Hey everyone,
I'm fast approaching ready to publish my humorous sci-fi novel "In That Other Dimension" and I've written some text for the back cover.
I have no idea whether this is good and would make you want to read the book, but it would be wonderful to get some opinions / criticism! I will obviously do likewise if others are if need of similar!
Anyway - the blurb... abd thanks for your help,
Matty
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Parallel dimensions are actually quite squiggly in nature.
This was one of many lessons learned by Carlos Ernesto Amadeus von Schnaart during his accidental journey into the unknown. Finding the way home and explaining his tequila fuelled disappearance to his fiancee became just minor worries when he found himself kidnapped by the evil scientist, Dr Funk.
Follow Carlos's adventures through the parallel universe and find out what happened to him when he got lost "In That Other Dimension..."
Warning: Contains traces of ducks, cake dragons, jelly babies and the infamous Unicorn Mountain. May induce laughter.
It sounds fun and interesting and I think if you're working a sort of silly/humorous sci fi story it communicates that very well.
Have you read the blurb from the back of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? Based upon your themes and style I'd guess that would be the ultimate blurb to compare yours to, in terms of a critique.
I doesn't quite read right for me in the past tense. What about something like:
'Parallel dimensions are actually quite squiggly in nature.
This is one of many lessons Carlos Ernesto Amadeus von Schnaart will learn during his accidental journey into the unknown. Finding the way home and explaining his tequila fuelled disappearance to his fiancee becomses a minor worry when he finds himself kidnapped by the evil scientist, Dr Funk.'
As reference, I give you an example from the holy grail of humorous sci-fi, the Hitchikker's guide:
Seb & JGB -- Hitchikers Guide was what I was thinking as well! Good call on striking the past tense. I agree it reads much better, and makes it feel more urgent, as opposed to feeling like the back cover is telling me what happened before I've even opened the book.
Cheers for the feedback guys. I'd have looked on the back of the holy grail of *all books*, but I've lent it (along with about half of my bookshelf) to a friend who's never read it. Really? What's she's been doing the last 30 years?
Anyway, agree with the past / present tense it does make it sound more relevent somehow, so updated blurb reads as follows:
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Parallel dimensions are actually quite squiggly in nature.
This is one of many lessons which Carlos Ernesto Amadeus von Schnaart will learn during his accidental journey into the unknown. Finding the way home and explaining his tequila fuelled disappearance to his fiancee will become minor worries when he finds himself kidnapped by the evil scientist, Dr Funk.
Follow Carlos's adventures through the parallel universe and find out what happens when he gets lost "In That Other Dimension."
Warning: Contains traces of ducks, cake dragons, jelly babies and the infamous Unicorn Mountain. May induce laughter.
I remember that story from when you workshopped it! I don't really do sci-fi comedy but I remember quite liking what you had going there. Are we going to see any more of it before you send it out?
Perhaps take a bit of the explanations away, creating more mystery? Something like:
Parallel dimensions are actually quite squiggly in nature.
This is one of many lessons which Carlos Ernesto Amadeus von Schnaart will learn during his accidental journey into the unknown. Finding the way home and explaining his disappearance to his fiancee will pale in comparison to finding himself kidnapped and transported to another universe. How will he fare when faced with a genuine mad scientist whilst lost in "That Other Dimension", especially after all that tequila?
Warning: Contains traces of ducks, cake dragons, jelly babies, and the infamous Unicorn Mountain.
Thanks for the suggest Seb - I'll have a look into that!
Chacron - I'm torn.... I've had a couple of (non-writer) friends proof-read it, but you guys did point out some really good and different stuff when you read my first section. I would have liked to post the whole thing in chunks, but work doesnt give me time to work up the credits through reviews to get it all on! I could put up the whole thing I guess (180 pages ish, it is quite short) but I'm not sure I'd get reviews on something so long (and I'd feel like I owe people big time!). Also, after a year in the editing I'd quite like to publish it and move onto something new! But then again, I don't want it to be rubbish!!!
