Quote:
Originally Posted by DMcCunney
I believe the technical term for that usage is "As you know, Bob...", and applied to the sort of expository blobs intended to convey background to the reader.
SF writers may succeed or fail based on how deftly they handle it.
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Dennis
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The technical term that my friends and I use for it is AWAKing: "As we all know..." Except it's not really expository blobs; it's dialogue serving the function of exposition.
I listened to a radio play of the Foundation trilogy, and there's a conversation that actually starts with those words. <wince>
It's the mark of a good writer to be able to accomplish the purpose of an AWAK without actually doing it. Or, as Dennis says, by doing it so deftly the reader doesn't notice, or mind. In most cases, smart exposition is a better choice. Weaving it into the thread is the best choice.