tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1268238247379169028.post8157779459015038248..comments2024-03-14T02:21:43.549-07:00Comments on Faeries, Dragons, and Spaceships: Death Does NOT Always Become HerMarie Andreashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11422636765580836358noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1268238247379169028.post-82549322358567672582012-06-22T11:44:06.627-07:002012-06-22T11:44:06.627-07:00LOL Lisa- yeah, I do think folks who read horror w...LOL Lisa- yeah, I do think folks who read horror will be more accepting of death- maybe even upset if it doesn't happen!<br /> But see- even a horror fan like you agrees there needs to be a valid reason! <br /><br />Thanks for coming by and commenting Lisa!<br /><br />MarieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1268238247379169028.post-26452837373307636012012-06-22T11:41:19.612-07:002012-06-22T11:41:19.612-07:00Samantha- I think you and I are on the same page! ...Samantha- I think you and I are on the same page! I am ALMOST at the point where I think I could watch Serenity again...almost ;)). <br /><br />Yes- give me my non-realistic fantasy worlds anyday!<br /><br />Thanks for coming by and for such a great comment :)<br /><br />Marie- stuck at work-can't log on to blogger :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1268238247379169028.post-38596409383816537662012-06-21T22:27:26.221-07:002012-06-21T22:27:26.221-07:00I think because I grew up reading horror, I usuall...I think because I grew up reading horror, I usually expect characters to die... LOL<br /><br />There does need to be a good reason, and often it's to make a change in the characters who are left behind.<br /><br />But it is tough to take out one that you like...<br /><br />Great post Marie!<br /><br />Lisa :)Lisa Kesslerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06209324744019368067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1268238247379169028.post-23199448056423234152012-06-21T15:03:11.577-07:002012-06-21T15:03:11.577-07:00I don't read books and watch movies or TV for ...I don't read books and watch movies or TV for realism. I have that in my life. Most people read and watch to escape. I put my heart and soul in a writer's hands when I read their book or watch their movie. They are asking me to connect with, become, and love their characters. In return, I expect that my heart will be taken care of. That if a loss must occur, that it is meaningful, moving, and has great purpose. I've never read Game of Thrones, because I've been told that Martin kills his characters willy nilly. I've still not forgiven Whedon for Wash. Before that moment, I thought Serenity was going to be the best movie I'd ever seen. I can't watch it, even now. <br /><br />The moment I know an author will kill his or her characters randomly, I'm out and I won't' go back. I hate TV shows that every so often eliminate main characters just to be "realistic". I don't watch TV for realism! I want a world where I know no matter how much danger my characters face, at the end of the episode, they come home safe.Samantha MacDouglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09898356848305102024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1268238247379169028.post-3976917321004287252012-06-21T12:01:02.457-07:002012-06-21T12:01:02.457-07:00Hi Margaret- OOOOOO! I hated that moment in Highla...Hi Margaret- OOOOOO! I hated that moment in Highlander! I stopped watching for a long while because of that.<br /><br />Have you heard from any disgruntled readers? <br /><br />Thanks for coming by!<br />MarieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1268238247379169028.post-82305765286219175592012-06-21T11:58:43.761-07:002012-06-21T11:58:43.761-07:00Thanks for commenting Adila :). I completely agre...Thanks for commenting Adila :). I completely agree :).<br /><br />Marie Andreas(can't get on blogger- at day job :( )Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1268238247379169028.post-86749798318496787862012-06-21T11:57:28.990-07:002012-06-21T11:57:28.990-07:00I agree Scarlet! I've pummelled friends for no...I agree Scarlet! I've pummelled friends for not warning me ahead of time (when they knew someone would die). Now the rule is, if someone dies- WARN Marie!<br /><br />Thanks for coming by!<br /><br />MarieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1268238247379169028.post-6739567374093568442012-06-21T11:56:01.037-07:002012-06-21T11:56:01.037-07:00Thanks for coming by Cassi :). Yeah, if there'...Thanks for coming by Cassi :). Yeah, if there's an insanely good plot driven reason- or even emotional arc- I might be ok (as a reader) but most of the time, the driving motivation isn't there.<br /><br />MarieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1268238247379169028.post-29889134346552112932012-06-21T11:54:31.859-07:002012-06-21T11:54:31.859-07:00I like your rule of thumb Yamisui! I think more fo...I like your rule of thumb Yamisui! I think more folks need to follow it. Don't kill just for shock or to build compassion- make it a logical and meaningful reason.<br /><br />Thanks for coming by!<br />Marie Andreas(can't get on blogger- at day job :( )Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1268238247379169028.post-4809358982577281272012-06-21T11:52:08.460-07:002012-06-21T11:52:08.460-07:00LOL!! I like that Thinky! Yeah- pissed about D...LOL!! I like that Thinky! Yeah- pissed about D'Argo too...<br /><br />Thanks for coming by and commenting!<br /><br />Marie (can't get on blogger- at day job :( )Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1268238247379169028.post-37875863191687582612012-06-21T11:50:14.495-07:002012-06-21T11:50:14.495-07:00Thanks for coming by L.G. and my condolences on th...Thanks for coming by L.G. and my condolences on the loss of your mother. I think our real lives will always impact how and what we write.<br /><br />Marie Andreas(can't get on blogger- at day job :( )Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1268238247379169028.post-21890009826134916252012-06-21T11:48:24.876-07:002012-06-21T11:48:24.876-07:00Did you know you'd be bumping her off when you...Did you know you'd be bumping her off when you created her? I hadn't thought about the villains we may fall in love with dying too!<br /><br />Thanks for the comment :)<br /><br />Marie Andreas (can't get on blogger- at day job :( )Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1268238247379169028.post-61688002444166985942012-06-21T11:00:25.596-07:002012-06-21T11:00:25.596-07:00In the HIGHLANDER series, after Duncan rescued his...In the HIGHLANDER series, after Duncan rescued his great love, Tessa, from the villain, she got killed by muggers a few minutes later. I suppose the writers were trying to make a point about the randomness of life and death, but I found it really upsetting. <br /><br />I killed the male lead in one of my novels. He sacrificed himself for the heroine and her children in the climactic battle with the supernatural evil entity. It seemed appropriate (the victory should come at a cost), and I tried not to set it up as a traditional romance arc, so I hope readers didn't feel betrayed.Margaret Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08293021955480708191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1268238247379169028.post-32663986424501997082012-06-21T08:39:47.616-07:002012-06-21T08:39:47.616-07:00I hate when a character I "love" dies ei...I hate when a character I "love" dies either in book or a TVseries. I know that the life is cruel. But I don't want "waste" my time on a book or tv show, which instead of bringing me positive emotions in the ends, makes me feel bitter.Adila Mammadovahttp://www.adilasblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1268238247379169028.post-382798229500039172012-06-20T23:12:40.447-07:002012-06-20T23:12:40.447-07:00As a reader or viewer I don't care for having ...As a reader or viewer I don't care for having a popular character knocked off. In fact, it really ticks me off, so much so that I won't read more or watch the movie again. If I know ahead of time that one of the favorite characters will die, I make a point of not seeing the movie or reading the book. If you've got to kill off someone, make it the new guy that I haven't invested emotions in or had time to identify with, otherwise, I'm not a happy camper.Scarlet Pumpernickelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14423325239015775645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1268238247379169028.post-72268816559280388972012-06-20T14:50:00.102-07:002012-06-20T14:50:00.102-07:00Yeah, killing good guys off is hard and there has ...Yeah, killing good guys off is hard and there has to be a really great reason. Romance readers especially don't like too much sad in their books!Cassi Carverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01002927554421244606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1268238247379169028.post-51238725702195218452012-06-20T14:08:16.557-07:002012-06-20T14:08:16.557-07:00I agree--I think in fiction everything tends to be...I agree--I think in fiction everything tends to be more meaningful than in real life, and death shouldn't be quite so random. I think readers prefer patterns to chaos, and if you throw in too many random elements in your plot gets jumbled (or you end up with a Hitchhiker's Guide, but you have to be really really adept at humor to make that work). One trend I've noticed is that authors tend to kill off characters just to make you care about the character who died. It's very strange, but I notice that over the past few years of television, screen writers like to make gay/lesbian characters drop like flies. It's like they're trying to use tragedy to make us connect with them. I, for once, would like to see the girl end up with the other girl, or the guy with the guy, instead of having one partner left alive and grieving. It's like the writers either don't know how to write happy endings L/G couples or they're afraid to offend audiences.<br /><br />As far as general character deaths go, my rule of thumb is never insert a death to generate drama--only use it as a result or byproduct of plot elements.Yamisuinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1268238247379169028.post-54924363622413588162012-06-20T13:12:35.295-07:002012-06-20T13:12:35.295-07:00When things are going too well, Fred and I look at...When things are going too well, Fred and I look at each other and say, "They killed [insert character name here], you know." Whether it be Wash, or Maid Marian, or D'Argo, it sucks.Internet_DRDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15689743214565067682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1268238247379169028.post-35097104263315906782012-06-20T12:39:43.767-07:002012-06-20T12:39:43.767-07:00That moment in Serenity made me sad too. The deat...That moment in Serenity made me sad too. The deaths of my characters typically serve a purpose, but after my mom died in real life, I killed one of my characters suddenly and without reason. That was real life creeping up on me through my writing. Generally, though, I prefer death to serve a purpose. Those deaths can still be dramatic too.L.G. Keltnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07624902347418621283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1268238247379169028.post-87329874346852154932012-06-20T12:19:22.406-07:002012-06-20T12:19:22.406-07:00I had to bump off a character in Burn in Hell, A J...I had to bump off a character in Burn in Hell, A Jake Carrington Mystery. Even though she was the antagonist, I liked her very much and cried when I knocked her off.Marian Lanouettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11989754229732790216noreply@blogger.com