L A Alexander

Note: This paperback copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

With a smorgasbord of imagery taken from different time periods and movies, the cover clearly encompasses all four volumes, which served as a primary pro. Previously this was four different books which make up sections in this book:

Book One: The Symbolic Journey & The Genre System
Book Two: Dramatic Characters & Dramatic Action
Book Three: Tragedy & Mystery
Book Four: Comedy and the Extraordinary (Storytelling on Screen)

Documenting sources was done to an extremely high standard which is always a plus when it comes to a reference book. One of the worst things a writer of reference material can do is to drop the ball when it comes to detailed as well as accurate reflection to back up the things stated.

If there were any cracks in syntax (spelling, grammar, punctuation), they were nonexistent or slight.

Finally, the amount of information in this book is equivalent to going to a gourmet buffet as opposed to the Dollar menu. The array of section and subsections give all the tools to someone who is a beginner in the literary world or a seasoned writer that needs a refresher or reference areas to fine tune something already in progress.

With all of that being said, could there be any opportunities in improvement in such an ambitious work as Fictional Worlds? Yes, it is possible.

Drawbacks

This could very well be simply an Unleashed thing but I would have adored if this was a bit more interactive and less “lectur-a-tive” (yes, I’m sure that is a not necessarily a word but I will use it and then expand on what I mean).

It all goes back to when I was in college. I always enjoyed classes more where there was an opportunity for me to demonstrate and apply what I had learned as opposed to classes where loads of information were delivered in a lecture type setting with little to no downtime between one lesson and the next. Fictional Worlds reads like the latter. Seeing some case studies to put the teachable moments in action and/or discussion questions after each section would have served as a welcomed break between all of the impressive knowledge. This would expand the usefulness of this text tenfold.

In addition, since I am quite visual, I would have liked to have seen some of the same visuals in the text as I did on the cover. Seeing visual emphasis on a topic resonates with me greater than just the increase and bold of font with main topics. I did make notes and highlights of segments that interested me, and if I were to talk about them all, it would be entirely too much and would make this review more like a research paper. Yet, the content did not linger as long as it could have because of the abundance of words and the absence of pictures.

This is not the type of literature one can simply just read. Like a premium cut of steak or a glass of the most expensive wine, Fictional Worlds is best consumed in segments: one sits, reads a bit, allows the lines to settle, and then reads some more. Therefore, this may not be for the reader who wants smidgets of particulars, for he may not understand or keep his attention span in tact long enough to treasure all this immense volume has to offer.

Overall Verdict: Actually a 3.5 but helpful enough to raise to a soft 4 Stars.… (más)

This book offers its readers much more than any textbook or manual on creative writing that I have ever seen. It is a tome that would be of considerable benefit to storytellers and screenwriters, whether they be students or experienced writers.

I particularly enjoyed the many case studies analyzing specific significant films. In several areas, I stopped reading the book in order to watch a particular film that was referenced. After doing so, I discovered an even greater appreciation when I returned to the text.

Very satisfying & highly recommended!… (más)