3 ms·

I only read the first Sherlock Holmes novel, but he didn't strike me as an incredibly smart character. This is because the author was keeping lots of critical i

by b0rsuk 14y ago

I only read the first Sherlock Holmes novel, but he didn't strike me as an incredibly smart character. This is because the author was keeping lots of critical information from the reader. Reader has no chance to figure it out on his own. Yes, there's a moment when he looks at a muddy path where you can suspect he's seeing some interesting traces - but it's not said what it is.

gknoy 14y ago
This is part of the reason why later mystery authors, such as Agatha Christie and her peers, made an effort to give the reader all of the pertinent clues.
talmand 14y ago
I think that's just a matter of preference on the author's part of which character you are supposed to identify with. Often you are reading the stories from the point of view of Watson who also has to attempt to keep up with Holmes as much as the reader does. You are supposed to relate to Watson and keeping some aspects of the mystery hidden is reflected in this. That way the author can make sure the reader has the opportunity to "figure it out" when they feel is best for the dynamic of the story. Jack McDevitt speaks of this concept with his Alex Benedict series of books. The first book is from the perspective of the title character but he changes this to the sidekick for the rest of the series. His reasoning for this, from what I recall, is that it wasn't right for the story to be told from the character's perspective but still have to hide certain things from the reader so that certain ideas don't come to mind before they are ready to be presented. The idea is that if the reader figures out the mystery halfway through the story then the rest of the story to be told is ruined.
- b0rsuk 14y ago
  Then I would blame the story for being too easy to predict. I like stories where there are many loose ends and a variety of outcomes is possible, all making sense.
  - talmand 14y ago
    I enjoy those as well, but if there's a market for a slightly easier mystery story then they'll be written. I suppose another aspect could be the author doesn't want the reader to feel that they are smarter than the hero.
loup-vaillant 14y ago
Try http://hpmor.com/ http://hpmor.com/ The author here makes his best to explain Harry's reasoning to the reader, so we may do the same.
- StavrosK 14y ago
  HPMOR is amazing. I have an up-to-date ebook version at http://www.leanpub.com/hpmor http://www.leanpub.com/hpmor.

by b0rsuk 14y ago

gknoy 14y ago

This is part of the reason why later mystery authors, such as Agatha Christie and her peers, made an effort to give the reader all of the pertinent clues.

talmand 14y ago

I think that's just a matter of preference on the author's part of which character you are supposed to identify with. Often you are reading the stories from the point of view of Watson who also has to attempt to keep up with Holmes as much as the reader does. You are supposed to relate to Watson and keeping some aspects of the mystery hidden is reflected in this. That way the author can make sure the reader has the opportunity to "figure it out" when they feel is best for the dynamic of the story. Jack McDevitt speaks of this concept with his Alex Benedict series of books. The first book is from the perspective of the title character but he changes this to the sidekick for the rest of the series. His reasoning for this, from what I recall, is that it wasn't right for the story to be told from the character's perspective but still have to hide certain things from the reader so that certain ideas don't come to mind before they are ready to be presented. The idea is that if the reader figures out the mystery halfway through the story then the rest of the story to be told is ruined.

b0rsuk 14y ago
Then I would blame the story for being too easy to predict. I like stories where there are many loose ends and a variety of outcomes is possible, all making sense.
- talmand 14y ago
  I enjoy those as well, but if there's a market for a slightly easier mystery story then they'll be written. I suppose another aspect could be the author doesn't want the reader to feel that they are smarter than the hero.

loup-vaillant 14y ago

Try http://hpmor.com/ http://hpmor.com/ The author here makes his best to explain Harry's reasoning to the reader, so we may do the same.

StavrosK 14y ago
HPMOR is amazing. I have an up-to-date ebook version at http://www.leanpub.com/hpmor http://www.leanpub.com/hpmor.