“Do you know what trauma is? she would ask. Do
you know how it can change people? And, You have to
ask, Who what when where how why. Starting with
who did this—the old Ondi or the new? But Gwen would
just say, over and over, You don’t understand”

The Resisters

Maybe it’s the anthropologist in me, or the countless hours of literary theory upon which professors drilled my peers and I through critical readings across the literary geosphere. Or, maybe it’s just the lingering genes of migrants who failed to stake their claim in Reagan’s maniacal promised land. Whatever the reason, I’ve always had a keen interest in futurity and speculative fiction, Books like House of Leaves, A Clockwork Orange, Chuck Palahniuk’s Pygmy. And while most err on the side of somber apathy, Jen Gish’s 2021 The Resisters, shines with optimism and fear, like some newborn placed into the arms of a surrogate automoton-mother.

What makes Gish’s novel compelling is her placement of neologisms. While many authors tread heavy handed upon their world building they do so I. Such a way that results in readership dissonance and breaks the readers flow, if you will. Gish places her vocabulary just so, replacing words we’ve already embraced with fervor that are.recent inventions such as I would like to offer an analysis of the vocabulary and invented words used in Jen Gish’s novel, “The Resisters.”

The novel takes place in a dystopian future where climate change has wreaked havoc on the world and the vast majority of the population is living in poverty and struggling to survive. In this world, the wealthy elite have created a virtual reality called “The Surplus” where they can escape the harsh realities of their lives and indulge in their wildest fantasies.

Gish’s use of invented words in the novel is a powerful tool that allows her to create a rich and complex world that feels both familiar and entirely new. These words help to build a sense of otherness, of a world that is not quite like our own, and yet still recognizable.

One of the most prominent invented words in the novel is “Netted.” This word is used to describe the population of people who are living in poverty and struggling to survive. The Netted are the vast majority of the population, and they are forced to live in cramped, overcrowded conditions, with limited access to resources and basic necessities.

Another key term in the novel is “Surplus.” This term is used to describe the virtual reality created by the wealthy elite. The Surplus is a place where people can escape the harsh realities of their lives and indulge in their wildest fantasies. It is a stark contrast to the world outside, where the Netted struggle to survive.

Other invented words in the novel include “reboot,” which is used to describe a person who has been “wiped clean” and has lost all memories of their past. This term is often used in reference to the Surplus, where people can go to escape their troubled pasts.

Gish’s use of invented words in “The Resisters” is not only a way to create a rich and complex world, but also a way to comment on the nature of power and privilege. The wealthy elite in the novel have created a world where they can escape the harsh realities of their lives, while the Netted are forced to struggle and survive in the world outside.

On the other hand, as philosopher Jacques Derrida suggests, playfulness with language is vital. But you must place neologisms only as needed, not as fluff, and always be mindful of over usage. Never overload your reader/player with fantastical jargon or vernacular nouns. Learning how to disperse in a natural way the lexicon of your world comes with time. But with effort and patience your world will become ever more palpable and vivid. Many authors struggle here and my most recent example of this is Jen Gish’s The Resistance, which straddles the line between cognitive burden and narrative harmony, breaking my 4th Rule of Neologisms

Overall, Gish’s use of invented words in “The Resisters” are powerful tools that help to create a vivid and immersive world that feels both familiar and entirely new. These words allow her to comment on the nature of power and privilege in a dystopian future, while also building a sense of otherness and wonder

The art of neologisms

Neologism refers to the creation of new words or terms, often through the combination of existing words or the alteration of their form, to express new concepts or ideas. In worldbuilding, the use of neologisms can be a powerful tool for creating a sense of otherness and uniqueness in a fictional world. By creating new words that are specific to the world being created, authors can develop a sense of cultural and linguistic diversity that makes their world feel more realistic and immersive.

One of the main purposes of neologisms in worldbuilding is to help the author convey the cultural, technological, or social differences between the fictional world and our own. For example, in George R. R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” series, the author uses neologisms to create a unique linguistic landscape for each of the different cultures in his world. The Dothraki, for example, have their own language, which is peppered with neologisms that reflect their nomadic lifestyle and their cultural values.

Another purpose of neologisms in worldbuilding is to create a sense of futurity or technological advancement. Science fiction and other speculative genres often rely heavily on neologisms to create new technologies or concepts that do not yet exist in our world. For example, in William Gibson’s “Neuromancer,” the author introduces several neologisms to describe the futuristic technologies that are central to the story, such as “cyberspace” and “the matrix.”

Neologisms can also serve to differentiate between different genres of speculative fiction. For example, in fantasy, authors often create new words to describe magical concepts or creatures. J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” is famous for its use of neologisms, such as “orc” and “hobbit,” which have become ubiquitous in the fantasy genre.

Neologisms are a valuable tool for worldbuilding in speculative fiction. They can create a sense of otherness and uniqueness, convey cultural or technological differences, and differentiate between different genres. Neologisms allow us writers to build rich and immersive worlds that readers can truly lose themselves in. But a word of caution, be mindful with to your placement and be careful not to overuse whatever jargon or lingo you develop.

Vocabulary for those reading Gish’s The Resisters

• Surplus: In the novel, this word is used to describe the group of people who are considered unnecessary or superfluous in a society that is highly automated.
• Autos: In the novel, this term is used to refer to the highly advanced and intelligent robots that are used to carry out most of the work in society.
• Tondeldoos: This is a term used in the novel to refer to a type of weapon that is used by the government to control the population.
• The Netted: This term is used in the novel to refer to the group of people who have access to the internet and other forms of digital communication.
• The Surveilled: This term is used in the novel to refer to the group of people who are constantly monitored by the government for any signs of dissent or nonconformity.
• The Diamond: This is a term used in the novel to refer to a highly exclusive and secretive club that is reserved for the elite members of society.
• The Land of the Golden Opportunity: This is a term used in the novel to refer to a fictional version of America, which is portrayed as a land of opportunity and prosperity for those who are willing to work hard.
• The Pats: This term is used in the novel to refer to the highly trained and skilled athletes who are selected to represent their country in international competitions.
• The Cloud: In the novel, this term is used to refer to the vast network of interconnected servers and data centers that make up the internet.
• The Great Repression: This is a term used in the novel to refer to a period of time in which dissent and free speech were heavily suppressed by the government.