Fantasy Novels and Descriptions....?

Question

When you read a fantasy novel, do you want the author to go on for several pages describing how beautiful the scenery is, so that you get a clear picture of how it looks? Or do you think that this makes the story drag on unnecessarily?

Or do you prefer descriptions that are short and concise, so that you are allowed to use your imagination to visualize how to rest of the scenery looks. And do you think that short descriptions help your story to flow and keep a good pace?

Answer 1

I tried reading The Hobbit, and I couldn't get through it because Tolkien tried to explain too much. I tried again a year later and fought my way through, and attempted to read the next one, the first of the actual series, and couldn't get a third of the way through before I gave it back to my friend who thought I was crazy for not liking it. Obviously, he likes that style. And I don't. I also had to read Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury for school, and couldn't stand it. He took so long to tell us what the character was doing or what was going on, it was literally pages of one action. The plot was good, and so is the Lord of the Rings plot, but the style is unbearable.

I like the 'K.I.S.S.' approach much better. Keep It Simple Stupid, if you don't know what it stands for. I like to imagine what the scenery, or whatever it is, is like. It's possible to describe something in a small paragraph, anyways, like J.K. Rowling. Her descriptions are short, because everything is just there. Her approach to introducing new things to us readers is more like "Oh, yeah, guys, this has always been there, I'm just telling you about it now, how couldn't you have noticed?" You know what I mean? Like "the goblins who run the wizarding bank have always been there, it's nothing new, so I don't have to give you a page long description, because it's no big deal." I don't know, it's hard to explain.

But yeah, short descriptions, please. And I am going to attempt Lord of the Rings again sometime this year.

Answer 2

This all comes down to skill and how the descriptions are worked into the story's flow.

I cannot stand drawn out description, just for descriptions sake, when it does not apply to the current plot thread.

For example, I have read several Ann Rice novels but some of the details makes me want to toss the book in the stove - even though I may enjoy the book overall.

What it comes down to for me is how well the story holds me in. How long can I actually see the story unfold in my head, not even realizing I'm turning pages. If I find myself pausing to think "why so much description here" it pulls me out of the story an reminds me I am just reading a book.

Answer 3

keep it short. many readers skip over the description; even if you do keep it in an editor would most likely take it out. it's best to use a single word that captures the thing it's describing decently without dragging on the story, preferably a word that isn't too long and people know what it means

Answer 4

Argh...I HATE long winded descriptions. I tend to skip over them. Skillful authors integrate description of the setting with the story instead of just taking a break and descibing things to us in excrutiating detail. Mercedes Lackey does this a lot. She's even described the kind of material the freakin *drapes* are made of in one of her novels. That sort of thing is perfectly acceptable to leave to the imagination.

Answer 5

That depends on the skill of the author. I tried reading Piers Anthony once and threw it out. Could not stand his style. However, when you are writing about a whole new world - like for instance Anne Mc Caffrey's Pern, it is quite necessary for her to describe the scenery. And because she has done her homework and worked hard at establishing her world, she does it quite well. Pax - C

Answer 6

I love epic fantasy novels, but I admit that I tend to skim a bit when the descriptions begin to drag.

Answer 7

I like epic fantasy novels, but I also like them to be reasonably fast moving and to the point. A long fantasy novel shouldn't be long because of description, it shuld be long because there are lots of characters, events, subplots etc.
In fact I couldn't get through Lord Valentine's Castle because it was too slow moving.

Answer 8

The Mythago Cycle by Robert Holdstock

Answer 9

I prefer shorter descriptions. If they get too verbose, I tend to skip ahead to the action.

Answer 10

I like long-winded fantasy novels.