appendix

[David]

Do you regard an appendix at the end of a novel (and not a classic, but a new scifi fantasy) as a sign of weak writing? Meaning, if they need an appendix to explain their technology/governments/lineages than they weren't writing effectively. Thoughts?

[John]

I haven’t posted much of anything on Goodreads, but I thought this one was right up my alley.

Last year I wrote a self-published space opera called “Day One”. It tells the story about the first day of a colonial war in our solar system (what I call Sol War 1) in the year 2241. Think Pearl Harbor meets 9/11.

The challenge I had in writing it, is that I wanted to tell a great deal of backstory to explain how the surprise attack came about. But, I didn’t want to bog down the narrative with a bunch of detail that would take away from the feeling of chaos and havoc that transpires over a few hours of time.

So, what I chose to do was write the book in two parts. Part 1 I wrote as a mock non-fiction, treating the book as though this were a history book where I had the opportunity to describe all the events (political, military, social, etc.) that led from the very beginning of colonization, up to the “present” day of the attack.

Once I got to that day, I wrote Part 2. Part 2 is a traditional novel, and follows several characters (with their foundation already placed in Part 1) through Day One’s events.

Doing it this way allowed me to keep Part 2 extremely action-focused and fast-paced, capturing the emotion and turmoil far better than having to pull back throughout and describe backstory.

Now going into it, I knew that this unusual format wouldn’t fly with all readers. Some would dislike having to plow through Part 1. But, I also knew that others would love the detail, and appreciate it. It would be a love/hate thing.

I released the book in September of last year. Since then, it’s taken off extremely well. This spring for a couple months it hit the #1 space opera book in the UK and has been (for the majority) very positively reviewed. But, the reviews are generally pretty black and white. They love it, or they hate it. Not much middle ground. And that’s OK.

This is also the first book in a series (currently working on the second), which reinforced my decision to write the non-fiction portion. If this had been a stand-alone book, I don’t think it would have been wise for me to do the non-fiction section as it would have fractured the single novel too severely. But, as it’s to be one in several book, I feel the non-fiction portion in the first book will serve the overall series well.

I don’t find it weak writing. In fact, the non-fiction portion was extremely challenging in terms of both writing it, and finding a creative way to get it in there.

Hope that helps,
-John Forsberg

[David]

Thanks for the input. And that sounds like a great read (already added to my want to read list). I considered the non-fiction thing (though spread out every other chapter, but in the end just wrote it as a traditional novel. I'm planning to release in August (KDP) and am toying with the appendix idea. Thanks again.

[John]

Funny you mention the every-other-chapter option. That was my first idea. I was 3/4 into writing the book that way, then put it away for a few weeks and read it "cold". I realized that the "every-other option" was too jarring for the reader. Every time you got into a story, you were then yanked out of it in the following chapter. So I gutted the order of things and re-organized it into 2 parts. Worked FAR better.

Good luck with the release! I, too, went with KDP/Createspace and haven't been disappointed.

[Joe]

An appendix is like bonus material on a DVD. I think it is can be very cool.

[Ward]

I am leaning in the direction of no appendix. It is a useful device to a certain group of readers, but for others, they will never read it. The problem remains that over doing the narrative is with out a doubt, deadly. Too much narrative explanation so distracts me that I will just put a book down and find something else.

For my writing I use a device I call the "ignorant character." That is someone who, like the reader, doesn't know the back story. So that character can constantly ask the pertinent question at the right time to deliver the necessary back story. Then you can have your responding characters explain what is up and why. Also, I will have my "explaining characters" argue among themselves as to just why things happened the way they did to bring out their opinions and biases. So you can accomplish two goals, deliver back story to your reader and at the same time develop your characters through their interaction. You can almost develop the back story as you go, supplying the reader with just the necessary information they need as you go along. I think it also creates a curiosity in the reader for the back story as well as you main plot which will hopefully keep the pages turning.

[Anna]

I -did- include a 'cast of characters' for my doorstopper series. It helps if you have a huge cast of characters and it's nice bonus material at the end. But in a shorter novel or one more limited in scope, you shouldn't need one. Either way, the added materials should only be an enhancement for your readers, but not necessary. In this day of ebooks, you can add as much crap at the end as you like without needing to expand your cost basis, so what can it hurt? View it as a fun chance to help your readers get to know your thoughts on why you created a certain species to be the way they are.

[Prof.]

I really like John's idea of writing a "prequel" which kind of reminds me of "Prelude to Axanar" the way he described it.

If you are publishing on digital format id recommend it but if however you go to a traditional approach print in paper then I would skip it due to bookstores not wanting to keep too many thicker books on the shelves as space is at a premium.

here is the link for anyone who hasn't seen prelude to axanar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W1_8...

[Ronnie]

Several writers of historical fiction, Anthony Riches and Ben Kane for example, include an appendix/glossary at the ends of their books.

They specialise in military fiction set in the Roman Legions, and it's quite handy as an aide memoire for the - occasionally - obscure terms the characters use.

Ultimately it's up to you whether you include an appendix r not.

[R.]

I don't include appendices any more, but I did write a few that were deadpan descriptions of the future technology, giving a hint of verisimilitude.

There is a postscript at the end of CSL's "Out of the Silent Planet" which describes why the true story of Ransom's travels on Mars is being presented as fiction. It's very clever and great fun to read.

[Trike]

I like an appendix that explains the real science behind the book's fictional stuff, such as Robert L. Forward's explainers in Dragon's Egg and such.

I think the numerous appendices in Dune let us have a peak at Herbert's worldbuilding but they also caused some problems because of inconsistencies.

As Anna mentioned, I also like appendices which give a cast of characters and their affiliations when you have a sprawling story. I constantly referred to the "Dragondex" in the back of Anne McCaffrey's The White Dragon and other Dragonriders novels.

[Lexxi Kitty]

the short answer
My initial thought to 'sign of weak writing'? is 'no'. But then I recall times I've found myself at 3/4ths of the way through a book, thinking I had 25% more to read, sitting down to be entertained - only to find that a page or 12 later the book ended and the rest is appendix. And I feel cheated regardless of the actual book length. I like 'knowing' how much I have left to read/enjoy/get through (as the case may be).

--
the long answer
I do not think of it as a cheat, appendices, but did notice something while reading this thread that I felt the need to mention. As a reader, I feel quite annoyed if I read a book, notice how much I've left to read, continue reading, then . . wait . . I'm at 88% of the book, why is it over (this does happen with physical books as well)? The book is over because there was a surprise fat appendix at the end taking up 12% of the book.

Book can be 100 pages, 300 pages, 1100 pages - it's not the length I have issue with, it's the part where I like knowing how much more I have to enjoy (or get through as the case might be). And settling in to read for an evening of entertainment, opening the book at 80% and . . . ending at 88% is annoying.

That's when I feel cheated. Not that there is an appendix, but that there was no warning. So - um, include something like 'Includes a bonus appendix!' or something like that somewhere between the cover (or on the cover) and the first actual page of the actual book.

[Brandon]

A good table of contents will solve that problem.

Build a world as cool as Lord of the Rings or Dune, and I will read your appendix. Otherwise, I will consider it a waste of space and time to include.

[Lexxi Kitty]

Brandon wrote: "A good table of contents will solve that problem."

Yeah, I thought of mentioning that but figured I'd already rambled too much. heh.

[Troy]

I always include appendices at the end of my books. At the very minimum, an index of terminology with just my created names and what chapter they first appear in. Other bonus material is nice as well, like leaders of the galaxy, family trees, etc. My indexes are not glossaries with definitions, simply words and where to find them first in the book. I just think it’s really cool to have that type of bonus material as back matter. If you’ll notice in the back of the Dune book, there are appendices.