Wyrdwritere

I am a historian, and I’ve written several papers with explanatory footnotes and other annotations as a necessary and sometimes engaging part of the body itself. When you read a large amount of academic papers, it becomes second nature to see that little superscript number and glance down really quickly at the citation or annotation, and quickly read it to colour your understanding of the argument. 

And maybe I’ve been an academic too long, but I wondered how enjoyable it would be for others to experience this format in the context of a high fantasy fiction narrative. 

The narrative would go on, and I might reference something like so: 

I’ve always liked the inclusion of appendices in fantasy novels, but this would make the navigation of them, reference of them, while one reads the narrative itself, easier. 

Advantages:

You get to know one character quickly and effectively

Builds attachment

Simpler

Let’s you cheat at info dumps

Epistolary stories are an option (journal style like The Martian or Dracula where everything takes place in letters or blogs)

Limitations:

Tougher to distinguish between viewpoint characters with each one you add

Untrustworthy narrator

Hard to be epic in scope

Gives away that the protagonist lives

If your audience doesn’t like the voice of your main character it will be a horrible experience for them

You don’t get the advantages of third person

Third Person

Advantages:

Large casts work better than in First Person

Sometimes better for scene/setting of immediate nature

Epic scope

Best for hiding things from the reader (except for omniscient)

More viewpoint freedom

Easier to off characters

Shows inherent discord (conflicted thoughts and dialogue)

More immersive (for some)

Easier to forgive characters of their mistakes

Limitations:

Can’t cheat on info dumps

Don’t get the advantages of First Person