FunWithAcronyms in literature:

* In one of the ''Literature/AdrianMole'' books, Adrian notes the full name of '''P'''andora '''L'''ouise '''E'''lizabeth '''B'''raithwaite and reflects on whether she ever used her initials.
* In a possible nod to [[Franchise/JamesBond Spectre]], the terrorist organisation 'Scorpia' in the ''Literature/AlexRider'' series is named for the activities it specialises in: '''S'''abotage, '''Cor'''ru'''P'''tion, '''I'''ntelligence and '''A'''ssassination.
* In Creator/RobertAHeinlein's 1959 short story "Literature/AllYouZombies", the same "elite military service corps" is referred to at various points in history as the '''W'''omen's '''E'''mergency '''N'''ational '''C'''orps, '''H'''ospitality & '''E'''ntertainment '''S'''ection, the "Space Angels" or '''A'''uxiliary '''N'''ursing '''G'''roup, '''E'''xtraterrestrial '''L'''egions, and the '''W'''omen's '''H'''ospitality '''O'''rder '''R'''efortifying & '''E'''ncouraging '''S'''pacemen. No doubt inspired by the RealLife Women Airforce Service Pilots and their naval counterparts, Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service.

* The dreadful Betty Bowers of ''America's Best Christian'' is the leader of '''B'''ringing '''I'''ntegrity '''T'''o '''C'''hristian '''H'''omemakers, '''B'''aptists '''A'''re '''S'''aving '''H'''omosexuals (changed when it became clear that there was money in the 'gay eye for the straight guy' thing to '''C'''hristians '''A'''re '''S'''aving '''H'''omosexuals), and an abstinence club for girls called '''S'''aving '''L'''ove '''U'''ntil '''T'''he '''S'''acraments. (Which is amusing in itself, as the Baptist church does not consider marriage a sacrament.)
* ''Literature/AngelaNicely'': Angela’s club is called Girls Only, Boys Smell (or GOBS).
* In ''Literature/ArtemisFowl'', most of the fairy characters work for the '''L'''ower '''E'''lements '''P'''olice, often in the Reconnaissance unit, making them [=LEPRecons=]
** Lampshaded when this is revealed as the true origin of the word 'leprechaun'.
** And somewhat confusing, considering all instances of the nominal modifier 'LEP' is prefixed with an: AN LEP shuttle, AN LEP officer. So it's supposed to be pronounced 'Ell Eee Pee' apparently.
* The Creator/JohnRingo series ''Literature/BlackTideRising'' gives us "ZAM" (or more commonly "Zammie"), for '''Z'''ombie '''A'''pocalypse '''M'''oment; things that would only make sense in a ZombieApocalypse.
* Lampshaded in ''The Brentford Chainstore Massacre'', where the [[TheDragon Villain's]] {{Mook}}s are recruited from the "''Black Umbrella Militant Fascist Underground Communist Killers'' and that's an acronym you don't want to think about for too long."
* ''Literature/CaptainUnderpants'':
** The second book, ''The Attack of the Talking Toilets'' has Melvin building a revolutionary machine he calls the PATSY 2000. When asked why he gave it that name he points out it is an acronym for '''P'''hoto-'''A'''tomic '''T'''rans '''S'''omgobulating '''Y'''ectrofantriplutoniczanziptomizer.
** The seventh book, ''The Big Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy Part 2: The Revenge of the Ridiculous Robo Boogers'' featured a space exploration group named the '''P'''iqua '''O'''rder of '''P'''rofessional '''S'''pace and '''I'''nterplanetary '''E'''xplorers, or POOPSIE.
** The final book ''The Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot'' referred to the GOP as '''G'''rouchy '''O'''ld '''P'''eople.
* ''Literature/CatsVsRobots'':
** The ruler of the Great Robot Federation is named [=SLAYAR=], which stands for '''S'''upreme '''L'''eader of '''A'''ll, '''Y'''es '''A'''ll, '''R'''obots.
** The Wengrod family's self-driving car is named, appropriately enough, [=CAR=], which stands for '''C'''omputerized '''A'''utomotive '''R'''esponder.
* In the ''CHERUB'' series, the titular acronym apparently doesn't stand for anything. However, at the end of the second prequel book, '''C'''harles '''H'''enderson, the founder of cherub, is given jurisdiction over '''E'''spionage '''R'''esearch '''U'''nit '''B'''.
* In ''Literature/TheColdMoons'', the newspaper chapters make repeated references to a anti-badger culling organization called '''P'''rotests '''A'''gainst '''W'''onton '''S'''layings.
* Creator/ThomasPynchon's ''Literature/TheCryingOfLot49'' uses these as ArcWords for its (possibly imaginary ) AncientConspiracy, Trystero. Their [[MilkmanConspiracy top-secret mail service]] is called WASTE, which stands for "'''W'''e '''A'''wait '''S'''ilent '''T'''rystero's '''E'''mpire". And while we're on the subject, '''D'''on't '''E'''ver '''A'''ntagonize '''T'''he '''H'''orn.
** And then in ''Literature/GravitysRainbow'' we get '''P'''sychological '''I'''ntelligence '''Sc'''hemes for '''E'''xpediting '''S'''urrender and the '''A'''breaction '''R'''esearch '''F'''acility.
* ''Literature/TheDemonHeadmaster'' -- The main characters' group call themselves the '''S'''ociety for the '''P'''rotection of our '''L'''ives '''A'''gainst '''T'''hem ("them" being the Headmaster and his hypnotized minions.)
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':
** In the novel ''Literature/{{Eric}}'', the titular young necromancer uses a grimoire of potent evil in an attempt to summon a demon to do his bidding. The book is '''M'''allificarum '''S'''umpta '''D'''iabolicite '''O'''ccularis '''S'''ingularum''. Which translates as [[spoiler:"evil-making driver of the little one-eyed devil"]].
** In ''Literature/TheFifthElephant'' Leonard of Quirm creates a device for breaking codes. "the '''E'''ngine for the '''N'''eutralizing of '''I'''nformation by the '''G'''eneration of '''M'''iasmic '''A'''lphabets". Enigma.
** In ''The Compleat Ankh-Morpork City Guide'', two of the venerable and trustworthy financial institutions of the city are the '''F'''irst '''I'''nternational '''L'''oan '''C'''ompany '''H'''oldings and the '''R'''oyal '''O'''verseas '''B'''ank.
* The ''Literature/DragonridersOfPern'' novels had a supercomputer going by the name '''A'''rtificial '''I'''ntelligence '''V'''oice '''A'''ddress '''S'''ystem. The characters that interacted with it tended to treat the acronym as a name, possibly because the device seemed to be virtually sentient at times. Also, the name Pern itself comes from an acronym assigned by the planetary survey team that discovered it: '''P'''arallel '''E'''arth, '''R'''esources '''N'''egligible.
* An organization in Creator/DaleBrown's ''Dreamland'' (and related) books is called HAWC. It stands for "'''H'''igh Technology '''A'''erospace '''W'''eapon '''C'''enter", but the acronym sticks because it just sounds cool. It may also have received a ShoutOut from fellow techno-thriller writer Creator/TomClancy with the ''H.A.W.X.'' unit from the eponymous flight-action title.
* This is discussed in ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' whenever '''S'''t. '''M'''ark's '''A'''cedemy for the '''G'''ifted and '''T'''alented is brought up. Someone, usually Harry, will note that the acronym for this reads '''S.M.A.G.T'''. Had these people been named the school '''S'''t. '''M'''ark's '''A'''cedemy for the '''R'''esourceful and '''T'''alented, then it would read '''S.M.A.R.T.'''.
* The ''Franchise/{{Dune}}'' series has a company called CHOAM (Combine Honnete Ober Advancer Mercantiles). Ellis Weiner's spoof ''Literature/NationalLampoonsDoon '' changed this to N.O.A.M.C.H.O.M.S.K.Y. ("'''N'''eutralis '''O'''rganizational '''A'''bba '''M'''ercantile '''C'''ondominium '''H'''avatampa '''O'''rthonovum '''M'''inehaha '''S'''hostakovitch '''K'''ategorical '''I'''mperative.") In the German translation, it is called MAFEA ('''M'''erkantile '''A'''llianz für '''F'''ortschritt und '''E'''ntwicklung im '''A'''ll, literally "Mercantile Alliance for Progress and Development in Space").
* Many monsters in ''Literature/EverybodyLovesLargeChests'' have a sensory organ that helps them perceive their surroundings via changes in latent magical energy in the air. This is known as the '''M'''ana '''L'''ocator '''G'''land, or MLG, and in describing it, the story dedicates a short passage to a nod to the [[VideoGame/CallOfDuty CoD-tastic meme.]]
--> ''In short, it could be said that Boxxy’s 360-degree all-scope MLG performance was top of the line.''
* In the ''Literature/ExtremeMonsters'' book series, the Extreme Monsters and their coach Doc travel around in a vehicle called the '''L'''aboratory '''U'''tility '''V'''ehicle.
* Creator/IsaacAsimov's ''Literature/FantasticVoyage'': The acronym for '''C'''ombined '''M'''iniature '''D'''eterrent '''F'''orces is unpronounceable except as see-em-dee-eff. Which does not stop the hero from speculating that it may stand for "Consolidated Martian Dimwits and Fools. I've got a better one than that but it's unprintable."
* ''Literature/TheFourthProtocol'' by Creator/FrederickForsyth. The head of the Joint Intelligence Committee is complaining that he doesn't have a catchy acronym, whereupon the CIA liaison officer suggests '''S'''upreme '''H'''ead of '''I'''ntelligence '''T'''argeting. Preferring not to be known as the SHIT of Whitehall, he quickly drops the matter.
* The ''Literature/GauntsGhosts'' novel ''The Armour of Contempt'' has '''R'''etraining, '''I'''ndoctrination and '''Punishment'''.
* ''Literature/GodelEscherBachAnEternalGoldenBraid'' is full of recurring acronyms. There's the G, E, and B (rearranged sometimes) of the title, RICERCAR (which was used as an acrostic by Bach himself) spelling the initial letters of many ideas in a dialogue at the end of the book, which also abbreviates the name of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Babbage Charles Babbage]] as '''Ba.Ch.'''. In another dialogue, we encounter GOD (standing for [[RecursiveAcronym GOD Over Djinn]]), and in one dialogue, "Contracrostipunctus", the initial characters of each line spell [[spoiler:Hofstadter's Contracrostipunctus Acrostically Backwards Spells 'J.S.Bach'. Guess what acronym you get if you reverse word order in the acronym and then form an acronym out of ''that'']]. There's also this exchange in "A Mu Offering":
-->'''Achilles''': Do you suppose that "Enlightenment 'Yond Enlightenment" stands for "EYE"?\\
'''Tortoise''': In my opinion, it's rather doubtful that it stands for you, Achilles. More likely, it stands for "Meta-Enlightenment"--"ME", that is.\\
'''Achilles''': For you? Why would it stand for you? You haven't even reached the ''first'' stage of enlightenment, let alone the--
* The ''Literature/{{Gone}}'' series:
** Everywhere under the impenetrable wall is called the FAYZ: '''F'''allout '''A'''lley '''Y'''outh '''Z'''one.
--> '''Howard:''' "Don't worry about it. It's just a FAYZ!"
** The E.Z Killers (mutated worms), or "zekes".
** The SDC, "supernatural death cough."
* In ''Literature/HarleyQuinnReckoning'', a college professor with a penchant for inappropriate sexist 'jokes' is put in charge of organizing a neurology conference, and names it '''B'''reaking '''O'''bservations in '''O'''ptogenetics and '''B'''rain '''S'''timulation -- B.O.O.B.S.
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'' series:
** Hermione starts up the '''S'''ociety for the '''P'''romotion of '''E'''lfish '''W'''elfare. She insists the acronym be pronounced in letters rather than as a word, understandably enough.This is lampshaded when Ron and Harry object to S.P.E.W. and Hermione retorts that she was originally going to have "Stop the Outrageous Abuse of Our Fellow Magical Creatures and Campaign for a Change in Their Legal Status" but it wouldn't fit on a badge... and humorously, Ron asks if Hermione had changed the name to "the House Elf Liberation Front", or, very conveniently the House E.L.F. for short. Ron tended to call the old one Spew, mostly just to annoy her. The translations tend to use {{Woolseyism}}s to get a similar effect to their local audiences:
*** The name in Spanish was translated as "'''P'''lataforma '''É'''lfica de '''D'''efensa de los '''D'''erechos '''O'''breros", or PEDDO, which in Spanish translates roughly as "FARTT". It would also be ''pronounced'' in English as "pedo", which carries with it its own implications. (NAMBLA, anyone?)
*** In German, it becomes the rather more strained '''B'''und für '''Elfe'''n'''r'''echte, or B.Elfe.r. "Belfer" is a (mostly obscure) German word meaning approximately "loudmouth"...
*** It's '''S'''tichting '''H'''uiself voor '''I'''nburgering en '''T'''olerantie, in the Dutch translation. Quite obvious, isn't it?
*** Hungarian readers get to know the "'''M'''anók '''A'''lkotmányos '''J'''ogaiért" '''O'''rszágos '''M'''ozgalom, or "National Movement For the Constitutional Rights of Elves" -- by the way, majom means monkey.
*** The French translation is '''S'''ociété d''''A'''ide à la '''L'''ibération des '''E'''lfes -- "sale" means "dirty".
*** The Swedish version has '''F'''öreningen för '''I'''deelt '''S'''töd till '''A'''lferna (The organization for non-profit support to the elves). ''Fisa'' = (to) fart.
*** The Finnish version has '''S'''amat '''Y'''hteiset '''L'''ait '''K'''otitontuillekin -- '''Y'''hdistys (The same common laws for the house-elves too -- the organization). ''Sylky = Spit.
*** The Polish translation went with Stowarzyszenie '''W'''alki o '''E'''mancypacje '''S'''krzatów '''Z'''niewolonych (association of fight for the emancipation of the oppresed house-elves), ''wesz'' meaning a louse.
*** The Danish translation, on the other hand, is really lame -- '''F'''oreningen for '''A'''lfers '''R'''ettigheder (Society for Elf Rights), which spells FAR, meaning "dad". [[{{Bowdlerization}} Yes, seriously.]]
*** The Hebrew version has '''א'''גודה '''ל'''מען '''ר'''ווחת '''ג'''מדוני ''' '''ה'''בית''' ('''A'''guda '''L'''ma'an '''R'''evahat '''G'''amadoney '''H'''bait; The orginization for the welfare of House-Elves) which sound a bit like אלרגיה (allergy).
** There are important wizarding exams known as '''O'''rdinary '''W'''izarding '''L'''evels and '''N'''astily '''E'''xhausting '''W'''izarding '''T'''ests ([=OWLs=] and [=NEWTs=]).
*** Translated over very well to Norwegian, where it became '''U'''ndre '''G'''aldre'''l'''augs'''e'''ksamen and '''Ø'''vre '''G'''aldre'''l'''augs'''e'''ksamen. Lower Galderguildexam and Upper ditto. Also mean Ugle (owl) and Øgle (newt).
*** More loosely translated to Spanish, where they are '''T'''ítulos '''I'''ndispensables de '''M'''agia '''O'''rdinaria ("Ordinary Titles on Ordinary Magic") and '''EX'''ámenes '''T'''erribles de '''A'''lta '''S'''abiduría e '''I'''nvocaciones '''S'''ecretas ("Terrible Examinations on High Wisdom and Secret Invocations"). "Timo" means "hoax" and "Éxtasis" is somewhat obvious.
*** The Dutch version has the SLIJMBAL: Schiftelijke Lofuiting wegens [=IJver=], Magische Bekwaamheid en Algeheel Leervermogen and the PUIST: Proeve van Uitzonderlijke Inteligentie en Superieure Toverkunst (Slijmbal means slimeball, and a Puist is a big pimple.)
*** The Swedish version has '''G'''rund-'''E'''xamen i '''T'''rollkonst (Base-Exam in Wizardry) and '''F'''ruktansvärt '''U'''tmattande '''T'''rollkarst-'''T'''est (Very Exhausting Wizard's Test). ''Get'' = Goat. ''Futt'' = short for Futtig, meaning paltry.
*** The Finnish version has '''S'''e '''U'''skomattoman '''P'''aha '''E'''rittäin '''R'''askas (The Unbeleviably Bad, Especially Heavy (tough) one) and '''V'''elhomaailman '''I'''hmeisiin '''P'''erehdyttävä (Familiarization to the wonders of the wizard world).
*** The Danish translation has the following for O.W.L.: '''U'''dmærkelse for '''G'''enialitet og '''L'''ærevillighed (Distinction for Genius and Learnability). Not the best translation, but in plural, they are called "U.G.L.'er" which is the same as the Danish word for "owl" in plural. The translation of N.E.W.T. is '''F'''rygteligt '''U'''dmattende '''T'''roldmandseksaminationer which is a pretty accurate translation. However, "Fut" doesn't exactly have much to do with a newt, as more or less means "go" or "zest", however it can also mean "on fire" (in a metaphorical sense) which may refer to the salamanders of the universe which are fire-dwelling creatures.
** One possibly-unintentional example is from the epilogue, in which we meet Harry's son, '''A'''lbus '''S'''everus '''P'''otter. If the ''name'' weren't unfortunate enough, look at what the initials spell. No wonder he's worried about being sorted into Slytherin. ([[DontExplainTheJoke An asp is a snake.]])
** ''Pottermore'' gives us "Fresh Air Refreshes Totally", or F.A.R.T. This was a movement started by Archie Aymslowe, a character originally seen as a one-off gag in ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire'', in opposition to the idea of wearing muggle clothing around muggles, because he liked a "healthy breeze" around his privates.
** Harry's Godfather is named '''S'''irius '''O'''rion '''B'''lack, which is doubly meaningful when you remember [[EvilMatriarch the kind of woman]] [[RacistGrandma his mother was]].

* The very nasty villains in C.S. Lewis's ''Literature/ThatHideousStrength'' are called the '''N'''ational '''I'''nstitute for '''C'''o-ordinated '''E'''xperiments (NICE). This did not go unremarked when the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NICE National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence]] chose to abbreviate itself to NICE instead of NIHCE.

* The ''Literature/HIVESeries'':
** The titular school is the '''H'''igher '''I'''nstitute of '''V'''illainous '''E'''ducation
** The '''G'''lobal '''L'''eague '''O'''f '''V'''illainous '''E'''nterprises.
** For the first part of the series we get a new acronym each book. HOPE: Hostile Operative Prosecution Executive is one. The characters also use lots of equipment and techniques with acronyms, ISIS (Infiltration something Suits) and HALO jumping (High Altitude Low Opening).

* The ''Literature/{{Illuminatus}}'' Trilogy:
** The series features a supercomputer known as the '''F'''irst '''U'''niversal '''C'''ybernetic-'''K'''inetic '''U'''ltramicro-'''P'''rogrammer.
** In an odd combination of this trope with SdrawkcabName, there is an organization called the '''K'''nights of '''C'''hristianity '''U'''nited in '''F'''aith.
** The '''E'''risian '''L'''iberation '''F'''ront.
** Or '''W'''hite '''H'''eroes '''O'''pposing '''R'''ed '''E'''xtremism.
** [[Franchise/JamesBond Agent 000005 Fission Chips]] sees signs of '''B'''lowhard's '''U'''nreformed '''G'''angsters, '''G'''oons, and '''E'''spionage '''R'''enegades everywhere. While he is wrong about the name and purpose of the group, he is actually closer to the truth about Illuminati than probably anyone except Hagbard Celine.

* ''Literature/JamesBond'' series:
** ''Literature/{{Thunderball}}'' introduces the criminal organization SPECTRE, which stands for '''SP'''ecial '''E'''xecutive for '''C'''ounter-intelligence, '''T'''errorism, '''R'''evenge and '''E'''xtortion
** In ''Literature/NobodyLivesForEver'', Bond is joined by one Nannette Norrich, who works for '''N'''orrich '''U'''niversal '''B'''odyguards.
** The eponymous organization's name in ''Literature/{{COLD}}'' is an acronym for '''C'''hildren '''O'''f the '''L'''ast '''D'''ays.

* Creator/LarryNiven's ''Literature/KnownSpace'':
** '''A'''malgamation of '''R'''egional '''M'''ilitia is ARM, producing the psionic-limbed Gilbert G. Hamilton, known as "Gil the ARM".
** "Tanj", a curse, derived from the lament '''T'''here '''A'''in't '''N'''o '''J'''ustice.

* ''Literature/LairForRent'' stars Walter, '''W'''ealth '''A'''ccumulator and '''L'''iquidity '''T'''rap '''E'''vasion '''R'''outine.
* ''Literature/TheLaundryFiles'':
** OCCULUS: Occult Control Coordination Unit Liaison, Unconventional Situations.
** PHANG, which stands for... vampire. There ''are'' explanations given regarding what the letters actually stand for, but the explanations are always different, and one person insists that the "G" stands for [[UsefulNotes/TheGestapo Geheime Staatspolizei]].
* One novelization of ''VideoGame/LeisureSuitLarry'' (by Peter Spear) has Larry a graduate of the '''S'''tevens-'''H'''oboken '''I'''nstitute of '''T'''echnology. He even won the "Read My Initials" award for graduating last in his class.
* In the book ''Magic for Marigold'' by Creator/LMMontgomery, the Lesley clan gathers to come up with a name for the new child in the family. At one point, the name '''H'''arriet '''E'''llen '''L'''ouise '''L'''esley, after three women in the clan that were missionaries, is suggested. It is immediately dropped after the great-grandmother asks if they've considered what the initials spell.
* The ''Literature/{{MARZENA}}'' Series has quite a few of these:
** The nickname of Death Dealer Kevin Fordson, MLK ('''M'''ass '''L'''obotomized '''K'''iller/ '''M'''urdering '''L'''ow-life '''K'''nave), not to confuse with Martin Luther King of course.
** Marian's {{psychomet|ry}}ric test classing people personalities based on 4 traits, S.N.O.T. ('''S'''cience, '''N'''utrition, '''O'''ral, '''T'''raditional)
** European Secret Intelligence Service, I.J.S. ('''I'''ntelligence, '''J'''ustice, '''S'''omething)
** According to the [[http://healthmindandlife.com/about-marzena/ Author's website]], the title MARZENA itself is actually a German acronym for "'''M'''it'''ar'''beiter '''Z'''ellen für die '''E'''ntwicklung der '''N'''euronen '''A'''nwendungen," or CANADA in English “'''A'''ssociated '''C'''ellular '''A'''ssistants for the '''D'''eveloment of '''N'''euro '''A'''pps”, or in plain English, Software that makes Software.
* The main antagonists in ''Literature/TheMazeRunner'' are an organization called "'''W'''orld '''I'''n '''C'''atastrophe: '''K'''illzone '''E'''xperiment '''D'''epartment". They claim that WICKED is good.
* ''Literature/MondayBeginsOnSaturday'' has the Scientific Research Institute for Sorcery and Wizardry. In Russian this comes out as '''[=NIIChaVo=]''', which is pronounced like the Russian word for "nothing". In the English translation, the Institute has an equally unflattering acronym: '''N'''ational '''I'''nstitute for the '''T'''echnology of '''Wi'''tchcraft and '''T'''haumaturgy.
* In ''Literature/MoreInformationThanYouRequire'', John Hodgman advises this as a method of memorizing names. For example, if you want to memorize the name "John", then you can use: "[[strike: [[CrossesTheLineTwice Juries Often Hate Negroes]]]] [[RecursiveAcronym John]] Or Hodgman Name".
* [=OWEN=], an experimental supercomputer A.I. in ''Literature/TheMunicipalists'', is short for for "'''O'''bject-Oriented Database and '''W'''orking '''E'''kistics '''N'''etwork" — it's definitely a backronym, as lampshaded in human protagonist Henry's narration:
-->[=OWEN=]'s name purportedly stood for Object-Oriented Database and Working Ekistics Network, though many suspected that Klaus had just retrofitted the acronym so he could name the supercomputer after a beloved younger brother.
* ''Literature/TheMouseWatch'' features a CoolTrain called S.W.I.S.S. ('''S'''ecret '''W'''atcher '''I'''nternational '''S'''ewer '''S'''ystem) and a NebulousEvilOrganization named R.A.T.S. ('''R'''ogue '''A'''nimal '''T'''hieves '''S'''ociety). EEK ('''E'''mergency '''E'''quipment '''K'''rate), a stash of hidden supplies, combines this trope with XtremeKoolLetterz.
* The school the antagonist runs in ''Literature/TheMysteriousBenedictSociety'' is called "The '''L'''earning '''I'''nstitute for the '''V'''ery '''E'''nlightened".
* The ''Literature/MythAdventures'' series already had that name before the characters founded M.Y.T.H. Inc., which supposedly stands for '''M'''agical '''Y'''oung '''T'''roubleshooting '''H'''eroes. The protagonist comments, "This is what happens when you leave things to a committee," and no one ever mentions what the initials stand for again.
** Out-of-character, of course, it's a backronym that Asprin concocted specifically so he could use it in title puns
* The ''Literature/NemesisSaga'' eventually gives us the name of the DARPA program responsible for the horrors of Island 731 and so much more -- the Genetic Offensive Directive, or GOD.
* ''Literature/{{NERDS}}'':
** The titular organization stands for '''N'''ational '''E'''spionage, '''R'''escue, and '''D'''efense '''S'''ociety. Their agents actually are nerds, coincidentally or not.
** Their alternate universe counterpart [[GuardianOfTheMultiverse who fights crime across the multiverse]] is called MISFIT- the '''M'''ultiverse and '''I'''nterdimensional '''S'''pecial '''F'''orces '''I'''ntelligence '''T'''eam.
** The PsychoRangers created in Book 5 are fittingly called BULLIES, or '''B'''rotherhood of '''U'''nstoppable '''L'''iars, '''L'''owlifes and '''I'''ntimidating '''E'''nemies of '''S'''ociety.
* Creator/IsaacAsimov and Creator/JanetAsimov's ''Literature/TheNorbyChronicles'':
** ''Literature/NorbyTheMixedUpRobot'': TGAF shows up in the first chapter, which Jeff claims is meant to reassure him that all difficulties can be overcome. When challenged on this (the initials don’t match), Jeff makes a backronym; [[TheCharmer "The Girls Are Findable"]], because his older brother is so handsome. In the next chapter, it's revealed to be an initialism for [[ShoutOut a line]] from ''Theatre/HenryV'', "The game's afoot".
** ''Literature/NorbysOtherSecret'': TGAF shows up in the first chapter, allowing Jeff to communicate to Fargo that the Admiral isn't there for a social call like he claims to be. After the call, Jeff explains to Admiral Yobo that the words stand for "The Game's A-Foot".
** ''Literature/NorbyFindsAVillain'': Norby nicknames Rembrandt's computer "Yib", short for "Your Immense Brain".
* The HeroesRUs series ''SOBS'', for the mercenary group ''Soldiers Of Barrabas'' (their leader) among other things.
* The protagonist of the Michael Z Williamson ''Freehold'' novel ''The Weapon'' has a selection of made-up organisations to use as 'bad guys' in military exercises and general practical jokes. The worst is the '''C'''ommittee for the '''U'''tilisation of '''N'''atural '''T'''errain in '''S'''piritualism, made even more awesome by the phone conversation during an exercise, in which he claimed the female PR officer, Major Hardy, that he was holding hostage knew nothing about CUNTS, and that he wouldn't release her in case she said something nasty about [them].

* ''Literature/ASeriesOfUnfortunateEvents'':
** Jerome Squalor compiles the evidence against Count Olaf into a book entitled '''O'''dious '''L'''usting '''A'''fter '''F'''inance.
** In Book 5 Olaf makes the children do '''S'''pecial '''O'''rphan '''R'''unning '''E'''xercises.
** The many, ''many'' times phrases are shoehorned into the acronym V.F.D., which is ''strongly'' implied to stand for [[spoiler:'''V'''olunteer '''F'''ire '''D'''epartment]].
* Wizard police in ''Literature/ShamanOfTheUndead'' has '''''W'''ydział '''O'''pętań i '''N'''awiedzeń'' (Department of Possessions and Hauntings), which abbreviates to WON, Polish for "Be gone". Fitting, seeing how they deal with {{Demonic Possession}}s.
* In the spy novel ''The Sinkiang Executive'' by Creator/AdamHall, Literature/{{Quiller}} encounters a possible HoneyTrap pumping him for information (among other things) so he tells her about the problem of his current engineering project -- how tightly should the Directional U-beam Kinetic Sensor (DUKS) fit with the Annular Reciprocating Speculum (ARS)? His conclusion is that a DUKS ARS must be watertight, or else it wouldn't float.
* In Spider Robinson's ''Stardance'', the main characters have to deal with the transport division of Space Industries Coporation. When they see the division's name and motto on its front door, one breaks down into laughter: "S.I.C. Transit -- ''Gloria Mundi''". ("Thus passes the glory of the world", a well-known phrase in Latin.)

* Eugene Byrne's ''Thigmoo'':
** The Socialist Ladies' Undercover Team, who specialise in seducing men for their cause. When the acronym was pointed out, Socialist Ladies' Action Group was suggested instead.
** [=ThigMOO=] itself turns out to be an odd acronym, standing for '''THI'''s '''G'''reat '''MO'''vement '''O'''f '''O'''urs.
* A Literature/TimePolice series of the '60s-'70s was called ''Agent of T.E.R.R.A.'' despite the fact that Earth was just one world in their [[TheFederation civilization]] and many, perhaps most of the agents, including the [[HumanAlien main character]], were '''not''' Earthpeople. The acronym stood for something along the lines of "Temporal Entropy Research and Reconstruction Agency." The main action in all four books '''did''' take place on Earth, though.

* ''Magazine/{{MAD}}'':
** In their parody of ''Series/NypdBlue'' which featured a member of the '''C'''hristian '''R'''ight '''A'''gainst '''P'''ornography demanding that the show be taken off the air. The producer lampshades the acronym.
** Another issue has a fake church ad from the '''I'''nspirational '''D'''ivine '''I'''nstitute '''O'''f '''T'''otal '''S'''alvation

* In Creator/TimothyZahn's Cobra trilogy, the Cobras at first look like an elite unit, but turn out to be {{Super Soldier}}s with unbreakable bones, servo-powered joints, concealed lasers, and reflexes hooked up to computers embedded just under their brains, among other changes. Only later are we told that "Cobra" refers only secondarily to the Earth snake. It's an acronym for '''Co'''mputerized '''B'''ody '''R'''eflex '''A'''rmament.
* In Creator/DavidWeber's ''Literature/{{Safehold}}'' series there is
** The [=PICA=] ('''P'''ersonality-'''I'''ntegrated '''C'''ybernetic '''A'''vatar), a robotic body that can be used to experience remotely things that danger or disability would render impossible to do otherwise. The later versions can also have a person's personality downloaded into them and act on their own, which is what happens with protagonist Nimue Alban's [=PICA=].
** Nimue also uses '''S'''elf-'''N'''avigating '''A'''utonomous '''R'''econnaissance and '''C'''ommunication platforms extensively to keep track of what happens at other places.
** There is also the mentioned '''N'''eural '''E'''ducation '''A'''nd '''T'''raining units.
* David Foster Wallace's ''Literature/InfiniteJest'' has the United States merging with Mexico and Canada, in every New World Order conspiracy nut's nightmare, to form the '''O'''rganization of '''N'''orth '''A'''merican '''N'''ations.


* The science fiction author and journalist John Brosnan wrote some of his work under a variety of aliases. For the absolute trashiest, he was either Harry Adam Knight, or Simon Ian Childer, thereby indicating his opinion of the books (SIC) and himself for writing them (HAK).
* The spacecraft in the second book of the ''Literature/IntoTheLookingGlass'' series was tagged with '''A'''lliance '''S'''pace '''S'''hip ''Vorpal Blade''. Humans argued strongly against that prefix, but were overridden by the aliens providing a lot of the technical support required to get the original Blade built.
* An ExpandedUniverse novel for ''Series/TheAvengers1960s'', ''Too Many Targets'', plays with the show's love for funny acronyms by introducing VOICE; '''V'''enerable '''O'''rder of '''I'''nter-'''C'''ommunicative '''E'''ndeavors, an organization devoted to helping hearing-impaired and mute people communicate.
* ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'' short story 'The Beast with Nine Bands' has a [[BackpackCannon Shoulder Launching Integral Missile Engine]], which uses '''S'''mart '''L'''inked '''A'''nti-'''M'''onster '''M'''issiles that are armed with '''S'''ingle '''C'''omposite '''R'''otating '''E'''ntry '''W'''arheads. It promply gets lampshaded.
* There's an Irish series of books and newspaper strips based around '''R'''oss '''O''' '''C'''arroll '''K'''elly, the acronym from which is the nickname of Blackrock, a well-known and very posh South Dublin private school (Ross attends the fictional-but-remarkably-similar Castlerock, and most of the first books are designed around mocking the South Dublin upper classes and the obsession with school-level rugby). It gets better with his mother, '''F'''ionnuala '''O''' '''C'''arroll '''K'''elly ('Fock' being the South Dublin phonetic pronunciation of a word less printable in family newspapers) and father '''C'''harles '''O''' '''C'''arroll '''K'''elly (which...[[DontExplainTheJoke yeah]].)

* In Trevanian's ''Literature/{{Shibumi}}'', one of the Mother Company's more senior officers is the '''D'''eputy '''I'''nternational '''L'''iaison '''D'''uty '''O'''fficer, "typically referred to by his acronym" -- though the book itself goes out of its way to never actually refer to him as such.
* The [[Literature/UnavoidableFamilyOuting Unavoidable Family Outing]] (itself shortened to UFO) series has a character named BRAD, who insists on always spelling it with capital letters. The two younger siblings [[RunningGag spend much of the book]] coming up with immature ideas as to what it stands for.
* The ''Travelers Through Time'' series of children's novels, wherein the heroes' time machine is called the '''T'''ime '''A'''nd '''S'''pace '''C'''onnector.
* ''Literature/{{Slapshots}}'': At the beginning of the book, rival players Happer, Oliver, and Trent are in the same hockey lineup and, due to their great talent and first initials, they are called the [=HOT=] Line. After Trent is transfered to the Stars, Happer and Oliver's new teammate is named Garvey, and they spend a lot of time whining about how they are now the [=HOG=] Line, which Chipmunk thinks is fitting given Happer and Oliver's piggish behavior.
* The Literature/{{Retief}} series by Creator/KeithLaumer features multiple CDT organizations. Retief himself is generally the only one to show awareness of the oddness of some name choices. MUDDLE and SCROUNGE are two of the more notable (and narratively relevant) ones.
* ''Literature/RoysBedoys'': In “Let’s Make a Rainbow, Roys Bedoys!”, Maker teaches Roys the acronym Roy G. Biv for the colours of the rainbow ('''R'''ed, '''O'''range, '''Y'''ellow, '''G'''reen, '''B'''lue, '''I'''ndigo, and '''V'''iolet).
* The animal testing facility in ''Literature/ThePlagueDogs'' is called "'''A'''nimal '''R'''esearch: '''S'''cience and '''E'''xperimental."


* Sherman Alexie lampshades this in ''Flight'', with IRON, short for Indigenous Rights Now. (Someone buy those guys a vowel.) The bad guys are called HAMMER, which doesn't stand for anything.
* The Literature/HonorHarrington novel ''Echoes of Honor'' mentions that though '''C'''ommanding '''O'''fficer, '''L'''ight '''A'''ttack '''C'''raft sounds too much like "colic", the other suggestion of '''C'''ommanding '''O'''fficer, '''W'''ing was slapped down.
** Then there's Honor's sometime flag lieutenant '''G'''ervais '''W'''inton '''E'''rwin '''N'''eville Archer, who actually prefers being called [[GenderBlenderName "Gwen"]] to any of his given names.

* In the {{novelization}} of the ''Film/IronMan1'' film, JARVIS (an AI in the movieverse) is revealed to stand for Just A Rather Very Intelligent System.
* The F.R.E.A.K.S. Squads Investigation novels has the '''F'''ederal '''R'''esponse to '''E'''xtra-sensory '''A'''nd '''K'''indred '''S'''upernaturals. Which is a sub-division of the '''FBI'''.
* Laser weapons in [[Creator/IainBanks Iain M. Banks]]'s [[Literature/TheCulture Culture]] series are called '''C'''oherent '''R'''adiation '''E'''mission '''W'''eapons '''S'''ystems (CREWS).
* Several writers of {{Magitek}} fiction have used references to elite police units known as (what else?) '''S'''pecial '''W'''izardry '''A'''nd '''T'''actics teams.
* In Creator/SLViehl's Literature/{{Stardoc}} novels, Dr. Cherijo Grey Veil (later Torin) has been told from birth that her first name is Navajo in origin, as her father (a famous genetic scientist) is partly descended from that people. It's not until she's a young woman that she finds out that the real meaning is [[spoiler:Comprehensive Human Enhancement Research ID: J Organism. She's a genetically-engineered clone of her "father"]].
* ''Literature/GalaxyOfFear'' has the '''S'''ystem '''I'''ntegration '''M'''anager "SIM", which is secretly actually the Systems I[[spoiler:nfiltration]] Manager. Same acronym.
* In Creator/TomKratman's ''Literature/{{Caliphate}}'', there's the formal name for the setting's PoweredArmor: '''S'''uited '''H'''eavy '''I'''nfantry '''T'''rooper. Hamilton's pointing out the acronym was enough to earn him demerits in the Academy.

* ''Literature/SonicTheHedgehogInRobotniksLaboratory'' has a few; Fabulously Advanced Robotnik’s Original Universal Transmogrifier (FAROUT), Wideband Interfacing Minimaxing Polyphonic Outreaching Unisunthesizing Toppgraphizer (WIMOUT) and a few others scattered throughout.
** The writers of that series of Sonic books where really fond of this; in ''Literature/SonicTheHedgehogAndTheSiliconWarriors'' they have Dr. Robotniks Electroic Graphics Creation Computer System (EGCS), the Tail built Robotnik Anti-Virus And Geek Exterminator, or RAVAGE tank for short, while Sonic threatens a badnik with a Binary Logistical Unprogrammer For Friendliness, of course it was a BLUFF.
* Subverted in ''Literature/MrBlank'' with the feminist ur-conspiracy V.E.N.U.S. The hero explains that he's too much of a gentleman to reveal what it stands for.
* "Literature/TheBlackEcho" by Creator/MichaelConnelly introduces us to '''H'''omicide '''I'''nformation '''T'''racking '''M'''anagement '''A'''utomated '''N'''etwork.
* Subverted in ''Literature/You2013'': the game engine WAFFLE's name stands for ''something'', but only its creator knew, and he's dead.
* Nick Sagan's ''Literature/{{Idlewild}}'' has Gedaechtnis (translated as German for "memory"), but the closest explanation the audience gets is "G-something E-something Drug And Enhanced Chemical Health Technologies".
* Creator/MarkGatiss' Lucifer Box novels have a lot of fun with this trope as part of a general theme of terrible puns.
** In ''The Devil in Amber'', Box lampshades how tortuous an acronym F.A.U.S.T. is ('''F'''ascist '''A'''nglo-'''U'''nited '''S'''tates '''T'''reaty) for a Satanic cult.
** The baddies in ''Black Butterfly'' are the '''A'''narcho-'''C'''riminal '''R'''etinue '''O'''f '''N'''ihilists, '''I'''ncendiarists and '''M'''urderers... the dreaded A.C.R.O.N.I.M.!
* The novel ''Literature/IHaveNoMouthAndIMustScream'' has AM, which subsequently stood for "[[MasterComputer Allied Mastercomputer]]", "Adaptive Manipulator", and lastly "[[AIIsACrapshoot Aggressive Menace]]". AM itself, upon gaining sentience, gave it another meaning: "I think, therefore I AM".
* ''{{Literature/Dinoverse}}'''s M.I.N.D. Machine stands for the Memory [=INterpretation=] Device Machine. The kid who made and named it was going for flair and trying to impress people with a simple device that looked cool and elaborate, and sounded like it too.
* In Stan Kelly-Bootle's memorable ''The Devil's DP [Data Processing] Dictionary'', an acronym is defined as an '''A'''lphabetic '''C'''ollocation '''R'''educing '''O'''r '''N'''umbing '''Y'''our '''M'''emory.
* Resident LawEnforcementInc '''D'''efence '''A'''gainst '''N'''egative '''Dy'''namism, and its members '''L'''aw '''I'''ntern '''O'''fficer '''N'''eo '''S'''ervice from ''Literature/StrengthAndJustice''. Yes, its members are DANDY LIONS. The reference to the weed is actually [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] at one point.
* WICKED from ''[[Literature/TheMazeRunner The Maze Runner Trilogy]]'', '''W'''orld '''I'''n '''C'''atastrophe: '''K'''illzone '''E'''xperiment '''D'''epartment. [[spoiler:Where Killzone is a malapropism for the mind-brain construct.]]

* In ''Literature/AWolfInTheSoul'', Greg's high school's initials are HAWL, pronounced [[WerewolfWorks "howl"]].
* The [[Literature/BastardOperatorFromHell BOFH]] invents a fake charity to solicit donations for, the '''C'''harlotte '''A'''mchip '''S'''chizophrenics '''H'''ospice, in the knowledge that the Boss can't spell 'schizophrenics'. (Charlotte, of course, being the wife of that new contractor, '''R'''oger...)
* In the ''Literature/BerniceSummerfield'' novels, the computer system at St Oscar's University is '''S'''t '''O'''scar's '''D'''atabase '''I'''nformation '''T'''erminus, aka "the facility that dare not speak its acronym".

* V.A.C.U.U.M. ('''V'''olunteer '''A'''gents '''C'''ruising '''U'''nsteadily '''U'''nder '''M'''ongoose) from Donald J. Sobol's ''Literature/SecretAgentsFour''. Their female assistant's full title is V.A.C.U.U.M. B.A.G. ('''B'''eautiful '''A'''ssistant '''G'''angbuster).
* In Creator/WilliamGibson's ''Literature/SprawlTrilogy'' you need a '''S'''ystem '''I'''dentification '''N'''umber to really exist in mid-21st century society. The [=SINless=] have to live outside the system, without credit cards or sometimes even a public education. The concept was shamelessly stolen by ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}''.






* In ''Literature/{{Seveneves}}'', terraforming robots whose purpose is to [[LiteralMetaphor spill their seed onto the ground]] are dubbed "'''O'''rbital '''N'''eo'''A'''gricultural '''N'''acelles."

* In ''Literature/TheMiseducationOfCameronPost'', it's no coincidence that the Gates of Praise youth group is often referred to by its acronym, [[UsefulNotes/AmericanPoliticalSystem G.O.P.]]

* ''Sunfall'' by Jim Al-Khalili, being a TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture hard science thriller, has a lot of this, including a pair of satelites monitoring the Sun from positions in front of and behind the Earth, called the '''S'''olar '''Te'''rrestial '''Re'''lations '''O'''bservatories, or STEREO; the dark matter detector '''V'''ery '''E'''nergetic '''N'''eutralino '''I'''on '''C'''ollider '''E'''xperiment; and the key technology of the novel, Marc Bruckner's plan to use dark matter to reignite the Earth's core, which he decides to call The ODIN Project first, and ''then'' backronyms it as '''O'''ctangular '''D'''irectional '''I'''gnition with '''N'''eutralinos.

* [[AvertedTrope Averted]] in Peter Benchley's ''Q Clearance.'' The President wants a program with a nifty acronym like [[UsefulNotes/GeraldFord Gerald Ford]]'s '''W'''hip '''I'''nflation '''N'''ow, but which will tackle all the gremlins in the US economy. Unfortunately, nobody can pronounce his '''W'''hip '''I'''nflation '''N'''ow '''A'''nd '''High''' '''I'''nterest '''Rates''' '''T'''oo '''F'''or '''R'''ising '''E'''mployment (WINAHIRTFRE).


* In the ''Literature/JPBeaumont'' novels, Beau sometimes opines that the acronym for the '''S'''pecial '''H'''omicide '''I'''nvestigation '''T'''eam is all too apt.

* The ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'' novel ''Literature/DeathStar'' has a scene that references an "Imperial Military Stop-Loss Order", or IMSLO, which basically means TheEmpire extended one's enlistment contract indefinitely. A viewpoint character at one point notes a bit of bathroom graffiti that backronyms IMSLO as "[[UnusualEuphemism I'm Milking Scragged]], Life's Over".
* ''Literature/{{Supergifted}}'': In chapter 14, Donovan tells Noah that the key to a good lie is K.I.S.S., which stands for "Keep It Simple, Stupid".



* In the Literature/VorkosiganSaga, SWORD: Kareenburg's '''S'''ex '''WO'''rkers' '''R'''ights and '''D'''ignity association
--> '''Blaise''': Shouldn't it be called SHEATH?\\
'''Cordelia''': Ha. ''You'' try to think of a name to go with that acronym.
* Christopher Stasheff's "Warlock" novels include many organizations with unlikely acronyms for names: The '''P'''roletarian '''E'''clectic '''S'''tate of '''T'''erra (PEST), the '''D'''ecentralized '''D'''emocratic '''T'''ribunal (DDT) which wiped out PEST, the '''S'''ociety for the '''C'''onversion of '''E'''xtra-terrestial '''N'''ascent '''T'''otalitarianisms (SCENT), and no fewer than three groups of [[TimeTravel time-travelers]]: the '''S'''ociety for the '''P'''revention of '''I'''ntegration of '''T'''elepathic '''E'''ntities (SPITE), the '''V'''igilant '''E'''xtenders of '''T'''otalitarian '''O'''rganizations (VETO), and the '''G'''uarantors of the '''R'''ights of '''I'''ndividuals, '''P'''atentholders '''E'''specially (GRIPE) (founded by the man who ''invented'' the time machine and was annoyed at the other two groups, who weren't paying him any royalties).

* In Pamela F. Service's ''Weirdos of the Universe Unite!'', the protagonists have a two-member club called WEIRD. They eventually decide that it stands for Weird Entities In Rightful Domination.

* ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'':
** It turns out that Goodkind International once named their 'health snack foods' project M.A.I.R.D. And how do you pronounce the French word for 'shit'?
** In ''[[http://whateleyacademy.net/index.php/9-original-canon/33-mission-imp-probable-part-3 Mission Imp-probable (Part 3)]]'': The "Cybernetic Hardware Improvement Program, identified as CHIP", which is a computer chip, made by Major Upgrade.
* In Zadie Smith's comedic novel ''Literature/WhiteTeeth'', a group of young radical second-generation British Muslims is named K.E.V.I.N.: '''K'''eepers of the '''E'''ternal and '''V'''igilant '''I'''slamic '''N'''ation. "We are aware we have an acronym problem."
* In the ''Literature/WildCards'' universe, the [[RedScare House Un-American Activities Committee]] was supplemented by the '''S'''enate '''C'''ommittee on '''A'''ce '''RE'''sources.
* ''Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz'': Why do you think the Wizard was made the wizard of a land name Oz? His full name is '''O'''scar '''Z'''oroaster '''P'''hadrig '''I'''saac '''N'''orman '''H'''enkel '''E'''mmannuel '''A'''mbroise '''D'''iggs. He [[EmbarrassingMiddleName didn't like]] [[OverlyLongName the other part]], though.
* ''Literature/WorldWarZ'':
** Lampshaded by the former head of the US government's Department of Strategic Resources, who wonders who named his organization, and whether the person who coined the short form "[=DeStRes=]" realized it was pronounced almost exactly like "distress".
** {{Crazy Survivalist}}s who refuse to return to civilization and [[BewareTheLiving build traps and defenses that are more dangerous to the living than to the undead]] are known as Last Men On Earth, or [=LaMOEs=] (pronounced "lame-os").
* In ''Literature/TheManyMysteriesOfTheFinkelFamily'', aspiring KidDetective Lara Finkel creates the '''F'''inkel '''I'''nvestigation '''A'''gency '''S'''olving '''C'''onsequential '''C'''rimes '''O'''nly. The idea is that when people have a fiasco, they can go to FIASCCO. She's annoyed that she couldn't come up with an acronym with only one C.
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