Date: Sat, 15 May 1999 10:25:00 -0500 From: "G. Adam Stanislav" <zen@buddhist.com> To: Terry Lambert <tlambert@primenet.com> Cc: licia@o-o.org, freebsd-chat@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: Is it ok to use the FreeBSD name in a cyberpunkish Message-ID: <3.0.6.32.19990515102500.00979340@mail.bfm.org> In-Reply-To: <199905150658.XAA06536@usr09.primenet.com> References: <3.0.6.32.19990512202146.00958db0@mail.bfm.org>
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At 06:58 15-05-1999 +0000, Terry Lambert wrote: >Ian M. Banks and William Gibson both delay definition of terms until >well after they have been mentioned (thrid or fourth mention is in a >context where an explanation is necessary to an outsider, usually by >a minor character to a secondary character). I believe that Jeff Noon >(Vurt, Pollen) uses similar techniques, as did Roger Zelazny. Yes, as long as they do explain it. It does not have to be explained immediately. Postponing the explanation slightly adds suspense and keeps the reader reading. Heck, it may be postponed even considerably, but then the writer needs to assure the reader that the explanation will come eventually, and it has to come on time. This is what they did in the movie Matrix when the leader said that no one could explain what the Matrix was because it needed to be experienced. That was a binding contract with the viewer: You *will* learn what the Matrix is if you keep watching. And I'd say anyone who has seen the movie not only learned what the Matrix was, but will also never forget it. :-) The story was written very well. Adam --- Want to design your own web counter? Get GCL 2.10 from http://www.whizkidtech.net/gcl/ To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-chat" in the body of the message
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