It would probably make more sense if I?d written a single review for the three Final Friends books, seeing as they?re real sequels, not just related novels. Unfortunately for me (since it?s a suspenseful crime story), I?ve only managed to come by them one by one, and I tend to review as I read, so there you go?
God, I need the third book. If you?ve got it and are willing to send it my way, I?ll gladly give you one of my books in return! The thing is, as you can probably guess, The Dance only takes us deeper into the mystery, scattering possible hints and raising the stakes, without offering any actual answer or certainty. In other words, it builds momentum for the third book?s final big revelation.
This is efficiently done, but not excruciatingly so, either. There is a healthy dose of high school drama to relax the atmosphere, so that somewhere between a death/murder and a near-deadly accident/murder attempt, we almost forget that there might be a killer lurking out there. Instead we get caught up into the competition for homecoming queen, SAT exams, basketball practice and first kisses. More cheese, you might think? In a way, yes, and for our greatest enjoyment; in another, not so much. I was surprised to find several instances of the author?s sharply critical distance from his characters? all-American occupations and concerns.
[...] Jessica again searched the stands for Michael. She thought he probably wouldn?t attend the dance?he had never struck her as the type that went in for big phony gettogethers?but Nick was his friend, he should have come to the game.
- Final Friends Book 2: The Dance, Christopher Pike (Pocket Books, 1988)
Other interesting elements in The Dance, in my opinion, include astronomy and basketball scenes. Which goes to show that even light, entertainment fiction targeted at teenagers can benefit from those little bits of extra knowledge (aka trivia) that make a story realistic and rich. No, you don?t want to lose your readers into the full details of something too specific, but you should, when you?re writing a novel, take the time to explain things that go beyond mere character interaction. Few things annoy me more in amateur fiction than a character described as a basketball player who never plays basketball, or a supposedly straight-A student who hardly ever seems to give any thought to homework and school.
To the inexperienced eye, the wisp of light in the center of the field of view of Michael?s telescope would not have looked significant. Because it was so far from the sun, the comet?s frozen nucleus had no tail to set it apart from the star field. It was its position?its changing position relative to the unchanging stars?that had initially caught Michael?s attention.
- Final Friends Book 2: The Dance, Christopher Pike (Pocket Books, 1988)
Do you like ?well-rounded? or in-between-genres novels, or would you rather read a mystery that?s truly mysterious, horror that?s truly horrific, comedy that?s truly comical, etc.? Do you agree with my writing tip? Should authors develop elements that don?t add anything to the plot, but much to their story?s credibility and substance?
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