Comments on: Character Dictionaries and Encyclopedias http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/03/25/character-dictionaries-and-encyclopedias/ A mutual support group for SF/F Novelists Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:29:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Tom Gallier http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/03/25/character-dictionaries-and-encyclopedias/#comment-6174 Tom Gallier Sun, 29 Mar 2009 01:27:29 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/03/25/character-dictionaries-and-encyclopedias/#comment-6174 You know, that would be a great thing for an author to have online, a wiki-encyclopedia of all their characters and places. Of course, if you write only stand alone novels that would be too much work to do one for each novel. But it would work for an ongoing series. If I ever achieve Robert Jordan sales and fame status, I’ll seriously consider doing one. LOL You know, that would be a great thing for an author to have online, a wiki-encyclopedia of all their characters and places. Of course, if you write only stand alone novels that would be too much work to do one for each novel. But it would work for an ongoing series. If I ever achieve Robert Jordan sales and fame status, I’ll seriously consider doing one. LOL

]]> By: Rubus http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/03/25/character-dictionaries-and-encyclopedias/#comment-6170 Rubus Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:52:46 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/03/25/character-dictionaries-and-encyclopedias/#comment-6170 I currently am rereading Woken Furies by Richard Morgan, and he has a habit of dropping names and sometime it is really hard remembering what he refer to; is it a city ha visited in the previous book, or a city on the current planet, or is a country on some other planet - or is it a planet? An index at the end of the book with short brief would really help, if it was combined with a short index to all the people mentioned in the book it would even become much better. I think there is too few books out there that needs printed encyclopaedia as Tolkien needs, but I think most authors should run a wiki or something similar with the same kind of information. Could it be so that a fan club could be built around it, creating an even loyal fan base? Why not let the fans invent characters and places that later could be used in one way or the other? The latter would be very hard, but it could spark some ideas for the author, at least. I currently am rereading Woken Furies by Richard Morgan, and he has a habit of dropping names and sometime it is really hard remembering what he refer to; is it a city ha visited in the previous book, or a city on the current planet, or is a country on some other planet - or is it a planet? An index at the end of the book with short brief would really help, if it was combined with a short index to all the people mentioned in the book it would even become much better.

I think there is too few books out there that needs printed encyclopaedia as Tolkien needs, but I think most authors should run a wiki or something similar with the same kind of information. Could it be so that a fan club could be built around it, creating an even loyal fan base? Why not let the fans invent characters and places that later could be used in one way or the other? The latter would be very hard, but it could spark some ideas for the author, at least.

]]> By: Tara Maya http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/03/25/character-dictionaries-and-encyclopedias/#comment-6137 Tara Maya Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:03:06 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/03/25/character-dictionaries-and-encyclopedias/#comment-6137 I love character dictionaries. I think each entry should include: a photo, genealogy, habits, what the character is best known for, as well as tidbits not included in the books. I love character dictionaries. I think each entry should include: a photo, genealogy, habits, what the character is best known for, as well as tidbits not included in the books.

]]> By: Amit Doshi http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/03/25/character-dictionaries-and-encyclopedias/#comment-6134 Amit Doshi Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:43:35 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/03/25/character-dictionaries-and-encyclopedias/#comment-6134 I started a Wheel of Time podcast(thewotcast.com) and www.encyclopaedia-wot.org/ is an invaluable resource. Id like a reference site that has information at that level of detail and does a good job of providing exactly the kind of referrals your describing. When you read about Aes Sedai you should be pointed to things like the Bene Gesserit, The sisters of the sword, the group of female sorcerers in Brent Weeks Night Angel trilogy, the sorcerers colective by Jennifer Fallon etc. So it shouldnt have only the most popular books, and a wiki would be a great way to make sure that it has relatively unkown authors. Something like this would be a great way to find new books to read. I started a Wheel of Time podcast(thewotcast.com) and www.encyclopaedia-wot.org/ is an invaluable resource. Id like a reference site that has information at that level of detail and does a good job of providing exactly the kind of referrals your describing. When you read about Aes Sedai you should be pointed to things like the Bene Gesserit, The sisters of the sword, the group of female sorcerers in Brent Weeks Night Angel trilogy, the sorcerers colective by Jennifer Fallon etc. So it shouldnt have only the most popular books, and a wiki would be a great way to make sure that it has relatively unkown authors. Something like this would be a great way to find new books to read.

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