Agree or disagree: Existential crises, relationship trauma and childhood wounds are all more interesting if the character has to deal with them in the middle of a murder investigation, jewel heist or starship battle.
I know there's a huge riff between "literary" writers and "genre" writers, and it annoys me quite frankly.
I think a blend of the two makes for a really awesome book. I want a deep character going through a change and coming to terms with himself, the universe, significant others--something. But I think it makes it more interesting if this is all happening while he's trying to diffuse a bomb.
The external and internal conflict came make for an amazing read.
And this article made me think of you: http://www.cracked.com/blog/the-5-most-horrifying-crimes-committed-by-senior-citizens/
When you make the external and internal conflict reflect each other then the whole thing is on a higher plane, you have yourself a timeless classic then.
I think one issue may be that genre fiction is expected to reach a catharsis for both internal and external conflicts, while literary fiction has more room for ambiguity and experimentation.
But most good sci-fi stuff has ambiguous notes to its resolution. I'd actually describe the line between straight genre and pseudo-literary genre fiction as the difference between the Blade Runner theatrical cut and the Blade Runner director's cut.
My favorite mysteries, "Red Harvest" and "The Maltese Falcon" are similarly ambiguous.
Agreed.
ReplyDeleteI know there's a huge riff between "literary" writers and "genre" writers, and it annoys me quite frankly.
I think a blend of the two makes for a really awesome book. I want a deep character going through a change and coming to terms with himself, the universe, significant others--something. But I think it makes it more interesting if this is all happening while he's trying to diffuse a bomb.
The external and internal conflict came make for an amazing read.
And this article made me think of you: http://www.cracked.com/blog/the-5-most-horrifying-crimes-committed-by-senior-citizens/
Watch out for those Senior Citizens!
When you make the external and internal conflict reflect each other then the whole thing is on a higher plane, you have yourself a timeless classic then.
ReplyDeleteI think one issue may be that genre fiction is expected to reach a catharsis for both internal and external conflicts, while literary fiction has more room for ambiguity and experimentation.
ReplyDeleteBut most good sci-fi stuff has ambiguous notes to its resolution. I'd actually describe the line between straight genre and pseudo-literary genre fiction as the difference between the Blade Runner theatrical cut and the Blade Runner director's cut.
My favorite mysteries, "Red Harvest" and "The Maltese Falcon" are similarly ambiguous.