Is there any evidence that Theremon 762's name was based on a theremin?

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SneakySparrow
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Joined: Thu Jan 30, 2020 7:08 am

Is there any evidence that Theremon 762's name was based on a theremin?

Post by SneakySparrow » Fri Jan 31, 2020 1:22 am

In Isaac Asimov's novel and short story (short story later expanded) Nightfall, there's a character named "Theremon 762".

The whole novel is about darkness and innate fear, and a theremin, a type of musical instrument, is known for being used to convey a sense of suspense or fear.

Is there any evidence that Asimov based Theremin 762's name on the instrument?

kokoran
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Joined: Sun Sep 20, 2020 11:50 pm

Re: Is there any evidence that Theremon 762's name was based on a theremin?

Post by kokoran » Mon Sep 21, 2020 12:35 am

interesting possibility... but seems unlikely. The theremin as a spooky sound wasn’t a thing in the US mainstream until after WWII... (mostly in the 50’s —1944’s the Lost Weekend being an early example). Asimov’s book was written in 1941, but I guess it’s possible he could have been introduced to it in the concert hall if he had been into modern composition.

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