tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682438184679769936.post5861643942312219862..comments2023-10-18T09:50:12.721-04:00Comments on Fresh-scraped Vellum - A blog devoted to historical and fantasy fiction: Puzzle-like PlotsJoseph Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11348233611003693635noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682438184679769936.post-5008685467350269752011-07-25T16:00:23.958-04:002011-07-25T16:00:23.958-04:00Interesting question. I like variety, so I enjoy ...Interesting question. I like variety, so I enjoy books with puzzle plots as well as books without puzzles. In my experience, puzzle plots are rather challenging (to the writer) to pull off well; i.e., in a way an intelligent reader will enjoy and respect. For example, I dislike puzzle plots that withhold critical information until revealing the full solution, and thus could never have been fully solved by the reader before reaching the end anyway. My reaction is, "well, if I would have known x-y-z before now, I might have figured out the answer!" Similarly, I have seen puzzle plots resolved in ways that seem to contradict logic and the earlier signals in the story. And I am not talking about just a "twist" or surprise, I am talking about outcomes that make you say "What? Really? Come on!" Finally, I get frustrated with puzzle plots that end up with sort of stupid or otherwise unsatisfying solutions, whether I could figure them out early or not. What a disappointment to work through a long book to reach an anti-climax. I am not going to name specific books meeting these examples, as I am not trying to put down specific authors or their work. Suffice to say, however, that I think I have seen puzzle plots done poorly more often than well. Good luck with your book being the latter!BJBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18368732448714328754noreply@blogger.com