Inquiring minds want to know

[rolanni]

So, here's the thing.

I have An Idea, and I need your -- yes, all of you! -- help.

As writers, Steve and I are fairly frequently called upon to read from our own work in front of an audience.  This is fairly often an enjoyable thing to do, and, when we have a new book out, we just start from the first page and read for our allotted time, feeling that this is Fairest.

However!  Sometimes we are called upon to read from our own work in front of an audience, and -- we have no new book or story to read from.

And it has been in my mind for a while now that we should read the -- or at least some of the -- Favorite Passages of members of the audience.

This, however, has never proved practicable, since we don't always have all of our books with us at conventions or on book tour.  With the advent of tablets and ereaders and other technologies, though, the thing perhaps becomes doable.

And here's the part where I need your help.

If you could ask Steve, or me, or us to read ONE favorite scene from one of our novels or stories. . .

What would it be?

Be as specific as possible -- page numbers and edition with a short description of the scene will be best, I think -- and remember!  Only ONE.

Choose well.

Let the games begin.

Comments

[reedrover]

Only one scene? I'm afraid I must turn from the challenge. There are so many wonderful scenes to share with people who are fans and newcomers alike.

However, as pointed out above, listeners with no context might find some of my favorite passages to be confusing rather than riveting. That said, I have to say that the last scene in Chapter 38 of Scout's Progress (beginning with "Charged with unexpected adrenaline...") brings me to tears every time. "And fell to his knees as dozens of seed-pods cascaded around him."

For a scene where it doesn't matter if you are speaking to new readers, I'd recommend going to Misfits: The Weatherman and running through the scene where Ichliad Brunner tries to train Miri on the Stubbs unit. Starting with They'd settled on Tech, or Brunner or Tech Brunner and running to the end of the scene with You will ask for me if there is need.. This would introduce Miri as being more than she knows and other than he guesses, and set up action without getting anyone confused regarding purposes.