Replonza
| Synonyms: | |
| See also: | Frak |
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Replonza is a profanity used in very early Star Wars canon, and means of "shit" or a similar curse word.
It is an example of other created profanities to avoid censorship. See Created Curse Words.
The word was created by Alan Dean Foster for the Star Wars pro tie-in novel, "Splinter of the Mind's Eye," a book many fans consider poorly written, full of plot holes, and terrible characterizations. Official Star Wars canon spokespersons have since downgraded the book to "secondary canon" due to its content and state of being jossed by numerous things, including a romantic relationship between Luke and Leia.
A fan in 2009 wrote:
I started reading the early SW books, but "Replonza!" scarred me for life. I found SW fanzines shortly thereafter, and ignored the pro stuff that was out then, as well as the later EU stuff. [1]
The Word
It's single use in "Splinter of the Mind's Eye:
- "A quick verbal survey revealed what he most feared: the Princess' fighter was nowhere in sight. Trying to control his drunken ship with one hand on the manual controls, Luke activated the communicator with the other.
- "Leia! Leia, are you...?"
- "No... control, Luke," came the static-sprinkled reply. He could barely make out the words. "Instruments... replonza. I'm trying to get down in... one piece. If we..."
- Gone, no matter how frantically he cajoled the communicator. His attention was diverted as something in one overhead panel blew out in a shower of sparks and metal fragments. The cockpit filled with acrid fumes."
Some Comments
In 1978 (the year Splinter of the Mind's Eye was published), a fan, Joyce Yasner, wrote a highly negative and sarcastic review in Pegasus #3 and called the article, "Replonza"
Several fans responded to this article, and the word itself:
[1978]: As for "Replonza"... Joyce has said it all. I found it difficult to get past even the first "How beautiful is the universe" line of the book. One good thing I can see coming out of the book's publication ... we now have a single word to use to describe illogical, inconsistent stories. No need to waste time or paper explaining such failings anymore; all we have to do is intone, "Replonza..." [2]
[1979]: "Replonza". Not the longest piece in the zine, but certainly one of the most enjoyable. I remember at T'Con last year a bunch of us sitting around talking about the stupidity of Splinter of the... with Poblocki and Joyce reading choice bits aloud to illustrate examples.... Let's hear it for "Replonza"! [3]
Other Comments
But Galadriel - that ethereal "beauty, that slender golden hope of Rivendell - what that man did to Galadriel! With all the sensitivity and finesse of Alan Dean Foster, Bakshi cruelly reduced the delicate Faerie Seeress to a disneyesque wench with a crimson mouth, crayon-yellow hair and tuna commercial voice. (REPLONZA!) [4]