Support for Indie Authors discussion

I'm writing a space opera serial, set in a grand space monarchy called The Realm of the Golden Dawn.

The name comes from the realm being founded and bringing stability after a long period of regression, brutality and darkness.

The problem is, I just realized "Golden Dawn" is the name of that Greek Neo-Nazi party.

Ahem.

I'm in Iceland. Are Greek Nazis in the public consciousness enough that they'll make this connection. I really want to keep the name, but I also don't want a Nazi connection.

I don't know about other nationalities but a Brit would definitely make that connection. If they're meant to be corrupt or secretly evil, go ahead, but if they're good it might need a rethink.

Damn Nazis. First they ruin the swastika, then a perfectly good title.

Elí wrote: "I'm writing a space opera serial, set in a grand space monarchy called The Realm of the Golden Dawn.

The name comes from the realm being founded and bringing stability after a long period of regre..."

The key point, if I read your post correctly, is that you have not published. So, no big deal. Shrug your shoulders. Change the name and Google it!
Same thing happened to me, "Europa Robotics" changed to "Enorpa Robotics" and I didn't have a nazi overtone!

Elí wrote: "Damn Nazis. First they ruin the swastika, then a perfectly good title."

Lol, couldn't agree more...

Elí wrote: "Damn Nazis. First they ruin the swastika, then a perfectly good title."

Yes, some are trying to "reclaim" the swastika as an ancient symbol, found in hindu and buddhist temples, and grecian buildings.

However, especially in Europe it will, perhaps forever, be a symbol of hate and evil.

Elí wrote: "The problem is, I just realized "Golden Dawn" is the name of that Greek Neo-Nazi party."

What about calling them the "Lightbringers." No possible negative connotations there.

Anthony wrote: "Elí wrote: "Damn Nazis. First they ruin the swastika, then a perfectly good title."

Yes, some are trying to "reclaim" the swastika as an ancient symbol, found in hindu and buddhist temples, and gr..."

I don't think I could ever connect swastika with anything else, like the majority of European it reminds us of horrible history.
Some probably think the same thing about "Golden down".

Call it Aurora Aurea :)

As a German I'm conscious of Neo-Nazi stuff, but I would not have made the connection.

Might just be me, though, I got tired of Greece in the news when they refused to pay us back our loans and stopped paying attention a while ago.

As an American, I've never heard of Greek Nazis. But I don't pay that much attention to things. Either way, I think you'd be ok to keep it, but if someone reads the book, makes the connection, and says something about it in the review they leave that could be a problem.

I've found that if you're questioning it, it's probably just best to not take the risk and change it.

Sorry, man. Love the name actually other than the Nazi link.

Anthony wrote: "
Yes, some are trying to "reclaim" the swastika as an ancient symbol, found in hindu and buddhist temples, and grecian buildings.

However, especially in Europe it will, perhaps forever, be a symbol of hate and evil.
"

I guess we should be glad they didn't co-opt Christmas somehow.

Fill it with anti-nazi rhetoric and publish it anyway! :D

Charles wrote: "Fill it with anti-nazi rhetoric and publish it anyway! :D"

I'm afraid the antagonists are a bunch of religious death cult fanatics, not fascists.

A correlation could be drawn!

@Eli: Fascist and nazi are two different things even if they have many similarities...

@Charles: To qualify as a supreme race, you have to die? :P

I think, like it or not, if you use the name Golden Dawn, you will have a Nazi connection. If you don't want that, then you have to change the name. However, as Charles the Greater points out, you can use the correlation if, in fact your GD's are "a bunch of religious death cult fanatics," and if you do some minor rewrites and fill the book--early and often--with anti-Nazi rhetoric.
Good luck whichever way you decide to go,
Charles (the Lesser)

S. K. wrote: "Elí wrote: "The problem is, I just realized "Golden Dawn" is the name of that Greek Neo-Nazi party."

What about calling them the "Lightbringers." No possible negative connotations there."

Is this 'tongue in cheek?'

Anthony wrote: "Is this 'tongue in cheek?"

Yes. I'm sorry, it's my default communication mode. If I were to answer Eli's original post earnestly it would go something like this:

-Almost all terms can be associated with negativity if you dig back far enough. The fact that one of Satan's original name means light bringer is an example. As an U.S. citizen, I had no knowledge that there were Nazis out there calling themselves the Golden Dawn. I think Eli is right in associating that name with a death cult, because cult or communist student organization were the first two things I thought of upon reading the name.

But if Eli is writing for a European market, I would think European opinions on that particular name should outweigh mine.-

Do you see, Anthony, how much time I save by stuffing my tongue into my cheek?

To clarify: The Realm of the Golden Dawn are the protagonists. And no, they're not evil.

The death cult is a separate entity.

Elí wrote: "To clarify: The Realm of the Golden Dawn are the protagonists. And no, they're not evil.

The death cult is a separate entity."

My apologies. If that is the case then I will shift my opinion over to the camp that suggests changing their name. The Realm of the Golden Dawn has vaguely sinister connotations to me, like it's a clever euphemism for something terrible.

Charles wrote: "I think, like it or not, if you use the name Golden Dawn, you will have a Nazi connection. If you don't want that, then you have to change the name. However, as Charles the Greater points out, you ..."

All Charleses are created equal!

Realm of the Golden Dawn reminds me of Children of the Light from Wheel of Time. So not a good association there, either...but as others have said, it's a good thing you noticed this before publishing. Things could be a lot worse.

I thought golden dawn was associated with alister Crowley not Greek nazis. ooh learned something new y'all :3

S. K. wrote: "Anthony wrote: "Is this 'tongue in cheek?"

Yes. I'm sorry, it's my default communication mode. If I were to answer Eli's original post earnestly it would go something like this:

-Almost all terms..."

Lol. Yes, but not everyone is "enlightened!"

This said, even over here in Europe these connections are coming to light.

I think the 70th Anniversary last year brought a lot of Nazi back. I read 5 books about Second World War last year, just because they were bestsellers, not because it's my preferred genre...:-)