Ok... so, to begin with, I have to admit it; I'm a sucker for sci-fi/fantasy. I enjoy reading other genres, but when I find a really good (or at least really enjoyable) sci-fi or fantasy novel, I'm hooked. If at all possible I drop all other activities and spend a day or more focused on this single book. However, recently I was pondering the genre, and found a disturbing trend. It seems that around 90% of sci-fi and fantasy (especially fantasy) authors write using the same basic storyline:
1. Young boy living a normal (or somewhat abnormal) life.
2. Traumatic Event
3. Boy runs away, finds mentor.
4. Mentor trains the boy.
5. Mentor dies.
6. Boy kills enormously powerful villain, not through his power alone, but using some really clever circumstance.
Now, there are obviously shades of subtlety that appear, but droves upon droves of books follow this pattern. To list a few, Lord of the Rings (I know, this is debatable, but if you focus on Frodo it's dead on), Eragon, and yes, Star Wars (I know I know, it's a movie; still, the point holds), all follow this plot progression. Maybe authors figure, "Hey, I've spent so much time and creativity creating an interesting and believeable (hopefully) world, I don't really need a creative plot... that's not why people read scif-fi and fantasy anyways!" Ok, I know this is overly harsh, but I'm bored with this story. In all fairness, there are some authors who manage to avoid this, even through prolific careers. Isaac Asimov, as far as I can remember of what I've read by him, always managed to avoid this stereotype. Maybe, just maybe, that is part of why he is probably the most popular single sci-fi author ever.
Having finished my sci-fi author rant, I shall now continue to my brief library rant. How do libraries manage to ensure that when you show up to find a well-accepted book from a popular and prolific author, you can ALWAYS find the 3rd, 5th, and 7th books in the series, but never the 1st or 2nd? ALWAYS. Is this the libraries fault, or is there some malevolent and ridiculously bored person out there who goes around checking out all 1st books of series? (Actually, in a terrible way, that is utterly brilliant)
For all of you who are worried by this post, as it is rather harsh, it's ok. I just haven't had coffee yet today.
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Matthew - that's not a diss on Tolkien, is it? Because if it is, you can kiss that long-belated birthday present from China good-bye, my brother.
ReplyDeleteNope, that it isn't, 'cus in all fairness I think Tolkien was basically one of the first to write a story like that, and besides he gives the perspective of plenty of other characters, not JUST Frodo.
ReplyDeletei think this is my new favorite blog
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