From the first time I read A Princess of Mars, I have been captivated by the character Dejah Thoris — but also by the name, which just seemed magical and perfect, full of promise. Tonight I came across a blog post by Joe Dilberto at Read at Joes that discusses the name Dejah Thoris in a way that resonates for me, so I’m going to share a link and an intro here and hope you go read the whole article.
Dejah Thoris is My Cellar Door
Fantasy author J.R.R. Tolkein (Lord of the Rings) is among the literary heavyweights said to be particularly enamored of the words cellar door. The combination has often (and apocryphally) been called the most beautiful words in the English language; cited for their melodic quality and the way the musical sounds contrast with the ordinariness of the object they describe.
I happen to believe that Dejah Thoris is the most beautiful name for an SF/fantasy character ever. I remember hearing it and instantly being enamored long before I ever read the source material. Dejah Thoris is, of course, the title character in Edgar Rice Burroughs’ seminal novel A Princess of Mars, which introduced the Earth to swashbuckling hero John Carter — who would go on to become the Warlord of Mars.
Read the rest at Read at Joes