Fic dilemma, looking for input

[agilebrit]

As some of you may or may not know, I'm working on a Hubby challenge fic that I've set in the AU I created starting with "Salvation." To summarize: Everyone died at the final battle of the Hellmouth but Spike. It's 20 years later and he's been wandering around the world, doing stuff. He never went to LA to see Angel--so he's basically the only canon character I've got in this story (although I use Dru and Lorne in fics that take place later).

Anywho. I have a new Slayer in this one, with a short but significant (to the story) backstory. I'm debating whether I should put her backstory in a short prologue, or if I should exposition it by having a demon tell Spike about it.

The only reason I'm hesitant to put it in a prologue is because I can hear the screams of "Mary Sue!" all the way over here in Utah--and I'm afraid I'll lose readers before I even start. I may be able to mitigate it somewhat by posting the prologue and chapter one at the same time. I've thought about doing it as a flashback, but I think flashbacks are evil. And I've started having a demon explain it to Spike, but we're supposed to show, not tell, so I'm unhappy with it.

Heh. I guess I could "show" it in the form of a flashback as the demon tells Spike about it. Ugh. [squashing bad idea like a bug] Although that sounds like a better idea than the demon telling Spike all about it in a burst of dialogue.

And before anyone asks---she's not a Mary Sue. She's an amoral, overconfident, selfish little bit-ca, whose unheroic death will be mourned by Spike, but not for long. Because, you know, Spike has a thing about Slayers, and he'd feel bad about not being able to save this one.

Thoughts, ideas, rotten fruit?

Comments

[alliterator.livejournal.com]

The prologue idea can work if you do it well - but I like the demon saying it idea, as well. Hmmm... do which ever one you feel is the best.

[agilebrit.livejournal.com]

My problem with the "demon saying it" is that I've already got too damb much dialogue in the thing. It's not clunky, and it moves the plot along, but it starts annoying me when it gets to a certain volume.

I'm also thinking that my exposition-phobia may come from reading too many recaps on Television Without Pity. Strega frowns on exposition, and uses that word as an uncomplimentary verb.

Not that she'll be reading it...but if it annoys her, and annoys me, then it probably annoys other people too. *sigh*

[alliterator.livejournal.com]

There is a way to make exposition easy to handle - and easy to read. All you have to do is make it funny. Pour exemple:
There is an excellent series of sword & sorcery books by Fritz Leiber about Fahfrd and the Gray Mouser. In one novella, called Adept's Gambit, there is a scene which is hilarious, yet filled with exposition. I refer to the Great and Wonderful Strega in her journal Glumpish:
"One of my favorite parts involves a long chat with Ningauble when they're forced to ask him for help. He's one of them long-winded, portentious magical folk. And Fafhrd and Mouser aren't very patient, so they keep interrupting him. Which annoys Ningauble, who reacts with things like, "Be quiet, Mutilator of Rhetoric!" and "Silence, Trampler of Beautiful Phrases!" Which is funny, firstly, but also breaks up what would otherwise be a full page of expostion."

So, yeah. Plus, I really recommend the Fafhrd & the Mouser series - excellent, excellent stories.