Post by tongotongo on Sept 8, 2013 4:47:56 GMT -8
This reflection on the book is more on a larger scale today. The overall story flows well, and I might have to read parts again to go into details, but know I just what to look at the big picture.
Okay now I read through the whole thing, and as much as I enjoy reading I’m starting to miss indications of the big picture. There is Tyz, his brother, their mysterious past, all nice and fantstay-full. Then there is the threat, mysterious in many ways. There are the armies, obviously not meant to engage with the creatures, rather surprised by them and killed. They have a lot of technology, but is there any communication technology to connect them to the rest of the world? Apparently not, or nobody had the idea yet. So they are isolated? All good if there is a reason for this and all the rest.
The problem is: What is the big picture? In most traditional narration that starts with a micro-picture of some individuals’ perspective, there is narration (or side-plots) that indicate, hint at what the whole thing might be about. Sometimes helping, sometimes confusing, but at least indicating there is more. I am missing this bit now. It all evolves from Tyz, his first few encounters, then a pause, then hundreds of people, then splitting up, starting to explore.
In most narration the reader is often “behind” learning with the protagonists. But it is also nice to be “ahead” – or at least to have the impression to be ahead – for a while. Think of Dark City (the movie), first there is just John, you don't understand why he is in trouble, is he a killer or not? Then there is an indication that there is much more going on. But you don’t learn all about it, you’re being sidetracked, pulled back, have to start again. You know what I mean? You’re still surprised all the time because you didn’t really know what was going on, but at least you were promised more. In this book you have to walk every step with the protagonists, you never get a treat. I am not sure how long this would work with a reader not as involved as your volunteers are.
Okay now I read through the whole thing, and as much as I enjoy reading I’m starting to miss indications of the big picture. There is Tyz, his brother, their mysterious past, all nice and fantstay-full. Then there is the threat, mysterious in many ways. There are the armies, obviously not meant to engage with the creatures, rather surprised by them and killed. They have a lot of technology, but is there any communication technology to connect them to the rest of the world? Apparently not, or nobody had the idea yet. So they are isolated? All good if there is a reason for this and all the rest.
The problem is: What is the big picture? In most traditional narration that starts with a micro-picture of some individuals’ perspective, there is narration (or side-plots) that indicate, hint at what the whole thing might be about. Sometimes helping, sometimes confusing, but at least indicating there is more. I am missing this bit now. It all evolves from Tyz, his first few encounters, then a pause, then hundreds of people, then splitting up, starting to explore.
In most narration the reader is often “behind” learning with the protagonists. But it is also nice to be “ahead” – or at least to have the impression to be ahead – for a while. Think of Dark City (the movie), first there is just John, you don't understand why he is in trouble, is he a killer or not? Then there is an indication that there is much more going on. But you don’t learn all about it, you’re being sidetracked, pulled back, have to start again. You know what I mean? You’re still surprised all the time because you didn’t really know what was going on, but at least you were promised more. In this book you have to walk every step with the protagonists, you never get a treat. I am not sure how long this would work with a reader not as involved as your volunteers are.
