The Importance of Building

Many people that have read all of the manuscripts that I have written so far have asked me why it is that the first book of an epic series always seems to dwell on details more than the other books. I would like to attempt to answer that question in this blog.
The reader needs to understand that an epic series, especially one set in a fictional world, has to build a bank of knowledge. The first book generally sets the general causality conditions for events that will occur in the series. It also has to acquaint the reader with the characters, the natural and cultural setting, and the beginning of the actual story itself. That's a lot to get done in one book of a multi-book series.
The details of the first book are necessary to form a basis of understanding for the reader as he or she progresses through the story. They help the reader to understand the why's and how's as well as the who's of the rest of the story.
Although the second or even the third book of the series might still be somewhat entertaining if the first book is not read, the reader will certainly be lacking full understanding of the characters and events that transpire in these books.
Every author of epic series tries to keep the pace of the fist book as quick as possible, but if the author goes too quickly in the first book, the author will find that he must decrease the pace of the rest of the series just to give the details necessary for plot and character development. Therefore, most authors will try to incorporate as much detail in the first book as can be handled by the average reader in order to expedite the rest of the story.
A Beacon of Hope is no exception to this general rule. Three major story arcs are begun in this book and two minor arcs are begun and completed in this book. Another three minor arcs are begun without completion in this book. Obviously, the establishment of so many arcs requires some detail to be given in the book. The trick is to give the details in an entertaining fashion. That is a trick that I hope that I've managed to accomplish in Beacon.

Walter E. Mark
www.sixthworldofmen.com
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