Rules for Space Opera

[pbray]

To cleanse my palate I've been reading space opera. The book I'm currently reading* got off to an extremely slow start, and then about halfway through the story finally picked up momentum. Rather than idly reading a few pages at a time, it went to "Can't put this down."

Being a writer, when the book failed to hold my interest I started looking for reasons why it wasn't working. The first reason was obvious--it took too long to get things started since so much time was wasted on setup. No in media res here, instead each character was introduced, given back story, and then in careful increments of short scenes each character was moved along the board until they began to intersect one another.

The second reason was less obvious-- I didn't know what I was missing until BOOM! it appeared. In this case the boom was both literal and figurative in the form of an attack. Now, finally the central characters had something to react against, rather than an intellectual puzzle to solve.

So here are Patricia's (entirely arbitrary and your mileage may vary) thoughts on space operas:

1) If you're going to have a cool alien culture interacting with the humans in mysterious ways, then introduce those aliens up front. Don't keep them in reserve until halfway through the book, there's no guarantee readers are going to stick with you that long.

2) If you're going for action and adventure, then the threat to the characters must be immediate and visceral. I read these books for the same reason I love action movies--shit blows up. Starting off with a vague nebulous threat that mostly concerns legal and political maneuvering isn't going to hold my interest. I want to see the central character(s) face off against immediate dangers. If the heroine is a kickass, take charge, shoot 'em up (or MacGyver her way out of any situation) kinda gal, then I want to see that sooner rather than later. Sure it's okay to save the climactic battle scene for the end of the book, but keep us entertained along the way.

In short--there's nothing wrong with giving the reader what they're looking for.

In this case, the last half of the book was fast-paced, exciting, classic space opera. But I'm wondering how many readers got bogged down in the first part, and never discovered the rest.

*I'm not naming names here, since it's the author's first novel.

Comments

[desperance.livejournal.com]

Can we inveigle from you the name of the book? For purely educational purposes?

[sylvia-rachel.livejournal.com]

::nods::

Inquiring minds want to know!

[pbray.livejournal.com]

I'm not naming names, since it's the author's first book, and I try not to trash anyone's first book unless it's egregiously bad. In this case I have high hopes that the author will get over the first book stumbles and go on to better things.

[sylvia-rachel.livejournal.com]

You know, much as I'd like to know what book this is, as a person aspiring to publish a first book one day I must say I approve of this policy ... ;)

[pbray.livejournal.com]

:-)

Of course if someone's first book hits the NYT bestseller list, I feel free to say whatever I like, since my opinion isn't going to make a difference to their sales. But in general, it's hard for first novelists to attract sales, and since readers' tastes differ, I don't want to discourage someone from picking up a book that they might have otherwise enjoyed.

That's the difference between chatting with your friends versus posting something in the blogosphere where it's on record and accessible to all--if you and I were in a coffee house, I'd be happy to dish the dirt.

[scbutler.livejournal.com]

This is my policy as well. Plus sometimes I won't even mention the big succcesses name just in case he gets mad at me and turns me into an emasculated child molester in his next book.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Nonsense! When I'm a big success, I have an entirely different Tuckerization planned for you.

[scbutler.livejournal.com]

Adoring love slave?

It certainly won't be official spellchecker.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

I was thinking along the lines of a New York Bruin, perhaps an offical brewtaster....

[scbutler.livejournal.com]

But my taste is so bad I'd never be able to tell if the brew was any good or not.

[jtglover.livejournal.com]

You are an gentleman and a scholar of a generous spirit that endears you to first novelists everywhere.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

I'd be happy to be a gentleman and a scholar :-)

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Oh, but you can tell me! I can keep a secret! *grin*

[(Anonymous)]

Ha!

[melissajm.livejournal.com]

Although in this case your comments might encourage readers to keep going...?

[kythiaranos.livejournal.com]

I see a lot of withholding information in the slush pile (and it really, really doesn't work with flash fiction). It seems like a lot of writers (especially beginners) seem to fear that they only get one big revelation per story, so they don't want to use it up front.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Or they fear that no one will get the big revelation unless they've set it up ad nauseum.

[dynastic-queen.livejournal.com]

I have a space opera ms I'll be getting back to soon... so this post is just what I needed. I'm in like Flint on #1. I'll be going back to check myself on #2.

Valuable stuff. Thank you!

[pbray.livejournal.com]

You're welcome!

[vespican.livejournal.com]

I'm sure this first time author appreciates you not plastering hisher name all over the internet. Yet I can't help but feel that he/she may be interested in your take on his/her work. Perhaps there is a way that you could contact him/her and politely address your concerns. For me, as a yet to be first time author, I would be most appreciative of any comments and constructive criticism that an established author could offer me.

You might also like to know that I recently found and purchased The FINAL SACRIFICE. I know it's not the first of the series, but it was the only one in the local Barnes and Noble.
Dave

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Cool, I hope you enjoy it. THE FINAL SACRIFICE can be read as a standalone novel, but of course if you feel inspired to purchase the other two first I wouldn't object :-)

[vespican.livejournal.com]

I would have bought the first of the series, but there was only one volume of your work on the shelf at our local B & N. Don't worry, I'll get the other's eventually.

Glad to hear that they can be read as stand alone books. While it's good to read the overall story in the correct order, sometimes that just isn't possible. I read the Hornblower series several times in no particular order until just a couple of years ago. Of course, C. S. Forester wrote them in a some what random order as well... at least when it comes to a chronilogical telling of Hornblower's life.

When I buy a couple more of your books it may give you enough in royalties to buy a beer! (Beer is Good!)
Dave