That when we go into a book, we want to trust the narrator to guide us through this new/strange world. However, I think that here and there an unreliable narrator, or even a misinformed one, is useful too, and can be fun.
Up to the point of Lord of Chaos fans of the WHeel of Time will remember that Stilling/Gentling could not be Healed. It was one of the truths of the world. Nynaeve Healing Logain is a memorable scene for me because we had the rug pulled out from under us, even with the heavy forshadowing leading up to it.
So yes, I think it is a good thing if the unreliable narator is done well, and not just used as a deus ex machina, by the author for potential mishaps.
Up to the point of Lord of Chaos fans of the WHeel of Time will remember that Stilling/Gentling could not be Healed. It was one of the truths of the world. Nynaeve Healing Logain is a memorable scene for me because we had the rug pulled out from under us, even with the heavy forshadowing leading up to it.
So yes, I think it is a good thing if the unreliable narator is done well, and not just used as a deus ex machina, by the author for potential mishaps.
The past is just that, the past. You can only truly live by looking to the future!
Unreliable narrators: yay or nay? Or neigh? And if so, and you are a horse, how are you typing?
12/03/2010 05:20:09 AM
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Re: Unreliable narrators: yay or nay? Or neigh? And if so, and you are a horse, how are you typing?
12/03/2010 09:12:23 AM
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I enjoyed reading the Bayard.
12/03/2010 11:55:09 PM
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Re: I enjoyed reading the Bayard.
14/03/2010 10:56:54 AM
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Re: I enjoyed reading the Bayard.
16/03/2010 10:37:35 PM
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I think it's fairly logical that genre fiction doesn't employ it as often.
12/03/2010 01:21:06 PM
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I think that unreliable narrators tend to be written by more experienced or skillful authors.
12/03/2010 06:56:06 PM
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I think because of our cynical nature
19/03/2010 06:58:05 AM
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