Oh, David. David, David, David.
Sep. 9th, 2012 01:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
foxyfursThe problem with falling in love with a series of stories: the author may, over time, develop a bit of a rut that really gets on your nerves.
I've been a fan of the Honor Harrington 'verse since 2000. That's ... over a third of my life. I love the situations the author puts his characters in, I love that his understanding of the logistics of war means we get more realistic outcomes, and I *adore* how he can make me cry for the heroic deaths of the characters I've come to love.
What I don't love? The author's tendency to talk everything to death.
I understand that dialogue has a very important place in stories. Especially with politico-centric plotlines which require at least a basic "Can you believe what's going on now, Felix?" "Well, what'd you expect after X,Y, and Z happened, Carl?" just to catch the readers up. But please. Please please please don't make everything dialogue.
Don't get me wrong, I love a snappy comeback -- even an intricate, winding, involved comeback -- as much as the next person. Battles of wits are great! Just... yanno. Put something else in there, too! Hand gestures. Have the person talking walk around and pick up something. Tie their shoes. Hell, I'll even at this point take a hand-to-hand combat class with panted, gasping dialogue in between throws!
I love the series. I just wish it didn't annoy me quite so much.
I've been a fan of the Honor Harrington 'verse since 2000. That's ... over a third of my life. I love the situations the author puts his characters in, I love that his understanding of the logistics of war means we get more realistic outcomes, and I *adore* how he can make me cry for the heroic deaths of the characters I've come to love.
What I don't love? The author's tendency to talk everything to death.
I understand that dialogue has a very important place in stories. Especially with politico-centric plotlines which require at least a basic "Can you believe what's going on now, Felix?" "Well, what'd you expect after X,Y, and Z happened, Carl?" just to catch the readers up. But please. Please please please don't make everything dialogue.
Don't get me wrong, I love a snappy comeback -- even an intricate, winding, involved comeback -- as much as the next person. Battles of wits are great! Just... yanno. Put something else in there, too! Hand gestures. Have the person talking walk around and pick up something. Tie their shoes. Hell, I'll even at this point take a hand-to-hand combat class with panted, gasping dialogue in between throws!
I love the series. I just wish it didn't annoy me quite so much.
