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Fun with Acronyms/Literature: Difference between revisions
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{{trope}}
Examples of [[{{TOPLEVELPAGE}}]] in [[{{SUBPAGENAME}}]] include:
* In Larry Niven's "[[Known Space]]", '''A'''malgamation of '''R'''egional '''M'''ilitia is ARM, producing the [[bionic]]-limbed Gilbert G. Hamilton, known as "Gil the ARM".▼
* In Zadie Smith's comedic novel [[White Teeth]], a group of young radical second-generation British Muslims is named K.E.V.I.N.: '''K'''eepers of the '''E'''ternal and '''V'''igilant '''I'''slamic '''N'''ation. "We are aware we have an acronym problem."▼
__TOC__
== ''[[Harry Potter]]'' ==
* In the ''[[Harry Potter (novel)|Harry Potter]]'' novels, Hermione starts up the '''S'''ociety for the '''P'''romotion of '''E'''lfish '''W'''elfare. She insists the acronym be pronounced in letters rather than as a word, understandably enough.
** Lampshaded when Ron and Harry object to S.P.E.W and Hermione retorts that she was originally going to have "Stop the Outrageous Abuse of Our Fellow Magical Creatures and Campaign for a Change in Their Legal Status" but it wouldn't fit on a badge.
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** Hungarian readers get to know the "'''M'''anók '''A'''lkotmányos '''J'''ogaiért" '''O'''rszágos '''M'''ozgalom, or "National Movement For the Constitutional Rights of Elves" - by the way, majom means monkey.
** The French translation is '''S'''ociété d''''A'''ide à la '''L'''ibération des '''E'''lfes -- "sale" means "dirty".
***
** The Swedish version has '''F'''öreningen för '''I'''deelt '''S'''töd till '''A'''lferna (The organization for non-profit support to the elves). ''Fisa'' = (to) fart.
** The Finnish version has '''S'''amat '''Y'''hteiset '''L'''ait '''K'''otitontuillekin - '''Y'''hdistys (The same common laws for the house-elves too - the organization). ''Sylk'''''i''' = Saliva.
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** The Finnish version has '''S'''e '''U'''skomattoman '''P'''aha '''E'''rittäin '''R'''askas (The Unbeleviably Bad, Especially Heavy (tough) one) and '''V'''elhomaailman '''I'''hmeisiin '''P'''erehdyttävä (Familiarization to the wonders of the wizard world).
* One possibly-unintentional [[Harry Potter]] example is from the epilogue, in which we meet Harry's son, '''A'''lbus '''S'''everus '''P'''otter. If the ''name'' weren't unfortunate enough, look at what the initials spell. No wonder he's worried about being sorted into Slytherin.
* Christopher Stasheff's "Warlock" novels include many organizations with unlikely acronyms for names: The '''P'''roletarian '''E'''clectic '''S'''tate of '''T'''erra (PEST), the '''D'''ecentralized '''D'''emocratic '''T'''ribunal (DDT) which wiped out PEST, the '''S'''ociety for the '''C'''onversion of '''E'''xtra-terrestial '''N'''ascent '''T'''otalitarianisms (SCENT), and no less than three groups of [[Time Travel|time-travelers]]: the '''S'''ociety for the '''P'''revention of '''I'''ntegration of '''T'''elepathic '''E'''ntities (SPITE), the '''V'''igilant '''E'''xtenders of '''T'''otalitarian '''O'''rganizations (VETO), and the '''G'''uarantors of the '''R'''ights of '''I'''ndividuals, '''P'''atentholders '''E'''specially (GRIPE) (founded by the man who ''invented'' the time machine and was annoyed at the other two groups, who weren't paying him any royalties).▼
== ''[[Illuminatus]]!'' Trilogy ==
* The very nasty villains in C.S. Lewis' ''[[That Hideous Strength]]'' are called the '''N'''ational '''I'''nstitute for '''C'''o-ordinated '''E'''xperiments (NICE). This did not go unremarked when the [[wikipedia:NICE|National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence]] chose to abbreviate itself to NICE instead of NIHCE. ▼
* The ''[[Illuminatus]]!'' Trilogy features a supercomputer known as the '''F'''irst '''U'''niversal '''C'''ybernetic-'''K'''inetic '''U'''ltramicro-'''P'''rogrammer.▼
== Other works ==
▲* In Larry Niven's "[[Known Space]]", '''A'''malgamation of '''R'''egional '''M'''ilitia is ARM, producing the [[bionic]]-limbed Gilbert G. Hamilton, known as "Gil the ARM".
▲* In Zadie Smith's comedic novel [[White Teeth]], a group of young radical second-generation British Muslims is named K.E.V.I.N.: '''K'''eepers of the '''E'''ternal and '''V'''igilant '''I'''slamic '''N'''ation. "We are aware we have an acronym problem."
▲* Christopher Stasheff's "Warlock" novels include many organizations with unlikely acronyms for names: The '''P'''roletarian '''E'''clectic '''S'''tate of '''T'''erra (PEST), the '''D'''ecentralized '''D'''emocratic '''T'''ribunal (DDT) which wiped out PEST, the '''S'''ociety for the '''C'''onversion of '''E'''xtra-terrestial '''N'''ascent '''T'''otalitarianisms (SCENT), intended to ''sniff out'' possible problems, and no less than three groups of [[Time Travel|time-travelers]]: the '''S'''ociety for the '''P'''revention of '''I'''ntegration of '''T'''elepathic '''E'''ntities (SPITE), the '''V'''igilant '''E'''xtenders of '''T'''otalitarian '''O'''rganizations (VETO), and the '''G'''uarantors of the '''R'''ights of '''I'''ndividuals, '''P'''atentholders '''E'''specially (GRIPE) (founded by the man who ''invented'' the time machine and was annoyed at the other two groups, who weren't paying him any royalties).
▲* The very nasty villains in C.S. Lewis' ''[[That Hideous Strength]]'' are called the '''N'''ational '''I'''nstitute for '''C'''o-ordinated '''E'''xperiments (NICE). This did not go unremarked when the [[wikipedia:NICE|National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence]] chose to abbreviate itself to NICE instead of NIHCE.
* An organization in [[Dale Brown]]'s ''Dreamland'' (and related) books is called HAWC. It stands for "'''H'''igh Technology '''A'''erospace '''W'''eapon '''C'''enter", but the acronym sticks because it just sounds cool. It may also have received a [[Shout-Out]] from fellow techno-thriller writer [[Tom Clancy]] with the ''H.A.W.X.'' unit from the eponymous flight-action title.
* The dreadful Betty Bowers of ''[[America's Best Christian]]'' is the leader of '''B'''ringing '''I'''ntegrity '''T'''o '''C'''hristian '''H'''omemakers, '''B'''aptists '''A'''re '''S'''aving '''H'''omosexuals (changed when it became clear that there was money in the 'gay eye for the straight guy' thing to '''C'''hristians '''A'''re '''S'''aving '''H'''omosexuals), and an abstinence club for girls called '''S'''aving '''L'''ove '''U'''ntil '''T'''he '''S'''acraments. (Which is [[Did Not Do the Research|amusing in itself]], as the Baptist church does not consider marriage a sacrament.)
* In [[Spider Robinson]]'s ''[[Stardance]]'', the main characters have to deal with the transport division of Space Industries Coporation. When they see the division's name and motto on its front door, one breaks down into laughter: "S.I.C. Transit -- ''Gloria Mundi''". ("Thus passes the glory of the world", a well-known phrase in Latin.)
* ''[[Bliss Stage]]'':
{{quote|
Keenan Caine: Roger that. Incidentally, what does A.N.I.Ma. mean?
Derek Smith: '''A'''lien '''N'''umina '''I'''nversion '''Ma'''chine.
Keenan Caine: ...Someone reads too much Carl Jung. }}
▲* The ''[[Illuminatus]]!'' Trilogy features a supercomputer known as the '''F'''irst '''U'''niversal '''C'''ybernetic-'''K'''inetic '''U'''ltramicro-'''P'''rogrammer.
▲** In an odd combination of this trope with [[Sdrawkcab Name]], it also has an organization called the '''K'''nights of '''C'''hristianity '''U'''nited in '''F'''aith.
▲** And don't forget the '''E'''risian '''L'''iberation '''F'''ront.
▲** Or '''W'''hite '''H'''eroes '''O'''pposing '''R'''ed '''E'''xtremism.
▲** [[James Bond|Agent 000005 Fission Chips]] sees signs of '''B'''lowhard's '''U'''nreformed '''G'''angsters, '''G'''oons, and '''E'''spionage '''R'''enegades everywhere. While he is wrong about the name and purpose of the group, he is actually closer to the truth about Illuminati than probably anyone except Hagbard Celine.
* The ''Myth'' series already had that name before the characters founded M.Y.T.H. Inc., which supposedly stands for '''M'''agical '''Y'''oung '''T'''roubleshooting '''H'''eroes. The protagonist comments, "This is what happens when you leave things to a committee," and no one ever mentions what the initials stand for again.
** Out-of-character, of course, it's a backronym that Asprin concocted specifically so he could use it in title puns.
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* In Pamela F. Service's ''Weirdos of the Universe Unite!'', the protagonists have a two-member club called WEIRD. They eventually decide that it stands for Weird Entities In Rightful Domination.
* In one of the ''[[Adrian Mole]]'' books, Adrian notes the full name of '''P'''andora '''L'''ouise '''E'''lizabeth '''B'''raithwaite and reflects on whether she ever used her initials.
* ''[[Discworld]]'':
** In
**
* In ''[[More Information Than You Require]]'', John Hodgman advises this as a method of memorizing names. For example, if you want to memorize the name "John", then you can use: "<s> [[Crosses the Line Twice|Juries Often Hate Negroes]]</s> [[Recursive Acronym|John]] Or Hodgman Name".
* In the novel of ''[[The Fourth Protocol]]'' the head of the Joint Intelligence Committee is complaining that he doesn't have a catchy acronym, whereupon the CIA liaison officer suggests '''S'''upreme '''H'''ead of '''I'''ntelligence '''T'''argeting. Preferring not to be known as the SHIT of Whitehall, he quickly drops the matter.
* In the spy novel ''The Sinkiang Executive'' by [[Adam Hall]], [[Quiller]] encounters a possible [[Honey Trap]] pumping him for information (among other things) so he tells her about the problem of his current engineering project - how tightly should the Directional U-beam Kinetic Sensor (DUKS) fit with the Annular Reciprocating Speculum (ARS)? His conclusion is that a DUKS ARS must be watertight, or else it wouldn't float.
* Eugene Byrne's ''[[Thigmoo]]'' has the Socialist Ladies' Undercover Team, who specialise in seducing men for their cause. When the acronym was pointed out, Socialist Ladies' Action Group was suggested instead.
** While ThigMOO itself turns out to be an odd acronym, standing for '''THI'''s '''G'''reat '''MO'''vement '''O'''f '''O'''urs.
* A [[Time Police]] series of the '60s-'70s was called ''Agent of T.E.R.R.A.'' despite the fact that Earth was just one world in their [[The Federation|civilization]] and many, perhaps most of the agents, including the [[Human Alien|main character]], were '''not'''
* ''[[Mad Magazine]]'' had a parody of ''[[NYPD Blue]]'' which featured a member of the '''C'''hristian '''R'''ight '''A'''gainst '''P'''ornography demanding that the show be taken off the air. The producer lampshades the acronym.
** Another issue has a fake church ad from the '''I'''nspirational '''D'''ivine '''I'''nstitute '''O'''f '''T'''otal '''S'''alvation
* In [[Timothy Zahn]]'s ''Cobra'' trilogy, the Cobras at first look like an elite unit, but turn out to be [[Super Soldier|Super Soldiers]] with unbreakable bones, servo-powered joints, concealed lasers, and reflexes hooked up to computers embedded just under their brains, among other changes. Only later are we told that
* In [[David Weber]]'s ''[[Safehold]]'' series there is
** The PICA ('''P'''ersonality-'''I'''ntegrated '''C'''ybernetic '''A'''vatar), a robotic body that can be used to experience remotely things that danger or disability would render impossible to do otherwise. The later versions can also have a person's personality downloaded into them and act on their own, which is what happens with protagonist Nimue Alban's PICA.
** Nimue also uses '''S'''elf-'''N'''avigating '''A'''utonomous '''R'''econnaissance and '''C'''ommunication platforms extensively to keep track of what happens at other places.
* David Foster Wallace's [[Infinite Jest]] has the United States merging with Mexico and Canada, in every New World Order conspiracy nut's nightmare, to form the '''O'''rganization of '''N'''orth '''A'''merican '''N'''ations.
* Averted in [[Isaac Asimov]]
* The [[Heroes-R-Us]] series ''SOBS'', for the mercenary group ''Soldiers Of Barrabas'' (their leader) among other things.
* The protagonist of the Michael Z Williamson ''Freehold'' novel ''The Weapon'' has a selection of made-up organisations to use as 'bad guys' in military exercises and general practical jokes. The worst is the '''C'''ommittee for the '''U'''tilisation of '''N'''atural '''T'''errain in '''S'''piritualism, made even more awesome by the phone conversation during an exercise, in which he claimed the female PR officer, Major Hardy, that he was holding hostage knew nothing about CUNTS, and that he wouldn't release her in case she said something nasty about [them].
* The science fiction author and journalist John Brosnan wrote some of his work under a variety of aliases. For the absolute trashiest, he was either Harry Adam Knight, or Simon Ian Childer, thereby indicating his opinion of the books (SIC) and himself for writing them (HAK).
* The spacecraft in the second book of the [[Into the Looking Glass]] series was tagged with '''A'''lliance '''S'''pace '''S'''hip ''Vorpal Blade''. Humans argued strongly against that prefix, but were overridden by the aliens providing a lot of the technical support required to get the original Blade built.
* An ''[[The Avengers (TV series)|Avengers]] [[Expanded Universe]] novel, ''Too Many Targets'', plays with the show's love for funny acronyms by introducing VOICE; '''V'''enerable '''O'''rder of '''I'''nter-'''C'''ommunicative '''E'''ndeavors, an organization devoted to helping hearing-
* There's an Irish series of books and newspaper strips based around '''R'''oss '''O''' '''C'''arroll '''K'''elly, the acronym from which is the nickname of Blackrock, a well-known and very posh South Dublin private school (Ross attends the fictional-but-remarkably-similar Castlerock, and most of the first books are designed around mocking the South Dublin upper classes and the obsession with school-level rugby). It gets better with his mother, '''F'''ionnuala '''O''' '''C'''arroll '''K'''elly ('Fock' being the South Dublin phonetic pronunciation of a word [[Getting Crap Past the Radar|less printable in family newspapers]]) and father '''C'''harles '''O''' '''C'''arroll '''K'''elly (which...[[Don't Explain the Joke|yeah]].)
* ''[[The Wonderful Wizard of Oz]]'': Why do you think the Wizard was made the wizard of a land name Oz? His full name is '''O'''scar '''Z'''oroaster '''P'''hadrig '''I'''saac '''N'''orman '''H'''enkel '''E'''mmannuel '''A'''mbroise '''D'''iggs. He [[Embarrassing Middle Name|didn't like]] [[Overly Long Name|the other part]], though.
* The [[
* In the book ''[[Magic for Marigold]]'' by [[
* In the ''[[Gone (novel)]]'' series, everywhere under the impenetrable wall is called the FAYZ: '''F'''allout '''A'''lley '''Y'''outh '''Z'''one.
* The ''[[Dune]]'' series had a company called CHOAM (Combine Honnete Ober Advancer Mercantiles). Ellis Weiner's National Lampoon spoof novel ''Doon'' changed this to N.O.A.M.C.H.O.M.S.K.Y. In the German translation, it is called MAFEA ('''M'''erkantile '''A'''llianz für '''F'''ortschritt und '''E'''ntwicklung im '''A'''ll, literally "Mercantile Alliance for Progress and Development in Space").
* In a possible nod to [[James Bond|Spectra]], the terrorist organisation 'Scorpia' in the ''[[Alex Rider]]'' series is named for the activities it specialises in: '''S'''abotage, '''Cor'''ru'''P'''tion, '''I'''ntelligence and '''A'''ssassination.
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* The '''U'''navoidable '''F'''amily '''O'''uting books has a character named BRAD, who insists on always spelling it with capital letters. The two younger siblings [[Running Gag|spend much of the book]] coming up with immature ideas as to what it stands for.
* The ''Travelers Through Time'' series of children's novels, wherein the heroes' time machine is called the '''T'''ime '''A'''nd '''S'''pace '''C'''onnector.
* The ''[[Retief]]'' series by [[Keith Laumer]] features multiple CDT organizations, often with very silly names. Retief himself is generally the only one to show awareness of the oddness of some name choices.
* The animal testing facility in ''[[The Plague Dogs]]'' is called "'''A'''nimal '''R'''esearch: '''S'''cience and '''E'''xperimental."
* The ''[[Gaunt's Ghosts]]'' novel ''The Armour of Contempt'' has '''R'''etraining, '''I'''ndoctrination and '''Punishment'''.
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* The ''[[Honor Harrington]]'' novel ''Echoes of Honor'' mentions that though '''C'''ommanding '''O'''fficer, '''L'''ight '''A'''ttack '''C'''raft sounds too much like "colic", the other suggestion of '''C'''ommanding '''O'''fficer, '''W'''ing was slapped down.
* ''[[The Demon Headmaster]]'' - The main characters' group call themselves the '''S'''ociety for the '''P'''rotection of our '''L'''ives '''A'''gainst '''T'''hem ("them" being the Headmaster and his hypnotized minions.)
* In the novelization of the ''[[Iron Man]]'' [[The Movie|film]], JARVIS (an AI in the movieverse) is revealed to stand for Just A Rather Very Intelligent System. Backronym, of course, since in the original comics, Edwin Jarvis was the Avengers' butler.
* The F.R.E.A.K.S. Squads Investigation novels has the '''F'''ederal '''R'''esponse to '''E'''xtra-sensory '''A'''nd '''K'''indred '''S'''upernaturals. Which is a sub-division of the '''FBI'''.
* Laser weapons in [[Iain M Banks]]' ''[[The Culture|Culture]]'' series are called '''C'''oherent '''R'''adiation '''E'''mission '''W'''eapons '''S'''ystems (CREWS).
* Several writers of [[Magitek]] fiction have used references to elite police units known as (what else?) '''S'''pecial '''W'''izardry '''A'''nd '''T'''actics teams.
* In
* ''Prof. A.Donda'' by [[Stanislaw Lem]] - a typo made Donda professor of Svarnetics, which is [[Sufficiently Analyzed Magic|'''S'''tochastic '''V'''erification of '''A'''utomatized '''R'''ules of '''N'''egative '''E'''nchantment]].
* ''This Immortal'' by [[Roger Zelazny]] briefly mentions the '''O'''ffice of '''A'''wards, '''F'''urbishments, '''I'''nsignia, '''S'''ymbols, and '''H'''eraldry, which comes up with [[Chest of Medals|decorations]] to be awarded to bureaucrats. The narrator [[Deadpan Snarker|remarks]] that the man who named OAFISH realized his office's job was to "fake dignity."
* People who write to Dan Savage's sex advice column, "Savage Love", often pick a publication name which can be shortened into an acronym describing their problem. HELP, LOST, SCREWED, etc. He complained about it once, but the practice continues.
* An article about an improbable baseball pitcher in ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' had the first letters of the words in the first sentence spell out {{spoiler|APRIL FOOLS}}
{{tropesubpagefooter}}
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