1st person POV question

[I, Brian]

Got a novel where the "voice" has never really worked in third-person omniscient, and although I've tried third-person limited, it still doesn't seem quite right.

I've now found it seems to flow better at the start in first person, but I don't recall reading a novel where first person can follow different characters in different chapters.

In other words, just as third-person limited will follow a particular character each chapter, then follow a different character in the following chapter, can and is this done with first person?

ie

Chapter 1 - character 1
Chapter 2 - character 2
Chapter 3 - character 3
Chapter 4 - character 1
Chapter 5 - character 2

etc, all in first person?

If this is an acceptable structure, are there any examples - particularly in SF - where this has already been done? Simply because I can't recall ever reading a book in this style.

Thanks for any pointers.

[j. d. worthington]

This is not SF but, as I recall, Francis Brett Young's novel Cold Harbour was so written, until all the various stories culminated in a final third-person omniscient that tied it all together. I recall various short stories also using this technique to varying effect, though seldom for sustained passages. I think, particularly, of the shifting pov of Alfred Bester's "Fondly Fahrenheit".

But, frankly, I don't see why, even if it's not been done much, it couldn't be used to advantage, even to heighten the tension and keep the reader keyed up.

[Santeeil]

I'm no expert but it would be interesting, Imagine each chapter, a follow on from the next yet with all the characters in the same place perhaps? So the different personalties would bring completely different view points to the same events, other characters and themselves!!

I'd love to read something like that.

[Karlequin]

I would say that you should discard the idea of "acceptable structure" for a SF novel - if it works for you, write it. Break the rules - it's fun!

This technique (and similar ones) does pop up from time to time. I thin Iain Banks used it to great effect in "Inversions", although there are two separate (but intertwined) storeis in that one. The best example I can think of is Iain Pears, with "An Instance of the Fingerpost" - an excellent book, even if it isn't SF or fantasy... In that book there are four points of view of the same events, presented sequentially, where each POV adds to the story and provides a very different perspective, changing your view of the characters as you go along.

Note that you don't have to be called Iain to use this style of writing.

I've used something similar in my novel, which is all third person focusing on one character until one pivotal moment when the action is divided between two characters, which shakes things up a little (well, I think it does).

The main point again: it's your book, do what you want with it and don't think that you have to imitate structures found somewhere else just because they work. Your structure may be just as successful, good luck to you!

[Stormpirate]

I think as long as the reader can distinguish who is the voice of that particular chapter, then there should be no problem with it.

[SJAB]

Justina Robson's Living Next - Door to the God of Love, and yes it is SF. Was short listed for the 2005 BSFA awards

It has 5 or maybe 6 first person narrators, each chapter begins with the character's name.

[BookStop]

The Poisonwood Bible is written like that, each chapter a different person, sometimes telling the same events, sometimes different. It was just about the best book I've ever read and the FP POV was an excellent way to keep me completely absorbed in the lives of the characters. I think each chapter did have the characters name at the top to cut down on any confusion issues that may've come up (I don't think they would've anyway as each character was so different).

[I, Brian]

Thanks for the recommendations.

I'd prefer not to submit something too far "outside of the fold" as a first-time author, but it looks like it's already tried and tested, and so long as it works, worth playing with.

No idea if I can pull 1st person off for a full novel length via different characters and do so convincingly, but I figure it's worth experimenting with.

Will check out some of the books on this thread - many thanks for that.

[Teresa Edgerton]

I've seen the alternating first person viewpoint done in a lot of books, but I can't, off the top of my head, think of any examples where it was more than two characters doing this. (A recent example of the two alternating first person viewpoints: Melusine by Sarah Monette.) I've also read plenty of books where large chunks of the story were told by a variety of different characters. I think, possibly, the more first person viewpoint characters you use the longer you should stay with each one. In other words, chances of successfully pulling this off would work if the chapters were quite long, but if readers are jumping in and out of too many people's heads in too short a time it could get confusing. Another thing to keep in mind would be whether your various characters have distinctly different viewpoints and voices. That, even more than longer periods with each character, would be absolutely essential.

I have also read books where the story alternated between chapters of first person viewpoint by the main protagonist, and chapters told in third person.
So there is another option you might consider.

[Mouse]

Marienne Curley's book for young adults, The Named, alternated bewteen chapters of first person vp. I didn't like it, but I don't she pulled it off very well. Sure it could be done much better.

[MJRevell]

I don't know how effective it would be to have numerous 1st person perspectives, as I don't remember reading such a book. I have read Curley's The Named, mentioned above, but can't remember this POV, so I guess it didn't work well there :P

But there are certainly examples of having one character in 1st person, then switching to a 3rd person for others - and I've seen that work brilliantly.

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by MJRevell

But there are certainly examples of having one character in 1st person, then switching to a 3rd person for others - and I've seen that work brilliantly.

Yes; one of the best examples in (relatively) recent publishing is Thomas Tryon's The Other, which is a very well-written book, even making excellent use of the pluperfect tense for very subtle yet powerful effect.

[mosaix]

I seem to remember The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins was very like what you are describing. I think he used the technique of a detective interviewing a fresh character in each chapter and that each character told his / her story to the detective, in essence the reader, in first person.

What was interesting about the story was that each character told the same story but from their point of view.

[j. d. worthington]

It's been ages since I've read The Moonstone, but as I recall, you're correct. This is also essentially the technique used in Cold Harbour, as each character relays the same set of events, but from their point of view (and with some differences because of their presence or absence during some of the events), which, layer by layer, gave a lot more depth and subtlety to the novel, and allowed an increasing atmosphere of menace and the eerie. So, yes, it can and has been used a fair amount, and to great effect.

[MissGuidedFee]

It is certainly achievable, depending on how hard you want to work at this novel. I recall reading a few books like this, no SF but there could be a little niche there for you to come up with something a little different. Of the books I recall, Trainspotting and Porno by Irvine Welsh stand out in my memory for their unique style. Welsh chose to write from 1st person POV for several characters, not just one or two and even introduced some later on in the book too. They may not be everyone's cup of tea but I really would recommend them.