Sunday 16 December 2012

The Best Thriller Novels Face Life In A Paperless Society

By Concepcion McConnell


The best thriller novels face life in a paperless society. Technology has changed the cosmetic nature of the world and the best thriller novels are now likely to be read on electronic devices. The paper background has become obsolete but texts are still constructed to entertain and inform, as has been the case throughout time.

Animals and birds are great readers. In response to environmental signs they may decide to migrate. Dogs observe human actions and bounce about read for a walk when a human companion gives some unconscious sign. In much the same way textual signs arouse emotions in people.

Novels are constructed as slices of credible life. By writing about fictional events that could be true most expert writers try to lull readers into 'suspending their disbelief'. Transported into a fictional world readers can experience events vicariously. They may be thrilled by narrow escapes or passionate love affairs. Curiosity may be teased so that pages are turned compulsively and the real world ignored, temporarily.

The hey day of the novel was the nineteenth century. In this days many people were illiterate. They worked as servants and whilst they took care of drudgery the privileged and largely literate classed had leisure for reading. They tended to enjoy Gothic novels which made their lives more thrilling. Now there are fewer servants, many more literate people and less time for novel reading. However, there is a plethora of texts. It is easy for authors to publish their own works on the Internet. Additionally, there are films, computer screens and smart phones.

The world of the Internet may be characterized as a kaleidoscope of texts flashing constantly. Texts that are purely in print are quite rather, and long Dickensian tomes are no longer created. Electronic readers and screens allow instant access to the wisdom of ages from pocket devices. Visual images and videos are very much part of the new reading.

Far from being dead the reading habit has never been as widespread and alive as it is in 2012. What has changed is the skill that is required to get one's ideas and texts before the eyes of avid readers. Contemporary writers have no option but to join the revolution in reading.

Many things change in a revolution but there are always some things that remain unaltered. Thousands of years ago our ancestors would have raised their eyes and looked to the horizon for signs of impeding bad weather. When a pretty girl walked across the mouth of the cave male heads would probably have turned in much the same way as they do in restaurants thousands of years later.

The best thriller novels in contemporary times probably follow variations of the rules identified by Aristotle. There will be conflicting impulses of pity and fear. Fast dramatic action will draw attention and the voyeur may be satisfied by feeling that he is watching without being watched. Because human beings are social creatures they will be fascinated by instances of psychological pressures and by steadily increasing pressure until a climax is reached.




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