(Untitled)

[cirth]

This is not a recent effort, nor really a speed-written one, nor indeed anything particularly good. It's just a short vignette I wrote for Lenine around Christmas for some reason I no longer recall. I think perhaps it was to annoy her: after all, few things are more annoying than receiving a "special" handmade gift and having to make the

Comments

[dagmarjung]

I'll try and write a summary, Tehta style:

Glorfindel: The weather is fine, the snow is perfect for skiing and I want a paid extra vacation.

Ecthelion: *is morally upright and uptight.*

Glorfindel: On the other hand, I'm just as willing to be completely suicidal and break my legs, ribs, arms and back for the off chance that you will spend a lot of quality time at my bedside.

Ecthelion: *is charmed.*

[tehta]

Well, you have to admit that plenty of people take similar risks even without such clear motivation. (And being *mildly* incapacitated is really perfect for these Elves, since it gives them a reason to meet in private without coming up with a very plausible excuse.)

Hmm. I guess I am over-explaining. So: hee at the summary.

[dagmarjung]

What I always admire about your writings is how you get the characterization to the point even in the most limited space of a vignette like this, or on the very first page of a longer story. In contrast, I'm just rereading some of my books to decide if I keep them or give them away. (I am making a big purge; I need more space on my bookshelves and I have lots of books that I read once and will never read again.)
So, I'm just reading into a Fantasy novel. I'm on page 75, the characters have moved through various adventures and peaceful situations and I have still no idea of *who* they are. This book's a goner.

[tehta]

Well, but it makes more sense for me to do this, since what interests me most is how different personalities bounce off each other and off The World. The fantasy author probably has other goals... although I still doubt I would enjoy such a book.

[dagmarjung]

For me, decent characterization matters in every story-telling fiction. If the characters are boring, why should I bother following them around? - I still like LeGuin's thumbnail test: If you can recall the names of the protagonists a month after reading the book, the characterization is well done.
Tolkien's main goal was not deep, psychological characterization, but I bet most first-time readers of LotR will easily recall the names of Frodo, Sam, Aragorn, Gollum after much more than a month.