Multiple Narrators

[skinmaan]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Oh, that would be a bit disconcerting; I don't think I've seen switches in any unit smaller than a chapter.

There's a version of The Godfather that uses multiple narrators in an odd way--the main narrator for the text does not read the dialog--all lines of dialog, and only the lines of dialog, are read by various other voice actors. It was jarring but I eventually got used to it, though I can't say I liked it.

Two classic epistolary novels that I think work great with multiple narrators are Dracula and The Woman in White.

Neil Gaiman's production company does all of their books this way. I listened to the "American Gods" anniversary edition done this way and enjoyed it.

I think it depends on the author and their style as to whether this can be effective. I can see how John Scalzi's books would be a nightmare done this way. Many long stretches of the book would be all dialogue with the only narrator voice being "he said" and "she said" - literally, not figuratively. Having the narrator's voice break in for just those two words would be jarring.