vinay87 Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Do you read the dedications in a book? I always do, because I love the dedications in my own books. They're really important to me, like the plot itself. And dedications often speak the most about the character of a writer. A book without a dedication is a love letter without a recepient. As Stephen King himself quotes, all books are letters written to one person. So have you come across any interesting dedications? I have a few which are widely quoted on the other book forums I've lurked around for years. These are from Tad Williams's Otherland series: Book 1: City of Golden Shadow "This Book is dedicated to my father Joseph Hill Evans with love. Actually Dad doesn’t read fiction, so if someone doesn’t tell him about this, he’ll never know." Book 2: River of Blue Fire "This Book is dedicated to my father Joseph Hill Evans with love. As I said before, Dad doesn’t read fiction. He still hasn’t noticed that this thing is dedicated to him. This is Volume Two – let’s see how many more until he catches on." Book 3: Mountain of Black Glass "This is still dedicated to you-know-who, even if he doesn’t. Maybe we can keep this a secret all the way to the final volume." Book 4: Sea of Silver Light "My father still hasn’t actually cracked any of the books – so, no, he still hasn’t noticed. I think I’m just going to have to tell him. Maybe I should break it to him gently. 'Everyone here who hasn’t had a book dedicated to them, take three steps forward. Whoops, Dad, hang on there for a second...' " I also remember liking the dedications in Harry Potter And The Deathy Hallows a lot too. And the one in The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe. Call me arrogant but I kinda like my dedications the best . Mostly because to each writer, his/her own feelings reflect in the book dedications a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 I always read the dedications too although I can't think of any off the top of my head. I'll have to investigate. Those Tad Williams dedications are great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigWords Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Those Tad Williams dedications are great Agreed. There are a lot of very funny ones these days, but I'd have to start pulling books from shelves if I had to remember specific titles... The place is untidy as it is, and if I start creating more chaos I'll never get anything done. As soon as I have time to put together a list of the best I'll post them here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 I love those Tad Williams dedications - how funny! I wonder if he finally did break i to his Dad? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 This is a great thread idea Vinay! In a book I recently got called, 'How To Build A Dinosaur - Extinction Doesn't Have To Be Forever', the dedication simply reads: "For Darwin." Which I think is actually quite cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlette Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 I've never read anything by Tad Williams, but he seems to be a brilliantly humorous guy. I haven't encountered a funny or interesting book dedication, yet, but I do love reading them. I think it's wonderful to dedicate a work of art, such as a book, an album, etc, to someone special. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talisman Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 I haven't even heard of Tad Williams and have no idea what he even writes ! I know that I spent ages though writing the dedication page in my own tome. The best one I ever saw was Tim Freke and Peter Gandy's The Jesus Mysteries "to those who know they do not know". That would include me and most of the population I would think (hope - as I have a strong dislike of anyone who is arrogant enough to think that they do know, bearing in mind what this book is about). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Off the top of my head I can't think of any but those Tad Williams ones that I have seen posted below are actually fantastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drexydefighter Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Yes I always read dedications in every book Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Neil Gaiman's dedication in Anansi Boys reads: Dedication You know how it is. You pick up a book, flip to the dedication, and find that, once again, the author has dedicated a book to someone else and not to you. Not This Time. Because we haven't yet met/have only a glancing acquaintance/are just crazy about each other/haven't seen each other in much too long/are in some way related/will never meet, but will, I trust, despite that, always think fondly of each other... This one's for you. With you know what, and you probably know why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephanie2008 Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 The first one that comes to mind is Russell Brand's from My Booky Wook. It always makes me smile : For my mum, the most important woman in my life, this book is dedicated to you. Now for God's sake don't read it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 The first one that comes to mind is Russell Brand's from My Booky Wook. It always makes me smile : For my mum, the most important woman in my life, this book is dedicated to you. Now for God's sake don't read it! That's brilliant! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephanie2008 Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Yeah, I've read that book and I think he's right to discourage his mother Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura-Jade Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Neil Gaiman's dedication in Anansi Boys reads: Dedication You know how it is. You pick up a book, flip to the dedication, and find that, once again, the author has dedicated a book to someone else and not to you. Not This Time. Because we haven't yet met/have only a glancing acquaintance/are just crazy about each other/haven't seen each other in much too long/are in some way related/will never meet, but will, I trust, despite that, always think fondly of each other... This one's for you. With you know what, and you probably know why. That's lovely I also liked Rowling's dedication in Deathly Hallows - the way it was arranged into the shape of a lightning bolt was very clever, as was the way it was split into seven. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 One of the funnier ones I remember is P.G.Wodehouse He dedicated The Heart of a Goof to his daughter "without whose never-failing sympathy and encouragement this book would have been finished in half time." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinay87 Posted February 15, 2010 Author Share Posted February 15, 2010 lol I remember one but I can't recall the writer's name or even the book's title. It was by a woman though. Something about the book being dedicated to her daughter who put down the Lord Of The Rings to read the first draft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 That's lovely I also liked Rowling's dedication in Deathly Hallows - the way it was arranged into the shape of a lightning bolt was very clever, as was the way it was split into seven. I remember thinking that was really clever too One of the funnier ones I remember is P.G.Wodehouse He dedicated The Heart of a Goof to his daughter "without whose never-failing sympathy and encouragement this book would have been finished in half time." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessi Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 lol I remember one but I can't recall the writer's name or even the book's title. It was by a woman though. Something about the book being dedicated to her daughter who put down the Lord Of The Rings to read the first draft. It was Cornelia Funke's Inkheart! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickle Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 The funniest dedications I have come across in recent books have been the ones in the Skullduggery Pleasant books by Derek Landy. In book 1 This book is dedicated to my parents, John and Barbara Dad-this is for your bizzarely unwaivering support and unflinching faith Mum- this is for that look on you face when I told you the good news I owe you absolutely everything y'know , I suppose it's entirely possible I feel some, like, degree of affection towards the two of you. In book 2 This book is dedicated to my family - becasue otherwise I would never hear the end of it.. Nadine: warm and considerate i am all of those things Audrey: the greatest thrill of you life is probably that i am your brother Ivan: meaningless words such as 'brilliant', 'amazing' and 'inspirational' have been used to describe me but not nearly enough If any of you thought ther would be anything sincere or heartfelt in your dedications, allow me a moment to quietly laugh at you. Because the heartfelt sincerity in restricted for my nana. Chic this is also dedicated to you, for all the love and support you've shown me over the yeaars. I love you much more than any of you other grandchildren do, I swear. oh and the books are very good as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamnotreal Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 The funniest dedications I have come across in recent books have been the ones in the Skullduggery Pleasant books by Derek Landy. In book 1 This book is dedicated to my parents, John and Barbara Dad-this is for your bizzarely unwaivering support and unflinching faith Mum- this is for that look on you face when I told you the good news I owe you absolutely everything y'know , I suppose it's entirely possible I feel some, like, degree of affection towards the two of you. In book 2 This book is dedicated to my family - becasue otherwise I would never hear the end of it.. Nadine: warm and considerate i am all of those things Audrey: the greatest thrill of you life is probably that i am your brother Ivan: meaningless words such as 'brilliant', 'amazing' and 'inspirational' have been used to describe me but not nearly enough If any of you thought ther would be anything sincere or heartfelt in your dedications, allow me a moment to quietly laugh at you. Because the heartfelt sincerity in restricted for my nana. Chic this is also dedicated to you, for all the love and support you've shown me over the yeaars. I love you much more than any of you other grandchildren do, I swear. oh and the books are very good as well Yes! I love the Skulduggery books, and I remember laughing at the dedications too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigWords Posted March 5, 2010 Share Posted March 5, 2010 Writing a book dedication isn't easy. Apparently. C'mon, how hard is it to type 'for _____' (thereby saving the necessity of picking a single name). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigWords Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 To Quan Xiang-Yiwho in 1846 was given the title'distinguished failure' in recognitionof his 20 years spent failing theChinese Civil Service entrance exams.Buoyed up by this honor, he wenton to fail several times more. From The Return Of Heroic Failures by Stephen Pile TO THE STAR LADIES, THE WILD KARRDES,THE CLUB JADERS, AND MY BOTHAN SPIESAND ESPECIALLY TOTISH PAHLMINISTER OF FORMATIONBOTH IN- AND DISIN- From Star Wars: Vision Of The Future by Timothy Zahn ToJOHN CARNELLFriend, Literary Agentand Slave DriverIn appreciation From The Watch Below by James White To my wifefor putting up with it From The New Science Of Strong Materials by J.E. Gordon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinay87 Posted March 21, 2010 Author Share Posted March 21, 2010 It was Cornelia Funke's Inkheart! Ah yes, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I'mRose Posted March 21, 2010 Share Posted March 21, 2010 I love dedications, JK. Rowlings in Deathly Hallows as mentioned above. I have to read everything that is written before the book actually begins. yes this does include publisher, printer and so on.... I find the books without dedications a bit weird. http://booksinmylife.blog.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinkpaper Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 I liked the one in Blacklands 'For my mother who gave us everything and never thought it was enough' I do always read them, I like them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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