A Nasty habit

[Apache]

Originally Posted by bill_mchale

It depends... if it is a question of existing technology (like wheellock and matchlock) if you really must, make it part of the story. I can imagine a scene where a character armed with a matchlock is struggling to get the slow match lit before the bad guys arrive. If it is historical characters? Maybe provide a list of historical figures at the front of the novel, or drop little hints through out the story. Maps are always a good thing for helping people understand where they are.

--
Bill

Or even keep it lit in a rain storm.
Apache

[b0rsuk]

At the extreme end you have Terry Pratchett, who is all too happy to explain you the origin of the Librarian 30 times. The same with Granny Weatherwax, Carrot, and other landmarks. It's one of the main reasons I stopped reading Pratchett.

[mewmartigan]

As I read the Baroque Cycle, I think the dictionary on the Kindle was created specifically for Neal Stephenson books.

[Penforhire]

In fiction I prefer less infodump, especially over historical/political/scientific topics that I can look up if I don't know them. It is too easy to bog down the text because where do you draw the line on explaining factual things, like types of rifles? I'm sure there are whole books devoted to matchlock rifles.

[b0rsuk]

Originally Posted by Penforhire

In fiction I prefer less infodump, especially over historical/political/scientific topics that I can look up if I don't know them. It is too easy to bog down the text because where do you draw the line on explaining factual things, like types of rifles? I'm sure there are whole books devoted to matchlock rifles.

If you applied this approach to Pratchett, there would be almost nothing left. He often uses downright primitive plotlines which can be summarized in <5 sentences. The plot is just an excuse for countless digressions and trivia.

[bill_mchale]

Originally Posted by b0rsuk

If you applied this approach to Pratchett, there would be almost nothing left. He often uses downright primitive plotlines which can be summarized in <5 sentences. The plot is just an excuse for countless digressions and trivia.

Actually wouldn't quite a lot of 19th century literature have to be tossed out as well? I seem to remember more than one novel (At least Les Miserables and Moby Dick) that contain chapter long essays on a subject that might be essential to understanding the story but which does not in itself advance the story.

--
Bill