in fantasy and sci-fi from cuparius.com. Next, an interesting post on the subject by Jo Walton. Also, check out a great post by Joe Abecrombie (who uses many, many curses in his novels). Finally, a list of all the slang and invented curses used in Jordan’s WOT.
What do you see in here that works? What’s not so great?
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The glossary of swears is great – both fun and useful (if only for what not to duplicate, and what NOT to do, by the dragon’s tail!). Love Farscape, Battlestar Gallactica and Red Dwarf – seeing the oh-so-familiar curses made me smile. Some of the Farscape curses are in regular use at home, particularly frell and dren (useful in front of the grandkids!).
Right?? Some of them are so unbelievably cumbersome. I still think “frakking” from BG was one of the most brilliant invented expletives to come down the pike. My wife and I haven’t been as good as we should be watching our language around the toddler. He sometimes gets a very contemplative look on his face, then announces, usually a propos of nothing: HOLY SHIT!