Subj: Dear John

Date: 97-12-10 18:48:25 EST

From: Zone agent

To: erblist@beginners.net

I got to thinking about names and planets. In all of ERBlore is there any explanation why Dejah always called JC by both his first and last names? This always seemed kind of silly to me when I thought about it later, but when I read the books it seems pretty natural. I recall him doing this with her, too, though I haven't read the books in a long time. I just seem to recall that this happened alot.

I can't imagine saying to my wife or girlfriend, "Help me, Debbie _____, I've caught the kitchen on fire! Come very quickly, Debbie _____!; or, Merry Christmas, Debbie _____. Here are your new paid in full vacation package documents. Can I go with you sometime on one of these trips?" Or to her daughter, "Steph _____, are you finished in the bathroom?"

I don't recall Jane ever saying anything like, "John Clayton, what have you and Jack Clayton been up to? It was "John", or "Tarzan", or "Jack" as I recall. I try not to remember that "Jackie" passage. Whew.

Is this just a Barsoomian thing with ERB? I can't recall Carson's name, but I don't recall Duare saying two words when she was addressing him. I just rember Carson, unless he had an Amtorian name. I don't remember these books well.

Some of the Barsoomians seem to have it easier. Tara seems to have no last name whatever. Just Tara of Helium, so you have your choice of saying "Tara", or "Tara of Helium". I think to be on the safe side I would say the whole thing, though. She can be tempestuous. Is she Tara Carter, or Tara Thoris, or just Tara of Helium? Where did Mors and Kajak go to? Why don't the girls have names like fathers and grandfathers? Why don't sons and grandsons?

Thuvia, Llana, Tavia, and most of the other Barsoomian princesses I remember only had one name. I think Vad Varo's girlfriend had just one name, and it was pretty, but I can't remember it. No she didn't. I just remembered. Valla Dia, I think. Why does she have two? Many of the guys had more names, and it seems both were used in addressing them. Tars Tarkas, Mors Kajak, Tardos Mors, Kantos Kan, Tan Hadron, Vad Varo, etc. Some, such as Gahan, seemed to have the single names like the girls. I don't remember anyone taunting the jed of Gathol about this, though, so it can't be that bad to be stuck with a mono-name.

In any event, when I think of one of those two-named guys, or Dejah, Thoris I think of it as a first and last name. I don't think of them having an additional name. Did ERB ever explain this? Why is everyone's name so different in the same family? How do they keep track of lineage on this planet? Does the last name of Tardos Mors become the first name of Mors Kajak? Can you imagine some of the ridiculous names we'd have under such a system?

Did Dejah ever say just "Dear John"?

Tarak, the one and only, as is fair Tavane