Fantasy Book Club discussion

The first moment you meet a main character is a prime opportunity for the author to set the stage for that character and communicate something important about them and the story.

The TV show West Wing did this famously when they introduced Martin Sheen as the President of the United States for the very first time in the pilot episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTG5p... (warning: language - the first 25 seconds of this 3 minute clip is all you need really)

Does the story you're reading now capitalize on this moment?

I'm currently reading Soul Music by Terry Pratchett. One of the main characters is a young girl who, in the moment she is introduced to the reader is failing to act as expected when greeted with the news of her parents' deaths. The news doesn't bother her. But she is a little worried about the person telling her. So we learn right off the bat that she's a caring person who sees the world differently in some significant ways - particularly about death... in fact, we probably know more about her from this one interaction than she does about herself.

All of this takes place in about a paragraph. You could blink and miss it.

Liam, do you think this makes or breaks a storyline? In other words, can the main character purposely be vague in order to have a big reveal somewhere at the end of a book or story or even none at all so the reader can make his own interpretation of the main character?

Oh, that's an interesting topic. I never really paid attention about character introductions.

The only introduction that comes to mind right now is Jalan Kendeth's in Prince of Fools (which is also the first line of the book): "I’m a liar and a cheat and a coward, but I will never, ever, let a friend down. Unless of course not letting them down requires honesty, fair play, or bravery."

I remember asking myself: "Who on Earth would proudly describes themselves as a coward?". The fact that this is a self-introduction made it even more interesting IMO. I mean... The guy bluntly announces he's a liar. And appears to be the narrator. Can I really trust what he says? Thinks? How reliable is his vision, his retelling of the story?

EDIT: I just read in another thread that you'll be reading the trilogy this month, Tnkw01. I'm really, really interested in hearing what you think of Jalan. Hope what I wrote won't color your first impression of him though... :/

Interesting! I hadn't thought about this before, but most of the books I like the best introduce the MC immediately & in a really interesting way. Zelazny is fantastic at it.

I think Michael J. Sullivan is great at it also. Liam you did a great job in Sir Thomas the Hesitant and the Table of Less Valued Knights too. (Just wanted to give you a shout out because it's such a funny story.

Tnkw01 wrote: "Liam, do you think this makes or breaks a storyline? In other words, can the main character purposely be vague in order to have a big reveal somewhere at the end of a book or story or even none at ..."

It's just an opportunity. An author can handle it subtly or intuitively or not at all and the story can still work and work well. There are so many other parts to making a good story - a good meal is a good meal even if it doesn't have all the courses and an A+ on presentation, etc.

On the other hand, it's certainly possible to get so turned off by an introduction that you will lose a whole demographic of readers/viewers...

Virginie wrote: "Oh, that's an interesting topic. I never really paid attention about character introductions.

The only introduction that comes to mind right now is Jalan Kendeth's in Prince of Fools (which is als..."

This reminds me of Eugene in Walking Dead. I find that kind of character fascinating too Virginie :) How dark does the Prince of Fools series get? I'm pretty squeamish (there are a few episodes of Walking Dead I wish I could scrub from my visual cortex).

Jim wrote: "Interesting! I hadn't thought about this before, but most of the books I like the best introduce the MC immediately & in a really interesting way. Zelazny is fantastic at it."

I admit I didn't pay attention to this moment when we read Night in the Lonesome October. I almost never deconstruct stories on my first pass. Looking forward to reading that one again this year :) And my other Zelazny (the Amber Chronicles) was too long ago to recall... I should read more Zelazny.

Tnkw01 wrote: "I think Michael J. Sullivan is great at it also. Liam you did a great job in Sir Thomas the Hesitant and the Table of Less Valued Knights too. (Just wanted to give ..."

Thanks Tnk :) I was looking forward to finally reading Sullivan last month but it didn't work out. What's the best place to start with Ryria? I need to finish some series here before I start more though ... I get panicky when I haven't completed things lol.

I would recommend starting with Theft of Swords. This is where you get to meet Hadrian and Royce. They are my favorite fantasy tandem. They are exact opposites and there banter is hilarious at times

Liam wrote: "This reminds me of Eugene in Walking Dead. I find that kind of character fascinating too Virginie :) How dark does the Prince of Fools series get? I'm pretty squeamish (there are a few episodes of Walking Dead I wish I could scrub from my visual cortex)."

Yeah. Ambiguous, unreliable narrator are my favorites :)
The series gets a bit gruesome sometimes but it's made very supportable with dark humor.
If you read a description and think 'Eeeew, no, no no!', then Jalan will probably scream it the next line and run in the other direction to boot ;)
Or stare in morbid fascination while pretending nothing's happening... lol

Oh, and I don't know if you're into audiobooks, but Tim Gerard Reynolds did a wonderful job narrating the series. You can really hear the sarcasm/disgust dripping from his voice just at the right moments.

Virginie wrote: "Oh, and I don't know if you're into audiobooks, but Tim Gerard Reynolds did a wonderful job narrating the series. You can really hear the sarcasm/disgust dripping from his voice just at the right m..."

Did you mean for Theft of Swords?

Tnkw01 wrote: "Did you mean for Theft of Swords? "

Oh, I meant the Red Queen's War series. I read the Riyria Revelations before 'discovering' audiobooks. I listened to The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter though, and TGR was amazing there too.

(the 'voice dripping sarcasm' could also be applied to Royce, that's true haha)

I enjoyed all of Sullivan’s books. They are funny but become really edge of seat too.

Lawrence’s books are polar opposites in a sense. They are dark and appear not funny. But they have some hilarious moments and the characters, despite their flaws, are fab! Total favs. The Red Sister is so violent but completely different in tone and casting.

I find reading books where I don’t like the lead really challenging.

Tnkw01 wrote: "Liam, do you think this makes or breaks a storyline? In other words, can the main character purposely be vague in order to have a big reveal somewhere at the end of a book or story or even none at ..."

Whose point of view is it?

You probably have to have a character be annoyed at what he doesn't know as the readers.

When he's the POV, he can easily break the story by causing readers to put it down.

Mary wrote: "Tnkw01 wrote: "Liam, do you think this makes or breaks a storyline? In other words, can the main character purposely be vague in order to have a big reveal somewhere at the end of a book or story o..."

Oh, that's a very good point.

Virginie wrote: "Tnkw01 wrote: "Did you mean for Theft of Swords? "

Oh, I meant the Red Queen's War series. I read the Riyria Revelations before 'discovering' audiobooks. I listened to [book:The Disappearance of W..."

I believe Tim Gerard Reynolds may be one of my favorite audio performers. He does great voices and they just seem to fit the characters perfect.