McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft

Did Jim nab the market on quoting Lucas?

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Darkshore:
Agreed. There are a few similarities some others have pointed out to me, but I've also been reassured that a lot of those are common in most UF and not just Jim's. I'm just trying to make sure the distinction stays clear. I certainly look up to Jim and love his work, but I want my novels to be my own and not accidental imitations.

Shecky:
Well, sure. Lots of geeks (and lots of non-geeks, for that matter) do Star Wars quotes. The only caveat is to make sure it's not done as OFTEN as Harry does. :D

MClark:
Its hard to believe, but there are people who have never seen Star Wars. Perhaps you could have a character like that be a straight man to the Star Wars quoter.

Even harder to believe are some people don't like Star Wars. Some think the movies are over-rated in terms of acting, plot, or other ("The last scene of star wars is like a Leni Reifenstahl film. Is Lucas a nazi or something?"). Others (like David Brin) dislike the medievalist trappings of Jedi Knights, and hereditary powers and see a whole agenda of anti-democracy at work. You could have one of these as a straight man. But you might enrage the fanbois and lose readers.

PS of course Brin had people with extraordinary abilities because of genetic engineering in his Uplift novels, so not sure why he disliked Star Wars and hereditary force powers.

Shecky:

--- Quote from: MClark on May 22, 2012, 04:53:28 PM ---Its hard to believe, but there are people who have never seen Star Wars. Perhaps you could have a character like that be a straight man to the Star Wars quoter.

Even harder to believe are some people don't like Star Wars. Some think the movies are over-rated in terms of acting, plot, or other ("The last scene of star wars is like a Leni Reifenstahl film. Is Lucas a nazi or something?"). Others (like David Brin) dislike the medievalist trappings of Jedi Knights, and hereditary powers and see a whole agenda of anti-democracy at work. You could have one of these as a straight man. But you might enrage the fanbois and lose readers.

PS of course Brin had people with extraordinary abilities because of genetic engineering in his Uplift novels, so not sure why he disliked Star Wars and hereditary force powers.

--- End quote ---

All good points, but it ultimately comes down to this: you can't please all the people all the time. No one character is going to be universally likeable. Jim selected a character with certain traits... and that's it. Harry doesn't have to become accessible to all, just to the general audience Jim's aiming for. And, when it comes down to it, those outside that sphere could just as easily profit by giving it a shot, if for no other reason than getting a glimpse into the head of someone who doesn't do things the way THEY do.

Also, Jim's already done the "straight man" thing, primarily with Molly acting as a foil or balloon-popper to Harry's opinions (see the bit in Changes where Harry's going on a rant about expensive houses). That didn't enrage the anti-property people (and I do know some). But, in the end, Jim can't afford to spend all his time setting up foils to every Harryesque moment; that would get in the way of the story.

Quantus:

--- Quote from: Shecky on May 22, 2012, 07:25:14 PM ---that would get in the way of the story.

--- End quote ---
And at the end of the day that is what matters, Telling the Story.  So if the character is the type that would drop a Star Wars reference at that point, then go for it.  If it seems awkward, leave it out.  But Id say worry about marketing trends and demographics later. 

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