The State of Science Fiction & Fantasy
Having just finshed reading a few books, I've been looking to read something new. As I looked over the books I have on standby, I noticed an interesting trend among many of them. In a great deal of them, the book is written from a limited first person viewpoint. And this isn't limited to those titles with a modernesque setting.
Imagine, if you will, if Star Wars had a first person point of view. Since it's about Luke, every scene has to include him, or be something he has direct personal knowledge about. Do we start with a space scene or droids? No, we get to hear about how Luke wants to go to the academy. Princess Leia? She's a hologram for two-thirds of the movie. Greedo shoots first or second? We never see Greedo--because Luke never sees Greedo, so there is no answer to that.
Speaking of characters we never see, let's talk about Grand Moff Tarkin. In a movie where everything has to involve Luke, there is no Tarkin. And, a much bigger storytelling sin, all we see of Darth Vader is a brief moment where he kills Obi-Wan Kenobi. That's right, a first-person version of Star Wars has no constant villain. I'll get back to that idea in just a bit.
Let's talk about the other end of the spectrum for a moment. The popular notes of science fiction are usually these fierce, well-thought processes of the nature of humanity as it progresses in a future environment or location in outer space. These explorations are usually developed deliberately, focusing on their central questions. They quantify their arguments and allow their characters to understand--
It's a bunch of stuck-up garbage. Don't misunderstand me, there's quite a bit of quality work out there, but for the most part, all the wonderful examinations of humanity in the future eventually blend together and look alike. And, just to point out something interesting--a lot of science fiction is starting to go over to first person point of view as well.
Can we stop doing everything in first person, please?
I love reading The Dresden Files, and I know they're in first person because a great deal of classic crime noir is in first person. But I'd really like to read something with that degree of excitement and energy where I can really get a feel for everything that's going on, not just one guy's reactions.
The problem, I think, is that there's no fiction left in today's science fiction; there's no fantasizing in today's fantasy.
The solution to this: Somebody's got to do something different. Yes, I understand that publishers need to find material to please existing fanbases. I also know that the fastest way to get noticed--should writing be good--is to stand out, show how something is different than what's already out there.
Imagine, if you will, if Star Wars had a first person point of view. Since it's about Luke, every scene has to include him, or be something he has direct personal knowledge about. Do we start with a space scene or droids? No, we get to hear about how Luke wants to go to the academy. Princess Leia? She's a hologram for two-thirds of the movie. Greedo shoots first or second? We never see Greedo--because Luke never sees Greedo, so there is no answer to that.
Speaking of characters we never see, let's talk about Grand Moff Tarkin. In a movie where everything has to involve Luke, there is no Tarkin. And, a much bigger storytelling sin, all we see of Darth Vader is a brief moment where he kills Obi-Wan Kenobi. That's right, a first-person version of Star Wars has no constant villain. I'll get back to that idea in just a bit.
Let's talk about the other end of the spectrum for a moment. The popular notes of science fiction are usually these fierce, well-thought processes of the nature of humanity as it progresses in a future environment or location in outer space. These explorations are usually developed deliberately, focusing on their central questions. They quantify their arguments and allow their characters to understand--
It's a bunch of stuck-up garbage. Don't misunderstand me, there's quite a bit of quality work out there, but for the most part, all the wonderful examinations of humanity in the future eventually blend together and look alike. And, just to point out something interesting--a lot of science fiction is starting to go over to first person point of view as well.
Can we stop doing everything in first person, please?
I love reading The Dresden Files, and I know they're in first person because a great deal of classic crime noir is in first person. But I'd really like to read something with that degree of excitement and energy where I can really get a feel for everything that's going on, not just one guy's reactions.
The problem, I think, is that there's no fiction left in today's science fiction; there's no fantasizing in today's fantasy.
The solution to this: Somebody's got to do something different. Yes, I understand that publishers need to find material to please existing fanbases. I also know that the fastest way to get noticed--should writing be good--is to stand out, show how something is different than what's already out there.
posted by LEN! at 1:37 AM
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