History FunWithAcronyms / Literature

* The ''ComicBook/IncredibleHulk'' 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.

* Lampshaded in ''Literature/WorldWarZ'': the former head of the US government's Department of Strategic Resources wonders who named his organization, and whether the person who coined the short form "[=DeStRes=]" realized it was pronounced almost exactly like "distress".

* In the novelization of the ''Film/IronMan1'' [[TheMovie film]], JARVIS (an AI in the movieverse) is revealed to stand for Just A Rather Very Intelligent System.

** 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.
*** 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.
*** 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 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.]]

** There are important wizarding exams known as '''O'''rdinary '''W'''izarding '''L'''evels and '''N'''astily '''E'''xhausting '''W'''izarding '''T'''ests (OWL s and NEWT s)

*** 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.)

** ''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.

*** 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 (alergi)

* The ''Franchise/{{Dune}}'' series has a company called CHOAM (Combine Honnete Ober Advancer Mercantiles). Ellis Weiner's National Lampoon spoof novel ''Doon'' changed this to N.O.A.M.C.H.O.M.S.K.Y. 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").

* Lampshaded in ''Literature/WorldWarZ'': the former head of the US government's Department of Strategic Resources wonders who named his organization, and whether the person who coined the short form "[=DeStRes=]" realized it was pronounced almost exactly like "distress".

* ''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.

* 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.
* 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.




* 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.)
.
* 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/ASeriesOfUnfortunateEvents'', Jerome Squalor compiles the evidence against Count Olaf into a book entitled '''O'''dious '''L'''usting '''A'''fter '''F'''inance. Not to mention the many, ''many'' times phrases are shoehorned into the [[ArcWords Arc Acronym]] V.F.D., which is ''strongly'' implied to stand for [[spoiler:'''V'''olunteer '''F'''ire '''D'''epartment]].
* ''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--

* Eugene Byrne's Thigmoo has 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.
** While [=ThigMOO=] itself turns out to be an odd acronym, standing for '''THI'''s '''G'''reat '''MO'''vement '''O'''f '''O'''urs.

* ''Magazine/{{MAD}}'' had a 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.

* 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."

* In 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."

* The ''Literature/GauntsGhosts'' novel ''The Armour of Contempt'' has '''R'''etraining, '''I'''ndoctrination and '''Punishment'''.

* 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.

* 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.

* ''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.

* ''The Fourth Protocol'' 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.

* Creator/IsaacAsimov and Creator/JanetAsimov: ''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].

* 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.
* The titular organization of ''Literature/{{NERDS}}'' stands for '''N'''ational '''E'''spionage, '''R'''escue, and '''D'''efense '''S'''ociety. Their agents actually ''are'' nerds, though. The PsychoRangers created in Book 5 are fittingly called B.U.L.L.I.E.S., or '''B'''rotherhood of '''U'''nstoppable '''L'''iars, '''L'''owlifes and '''I'''ntimidating '''E'''nemies of '''S'''ociety.

* ''Literature/LairForRent'' stars Walter, '''W'''ealth '''A'''ccumulator and '''L'''iquidity '''T'''rap '''E'''vasion '''R'''outine.

* The Creator/JohnRingo series ''Literature/BlackTideRising'' gives us "ZAM" (or more commonly "Zammie"), for '''Z'''ombie '''A'''pocalypse '''M'''oment, for things that would only make sense in a ZombieApocalypse.

* ''Literature/JamesBond''

* 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."

* The ''Literature/{{Illuminatus}}'' Trilogy 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, it also has 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.

* 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."
* 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.

* The ''Literature/HIVESeries'' has the titular school, the '''H'''igher '''I'''nstitute of '''V'''illainous '''E'''ducation, as well as 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).

* 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.

* [=OWEN=], and experimental supercomputer A.I. in ''Literature/TheMunicipalists'', is short for for "'''O'''bject-Oriented Database and '''W'''orking '''E'''kistics '''N'''etwork" — the use of this trope is Discussed 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.

* The titular organization of ''Literature/{{NERDS}}'' stands for '''N'''ational '''E'''spionage, '''R'''escue, and '''D'''efense '''S'''ociety. Their agents actually ''are'' nerds, though.

* In 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.
* 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 ''Literature/HarryPotter'', 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.
** 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 let's not forget Ron asking 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 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"...
** Not to mention the '''S'''tichting '''H'''uiself voor '''I'''nburgering en '''T'''olerantie, from 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 (alergi)
* The ''Literature/HarryPotter'' series also involves exams known as '''O'''rdinary '''W'''izarding '''L'''evels and '''N'''astily '''E'''xhausting '''W'''izarding '''T'''ests (OWL s and NEWT s)
** 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'' = [[EvenTheSubtitlerIsStumped ???]].
*** Actually futt comes from the word futtig meaning paltry. Futt can sometimes be used as a prefix, like when you say you have a futtlön (low salary).
** 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 Literature/HarryPotter 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 was named '''S'''irius '''O'''rion '''B'''lack.
* 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).
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.

* 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.)
* The ''Literature/{{Illuminatus}}'' Trilogy 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, it also has an organization called the '''K'''nights of '''C'''hristianity '''U'''nited in '''F'''aith.
** And don't forget 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.
* 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.
* 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'''.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.

* In ''Literature/ASeriesOfUnfortunateEvents'', Jerome Squalor compiles the evidence against Count Olaf into a book entitled '''O'''dious '''L'''usting '''A'''fter '''F'''inance. Not to mention the many, ''many'' times phrases are shoehorned into the [[ArcWords Arc Acronym]] V.F.D., which is ''strongly'' implied to stand for [[spoiler:'''V'''olunteer '''F'''ire '''D'''epartment]].
* ''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--
* 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."
* 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.
* 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.

* ''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.

* The ''Franchise/{{Dune}}'' series had a company called CHOAM (Combine Honnete Ober Advancer Mercantiles). Ellis Weiner's National Lampoon spoof novel ''Doon'' changed this to N.O.A.M.C.H.O.M.S.K.Y. 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").
* 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 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/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/JamesBond''
** ''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.

* 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.
* ''Literature/TheLaundryFiles'' has OCCULUS: Occult Control Coordination Unit Liaison, Unconventional Situations.
** There is also PHANG, which stands for... vampire. There ''are'' explanations given regarding what the letters actually stand for, but the explanations are always different.
* The Creator/JohnRingo series ''Literature/BlackTideRising'' gives us "ZAM" (or more commonly "Zammie"), for '''Z'''ombie '''A'''pocalypse '''M'''oment, for things that would only make sense in a ZombieApocalypse.
* The second ''Literature/CaptainUnderpants'' book, ''The Attack of the Talking Toilets'' had 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.
* 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.''

* ''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 ''Literature/TheColdMoons'', the newspaper chapters make repeated references to a anti-badger culling organization called '''P'''rotests '''A'''gainst '''W'''onton '''S'''layings.

* ''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 ''Literature/ExtremeMonsters'' book series, the Extreme Monsters and their coach Doc travel around in a vehicle called the '''L'''aboratory '''U'''tility '''V'''ehicle.
* 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/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".

* Harry's Godfather was [[UnfortunateNames unfortunately named]] '''S'''irius '''O'''rion '''B'''lack.

* 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.

** Not to mention the '''S'''tichting '''H'''uiself voor '''I'''nburgering en '''T'''olerantie, from the Dutch translation. [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar Quite obvious, isn't it?]]

* 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 [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar less printable in family newspapers]]) and father '''C'''harles '''O''' '''C'''arroll '''K'''elly (which...[[DontExplainTheJoke yeah]].)

* The ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'' novel ''Literature/DeathStar'' has a scene that references an "Imperial Military Stop-Loss Order", or IMSLO, which basically means one's enlistment contract has been extended 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".

* In the novelization of the ''IronMan'' [[TheMovie film]], JARVIS (an AI in the movieverse) is revealed to stand for Just A Rather Very Intelligent System.

*** The fact that the first two words look like '[[MoralGuardians Burned]] [[UsefulNotes/FurryFandom Fur]]' is a coincidence.

* In Larry Niven's "Literature/KnownSpace":

* Averted in Creator/IsaacAsimov 's novel version of ''Fantastic Voyage'', in which 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."

* An ''[[Series/TheAvengers Avengers]]'' ExpandedUniverse novel, ''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.

** The eponymous organiation's name in ''Literature/{{COLD}}'' is an acronym for '''C'''hildren '''O'''f the '''L'''ast '''D'''ays.