killing and reserecting a main character

[anthorn]

HELLO im wondering would the reader accept me killing off the main character in book one only to bring her back in book three?
im asking because in my wip the main character has a bit of romance with another character until she dies and becomes part of the planet the other character then gets involved with another character In the third book i was planning at the end the main character comes back via a wish made by the other character what do you think

 

[Coolhand]

I think it depends on how you do it. I like the basic idea of a long dead lover returning to complicate the new relationship. You don’t mention how you intend to develop this aspect of the plot, so I can’t really comment any more at this point, but it could lead to all sorts of interesting situations as the somewhat unusual love triangle develops and the three characters have to come to terms with it.

I think you do need to be careful though, as if this character comes back to life to simply or easily then it will take the drama out of her original death and seem like a bit of a cop-out, and raise questions as to why the hero didn’t bring her back sooner. If death can be undone with a wish, it’s a bit anti-climactic. Perhaps the resurrection could have a high cost, like the death of another character or something like that.

You didn’t give much in the way of detail, so that’s about all I can say.

Nice idea though.

 

[anthorn]

i was planning her to become part ofthe planet some how and maybe come back that way. but she will be dead for two books and maybe could speak to them from the farplane which is basically heaven.

 

[Brian G Turner]

If the story makes it believable then it's not really a problem, I shouldn't think.

 

[Winters_Sorrow]

I think the 'universe' you create around your story will go a long way to deciding how appropriate this would be. How common is resurrection in your world? Does it require the sacrifice of another (tragic twist - does the hero sacrifice his life to bring back his love?) or is it merely a case of expending powerful magicks.

And does the whole "back from the dead" thing change the character mentally or physically?
The actual concept I have no problem with, as ever, the devil lies in the details

 

[WriterDoug]

i was already a little concerned once i saw the word "farplane," for I am only familar with the word through one thing, and that is FFX. If you do not know what I am talking about, then that is actually a good thing; then I could ask you where else this word is commonly found or used.

i would say, be careful of resurrection due to the religious implications you might unintentionally (or intentionally) introduce into the story. when a character dies and then returns, a lot of people will actually try to start linking that character to a symbolic jesus christ of the story, and if the pieces do not fit for them, they might think you are being sloppy in your message.

i am certainly not saying this is always the case, it is just a delicate subject. I believe it can be handled well if you do it *just* right.

-WD

 

[Tea is my copilot]

Well, the only problem I see-
The reader might not have enough time to get to know the character.
But I think you can pull it off.

 

[Thadlerian]

would the reader accept me killing off the main character in book one only to bring her back in book three?

No.

That may sound like a harsh answer, but in my experience, resurrection of main characters is the absolute, ultimate don't in fiction. The main characters are people you're supposed to identify with and care for. A death would then be an emotional experience not just for the characters in the book, but for the reader as well. Reading about main characters being resurrected when need arises feels like being cheated.

Then again, resurrection might work under certain circumstances. It can work if it's said very clearly that the resurrected character will never be quite the same person again. There's gotta be a loss of some sort or other. Or some very particular side-effect.

Unless, of course, the resurrection is integral to the plot, that this is what the book is about. The main theme or an important secondary. But then having the death in book 1 and the resurrection in book 3 is stretching it a bit far. Somehow, it would have to have some recurrence in book 2, so that the reader wouldn't forget the whole thing.

I recommend that you think all other possible plotlines through, unless you know perfectly well how to make it sound convincing and relevant.

 

[j d worthington]

I wouldn't say it's an absolute don't, but you are skating on very, very thin ice. The thing to avoid is a sort of deux-ex-machina, an artificial add-on simply to increasing complications a la a soap opera. It needs to be something that flows naturally within the context of the story, so that it has almost a sort of inevitability to it in hindsight. It's a very difficult thing to do well, and even the best in trying this have flopped miserably. As someone else (Moorcock, I think) said: "Resurrection is always painful". It can also be laughable without the proper preparation and need (as far as logic of the story is concerned) for it. If it's at all artificial, it can be the kiss of death for any quality story. Think carefully before resorting to this step.

And I'm in agreement: there has to be a price paid somewhere, or else it cheapens the entire concept and makes it too easy. For a good example, read Clark Ashton Smith's "The Last Incantation" (included in his The Emperor of Dreams). There you have the most powerful mage calling up a love from his youth, only to find that in the intervening time the changes wrought on him by the world and experience will not allow him to recapture the feelings he had for her because, though she hasn't changed, his own innocent joy in love is lost. It's a subtle, quiet, and very moving piece; but a good case in point. There's always a trade-off, from ANY action.