Fight scenes and novels?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Guy Behind The Guy (Age 86) on March 9, 2009 at 6:14pm

I read a James Patterson book. It was an Alex Cross where James did a great job of building the final meeting between Alex and The Mastermind. Anyway by the time they fight it out, Cross has Mastermind on his ass in no time what so ever. Even breaking his nose. So I agree with you on swift fights. I'm trying to think a book that has long fight in it though.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by sinshenlong on March 9, 2009 at 6:20pm

so were you disappointed by that confrontation? I mean I know patterson is a thriller guy so he builds hype before the final conflict occurs- heck I think all writers do that one some level- afterall it keeps the pages turning....

But do you as a reader; feel that if an enemy is so intimidating and fearful that the final fight should be long enough to highlight this?

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Janie on March 11, 2009 at 10:49pm

I liked the Harry Potter fights. Especially in the last book, Deathly Hallows. Its like they were stuck out in the woods for a shit long of a time and the fight scene made up for it..Or I may just be a nerd. Also in Ender's Game the fights scenes are great. You should read that book. It is a really good book and a pretty quick read.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Delphiki on March 18, 2009 at 8:26pm

I agree with you, Ender's Game has one of the best fight scenes in novels as of yet. Too bad they eased up on the fighting on the sequels.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Janie on March 19, 2009 at 11:44pm

lol I just remember were your SN is from.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Delphiki on April 5, 2009 at 6:12pm

Lol, tell no one!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by nomad on April 24, 2009 at 12:31am

Badass, dude. Big fan of those books.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Alter_Ego on March 11, 2009 at 11:37pm

Although fighting sequences in novels are good for adding suspense, they don't do a lot for character development. Also, considering that a book is not a form of visual media (like TV, movies, or comic books), a long, drawn-out fight can seem downright tedious if it's all words on a page.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Janie on March 15, 2009 at 2:29pm

I wouldn't say that about every book. The fights that take place in Ender's Game are crucial to developing his character.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by sinshenlong on March 15, 2009 at 11:20pm

Ah ok gotta check that out.

So I guess long fight scenes make sense when they help develop the story and turn pages right?

I usually think this for comics but I'm not sure if it works for books too.... -_-

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Alter_Ego on March 15, 2009 at 11:52pm

No, fights/battles between characters are primarily utilized as culmination/release of tension that exists between the protagonist(s) and the antagonist(s), which is perfectly fine. Take Return of the Jedi, for instance, where Luke and Vader battle it out at the end as Luke tries to stop the Emperor from killing his friends. Would it have been better if Luke and Vader had, instead, had a heart-to-heart father and son talk, embraced, then walked away and let Oprah kill the Emperor? No. That would have been so anti-climactic.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by sinshenlong on March 16, 2009 at 12:20am

nah i agree with a fight being had to ease the tension and add a climax. But usually these fights leave a lot to be desired. Especially for characters that are hyped up so much in the story that when its actually battle time they end up finishing the fight quickly. This especially pisses me off when that hyped character is killed swift in a fight.

Never read star wars novels but I heard theyre pretty detailed and long fight wise. I trying to find novels that have fights of a lengthy caliber- I guess I need to check more novels or just get over my action addiction lol.

PS will definitely check out Ender's Game

▶ Reply to This

• First
• Previous
• Next
• Last