On Jul 9, 2012, at 2:18 PM, Tony Joyce wrote: > On 09/07/2012 10:04 PM, Raymond Feist wrote: >> Oh how about you get back to the part where I say I don't like being told >> what to write? >> >> It's pointless, folks. I do what I do, and often if I was to do as you ask, >> it would be killing all the dramatic balance I used to make the character >> interesting. It's the whole "ignore the man behind the curtain" thing. >> >> I got an e-mail from someone asking why I killed off Admiral Vykor in Rage, >> and took me to task because he was so interesting. I loved it, because >> there was NOTHING else I wanted to do with that guy or knew about him, but >> it meant he was exactly doing what I wanted. >> >> That's the art of it, don't you see? >> >> Best, R.E.F. >> ---- >> www.crydee.com >> >> Never attribute to malice what can satisfactorily be explained away by >> stupidity. >> >> > > I think this is a good time for me to de-lurk an pop my head up for a shout - > and to add that it is still an honour and privilege to read your books and to > be part of this list, and I'm sure 99% of the people here feel exactly the > same way. > > As an example of what you described above Mr Feist, I recently posted a very > short sentence about.....Spoiler space now :P > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ....about how talented a writer and storyteller put into just a few pages the > character of "Rider" - how powerful and omniprescient she seemed...and then > "Whammo" :P Against such an enemy as what is coming was simply, > well....nothing..... > Who/What was Rider they may shout - it doesn't matter - to me as a reader, > that paragraph totally done it's job :) > > I think what the masses are saying sometimes (and I'm sure you know this), is > that they love you and your writings, and wish nothing more but to be > entertained.....forever ;) > > Regards, > > - Drago >
Thanks, and that's the point. You take something as abstract as a being like Rider and she's so alien it's pointless to simply describe her. The narrative is useful to show her perspective v. the reader's and then let the reader supply the "wow" if I've done my job right. Getting into a whole metaphysical thing about Rider, what function she serves, why I chose those images, etc. starts ripping away the magic. Best, R.E.F. ---- www.crydee.com Never attribute to malice what can satisfactorily be explained away by stupidity.
