In sf & f, you often can't, so artificially tiny, neat universes with no history stick out horribly.
Absolutely - and I sometimes think that is why there are so many bad fantasy and sci-fi novels. The world building isn't good enough or consistent enough.
In RL there are such things as coincidences, but in fiction saying things happen because of coincidence is considered sloppy world building - and in fantasy/sci-fi this is doubly so. In novels set in the real world you can, as you say, fall back on the readers pre-existent knowledge. In fantasy/sci-fi you can't and so things like coincidences or "these things sometimes happen" stick out even more.
I think that is one of the reasons the death of Sirius Black really disapointed me. Not because he died as such (but yes, a little because of that. ;) ) but because it felt sloppy. There was no real build up, no real introduction to the portal and so the readers were left with a sense of anti-climax. Rowling later said that Sirius died because "these things sometimes happen" - and while that is true in real life, there are other rules when it comes to fiction. Aka showing the gun in act one, means using the gun by act four. Not showing a gun, and then whipping one out in act four makes the audience feel cheated.
a list of female characters who had been killed off in S3 of BSG
yes, I've had huge problems with S3 of BSG - in fact I haven't watch much beyond the first half of the season, but I've spoiled myself for what happens. A problem of mine is probably that I keep measuring BSG with B5 - and the latter keeps coming out on top in terms of plot and characters. On the other hand BSG looks and sounds so much better - sadly it has in many ways gone the way of character assassination. Suddenly all the females were either caught up in love triangles or dead. I find that disconcerting. I'll watch all of S3 and then S4 before I put down the verdict though - but I keep having the feeling that Kara is being explained by the writers in a "She is only a tough, female pilot because she came from an abusive home. She is only hard drinking and smoking beause she came from an abusive home" - and that rings a little hollow and undermining. Also - why is she the only one who gets the backstory? What about Gaius? What is his backstory? Why is he the dirtbag he is? Or is that unnecessary to explain because he is male?
Lastly I agree - i think all of this will lead to better shows. I've seen a tendency the last few years where tv has in many ways been better than the movies. What movies do, and still do well, is special effects and the wow-factor. But tv outshines them when it comes to plot and character development. perhaps naturally since they have better time, but since those are the things I really love Iæm not complaining! ;)
no subject
Absolutely - and I sometimes think that is why there are so many bad fantasy and sci-fi novels. The world building isn't good enough or consistent enough.
In RL there are such things as coincidences, but in fiction saying things happen because of coincidence is considered sloppy world building - and in fantasy/sci-fi this is doubly so. In novels set in the real world you can, as you say, fall back on the readers pre-existent knowledge. In fantasy/sci-fi you can't and so things like coincidences or "these things sometimes happen" stick out even more.
I think that is one of the reasons the death of Sirius Black really disapointed me. Not because he died as such (but yes, a little because of that. ;) ) but because it felt sloppy. There was no real build up, no real introduction to the portal and so the readers were left with a sense of anti-climax. Rowling later said that Sirius died because "these things sometimes happen" - and while that is true in real life, there are other rules when it comes to fiction. Aka showing the gun in act one, means using the gun by act four. Not showing a gun, and then whipping one out in act four makes the audience feel cheated.
a list of female characters who had been killed off in S3 of BSG
yes, I've had huge problems with S3 of BSG - in fact I haven't watch much beyond the first half of the season, but I've spoiled myself for what happens.
A problem of mine is probably that I keep measuring BSG with B5 - and the latter keeps coming out on top in terms of plot and characters.
On the other hand BSG looks and sounds so much better - sadly it has in many ways gone the way of character assassination. Suddenly all the females were either caught up in love triangles or dead. I find that disconcerting. I'll watch all of S3 and then S4 before I put down the verdict though - but I keep having the feeling that Kara is being explained by the writers in a "She is only a tough, female pilot because she came from an abusive home. She is only hard drinking and smoking beause she came from an abusive home" - and that rings a little hollow and undermining. Also - why is she the only one who gets the backstory? What about Gaius? What is his backstory? Why is he the dirtbag he is? Or is that unnecessary to explain because he is male?
Lastly I agree - i think all of this will lead to better shows. I've seen a tendency the last few years where tv has in many ways been better than the movies. What movies do, and still do well, is special effects and the wow-factor. But tv outshines them when it comes to plot and character development. perhaps naturally since they have better time, but since those are the things I really love Iæm not complaining! ;)