Get a Science-Fiction Verbotomy from Robert J. Sawyer

Robert J. Sawyer, winner of Hugo and Nebula awards for best novel, will be our featured author at Verbotomy for the week starting June 18, 2007. Rob is offering a signed copy of his latest book, Rollback, as prize for the most creative player of the week.

Rollback

Rob loves pop-culture and he has an unmistakable fondness for Star Trek (Jabberwocky will be thrilled) and Planet of the Apes. He also likes to ask the big questions – the ethical ones – especially when there rooted in that fertile ground where mysticism clashes with rationalism. (That ever present conflict between creativity and logic, between our invented words and grammar, that verbotomists know so well.) Rob’s latest novel, Rollback explores morals and ethics on both a human and a cosmic scale with a narrative about interplanetary communication and the science of rejuvenation ( plastic aurgery anyone!). But at its heart, Rollback is really a story about how two people’s relationship is affected by time and aging. The Globe and Mails says, “Rollback is a story about love and commitment, about humanity at its most basic — a novel to be savoured by science-fiction and mainstream readers alike.

We are thrilled to have such wonderfully creative writer provide inspiration for our daily verboticisms. Thank you Rob!

We invite all Robert J. Sawyer fans to submit for ideas for definitions, especially if they have been inspired by Rob’s work. Go to: https://www.verbotomy.com/verbinition.php

About Robert J. Sawyer

“Robert J. Sawyer is just about the best science fiction writer out there these days.” — The Rocky Mountain News

“One of the foremost science fiction writers of our generation.” — SF Site

“A writer of boundless confidence and bold scientific extrapolation.” — The New York Times

To find out more about Rob and his creative work visit website at www.sfwriter.com.

Official Stuff:

The winner will be chosen based on the final stats on the Verbotomy Weekly Author Ranking for the week starting on Monday June 18, 2007.

Prize: Rollback Hard Cover Edition. (Approximate Retail Value $24.95 US.)
Contest Start Date: June 18, 2007 at 12:01:00 am EDT
Contest End Date: June 24 2007 at 11:59:00 pm EDT

For Weekly Author Ranking see:
See: https://www.verbotomy.com/verbotomists.php

For complete contest rules and regulations please see our Verbotomy Contest Rules and Regulations.

Verbotoweek: Top Four Battle for Supreme Verbosity

This was the closest race ever with just a few votes separating the top four finishers. Voters took my advice and spread their votes to many of the creative words and I found this the toughest week to be inventive and creative with the quite varied and different definitions.

1. Jabberwocky Score: 112
2. petaj Score: 111
3. Stevenson0 Score: 107
4. purpleartichokes Score: 107

Congratulations to all! See the final results here:
https://www.verbotomy.com/verbotomists.php?week=2007-06-04

Monday – Useless Gadgets
1. gizmotional
2. gizbo
3. yabadabadoodad
4. gearoused
5. whizzbangst

Tuesday – Self Image Retouching Picture Disorder
1. phonyshopped
2. retouchiness
3. opticaldelusion
4. fauxtorexia
5. pixosis

Wednesday – Pulling a Band-Aid off Hairy Skin
1. trichotrauma
2. depilatorture
3. hurtsute
4. tearture
5. hairrowing

Thursday – Compulsive Repeated Mistake
1. stuplication
2. recidiotism
3. errerrerr
4. dohpeat
5. neuerrotic

Friday – Pet Language
1. petois
2. furnacular
3. bingolingo
4. petsperanto
5. furble

Top Ten Verboticisms of the Week:

1. Petois Created by: petaj
2. Furnacular Created by: ziggy41
3. Recidiotism Created by: serendipity9000
4. Gizmotional Created by: purpleartichokes
5. Trichotrauma Created by: petaj
6. Bingolingo Created by: Jabberwocky
7. Phonyshopped Created by: hennifer
8. Petsperanto Created by: Clayton
9. Yabadabadoodad Created by: Jabberwocky
10. Gizbo Created by: Stevenson0

Five Words That We Should Have Voted For, But Didn’t!!!

You should of, would of, could of voted for these!!!

* Technocrave Created by: pguse
* Cosmoshopism Created by: livejuicy
* Bandache Created by: docholiday
* Errennial Created by: Trystera
* Poochinese Created by: Osomatic

Verbantering

Doolittalian

Created by: rikboyee

Pronunciation: doo-lit-al-yun

Sentence: ever since i became fluent in doolittalian, my dog and i have been much better at working through our issues

Etymology: dr doolittle, italian

Points: 14

Comments: Doolittalian
galwaywegian – 2007-06-08: 04:29:00
bada bingo!

purpleartichokes – 2007-06-08: 06:47:00
Makes me yearn for spughetti!

jadenguy – 2007-06-08: 09:43:00
oh noes, now i’m thinking about the episode of futurama where fry finds his old dog. that episode made me cry.

Jabberwocky – 2007-06-08: 10:22:00
mmm spughetti with a starter course of clam chowchowder and a fresh salad with collieflower

purpleartichokes – 2007-06-08: 11:17:00
And Yorkshire pudding for dessert.

Jabberwocky – 2007-06-08: 11:38:00
perhaps a beagle with cream cheese or a cinnamon great daneish

purpleartichokes – 2007-06-08: 12:22:00
Hamster and cheese?

Jabberwocky – 2007-06-08: 12:49:00
or german shepherd’s pie with a dachshund of catsup

ErWenn – 2007-06-08: 14:09:00
Or some poodles in marinara sauce…or a parrot cake…or some chicken cat-chiatore…

ErWenn – 2007-06-08: 14:10:00
I was going to get into more obscure pets, but I started running into the problem that people are about as likely to eat some animals as they are to keep them as pets.

purpleartichokes – 2007-06-08: 14:21:00
Like hushpuppies? Geez Rik, we’re really crapping up your place here, aren’t we? Hope you haven’t become petulant!

Jabberwocky – 2007-06-08: 14:33:00
I don’t think rikboyee is that petty

purpleartichokes – 2007-06-08: 15:23:00
Woohoo! Quittin’ time. Headin’ home for a verbeer and a hot dog! Have a great weekend all!

Jabberwocky – 2007-06-08: 15:43:00
make sure you have catsup and mouseturd with your hot dog purple

purpleartichokes – 2007-06-08: 18:55:00
i hate you jabber. heading over the cabin tomorrow, and there’s still a mouse in there. yum.

petaj – 2007-06-08: 22:13:00
These puns are terrierbly funny.

ErWenn – 2007-06-08: 23:50:00
Well, they’re pretty terrible, so I’ll half agree with petaj.

jadenguy – 2007-06-09: 00:32:00
I guess puns just aren’t your teacup.

rikboyee – 2007-06-09: 09:55:00
wow….if only comments were votes….i’d be best in show

Your Wumbling Observer,
Weeklink

Jennifer? You’ve changed your hairstyle! I like it!

DEFINITION: v. tr. To seek approval from your boss by emulating their style, mannerisms or affectations. n. A person who uses such techniques to win favor.

Jennifer? You've changed your hairstyle! I like it!

VERBOTICISMS: (Invented words created by the Verbotomy Writers)

Ingratiape: /in-gray-si-aip/ Ms. York was able to photocopy her fundament on “letter” at the office party, while Susan had to switch to “legal”, undermining her ongoing efforts to ingratiape herself with her supervisor. Etymology: ingratiate + ape (copy) Created by: administraitor.

Doppelmanager: /dah-puhl-man-a-jer/ All butt-kissing and other adminitraits aside, when Bob showed up sporting the same Rocky and Bullwinkle tie that the boss wore, it was readily apparent that he had become a doppelmanager destined for the Borg room. Simpresarios always wound up as directums. Etymology: doppelganger, manager Created by: purpleartichokes.

Suckcessor: /successor/ Tina is now a consultant on suckcession planning. She has a wealth of experience in career advancement through the judicious use plastic surgery and the less intrusive techniques of mimicry and style adoption. Etymology: suck up to + successor Created by: petaj.

Panderox: /pan-der-ox/ With a vice-president position available, individuals being considered for the position panderox the boss at every possible opportunity. The secretaries have a chart keeping track of who is the biggest panderoxing fool. Etymology: pander + xerox Created by: Stevenson0.

To see more verboticisms for this definition go to:
https://www.verbotomy.com/verboticisms.php?jid=take

Be Creative,

James

www.verbotomy.com
the create-a-word game

Why do you always carry that file folder?

DEFINITION: n. A prop (e.g. papers, files or any non-functional equipment) used to create the illusion of busyness. v. tr. To use such a prop to mask inactivity.

Why do you always carry that file folder?

VERBOTICISMS: (Invented words created by the Verbotomy Writers)

Slackcessory: /slak-sess-or-ee/ Phil’s slackcessory wasn’t fooling anyone. The “tech manual” he was toting around was the instruction booklet for his lawn mower. Apparently, he was Fridazed when he took that course on shirkonomics. Etymology: slack (to avoid work), accessory Created by: purpleartichokes.

Industricators: /in-DUST-ri-caters/ Memo To: WOT Team….. From: WOT Team Leader %%%%%%%%%%%% Hi Team, The big boss is coming to visit on Friday. Please make sure that you have a good selection of industricators and suggestoilibles on hand to ensure that she leaves with ‘right’ impression. We don’t want her to think that WOT stands for Waste of Time. ta, oh and please eat this memo before Friday. Etymology: industry + indicator + extricate (could get the lazy staffer an allayoffment, and out of a sticky situation) Created by: petaj.

Evidiligence: /-ˌɛvəˈdɪlÉ™dÊ’É›ns-/ While folders and papers make excellent passive evidiligence for someone on the move, a mobile phone or PDA can serve the same purpose even when seated at one’s desk, though such tools require an active effort to complete the effect of slackofflage. Etymology: From evidence + diligence Created by: ErWenn.

Phantofiles: /fan-tuh-files/ John had six different coloured sets of phantofiles he alternated at various times of the day to keep ‘The Man’ off his case and to demonstrate his industriousness and multitasking abilities. “Damn, he’s good!” thought his boss. “He’s completed three different projects today and it’s only noon.” John’s phantofiles put him in line for a raise. Etymology: phantom + files Created by: Stevenson0.

To see more verboticisms for this definition go to:
https://www.verbotomy.com/verboticisms.php?jid=strategy

Be Creative,

James

www.verbotomy.com
the create-a-word game

When I said that you’re a loser, I meant it as a compliment

DEFINITION: v. tr. to exercise power through the strategic use of personal insults, while pretending to offer encouragement. n. A leader who uses such methods.

When I said that you're a loser, I meant is a compliment.

VERBOTICISMS: (Invented words created by the Verbotomy Writers)

Condemnagog: /kun-dem-ah-gog/ At the meeting, we counted six insults proffered by Frank, the condemnagog, including one subtle double-slam on the presenter’s mentor. Etymology: condemn, demagog Created by: purpleartichokes.

Mockliment: /-ˈmÉ‘kləˌmÉ›nt-/ It wasn’t the fact that he mocklimented everyone that was so annoying; it was the fact that he seemed to think everyone was too stupid to notice. Etymology: From compliment + mock Created by: ErWenn.

Demeanager: /duh-meen-aj-err/ he liked his job but he couldn’t stand his new demeanager Etymology: demean, manager Created by: rikboyee.

Humiliaid: /hyoo-mil-ee-eyd/ Rachel would humiliaid every salesman in the department. She ripped every salesman apart personally then pushed them to exceed last month’s sales targets. Etymology: humiliate + aid Created by: Stevenson0.

To see more verboticisms for this definition go to:
https://www.verbotomy.com/verboticisms.php?jid=under

Be Creative,

James

www.verbotomy.com
the create-a-word game