Visualizing characters

[sniffnscratch]

I just finished the first book in the Malazan series, and I just started Deadhouse Gates. I might be the only one, but do you find it easier to read a book when you know what characters look like? By seeing a picture and knowing what they look like?

Mainly because there's a lot of different races and it gets confusing after awhile to me. Or do you think it's all part of the fun, and you should imagine for yourself as you read on and learn more about each character?

[Somebloke]

For some reason Icarum always has a shock of white hair on his head.

And Sorry looks like Sadako out of Ringu dressed in camoflage gear.

And Fiddler could be Clint Eastwood's long-lost brother.

I think I need help...

[Rosemary]

I prefer to visualise them myself, I find it that much easier to follow the story that way. However this doesn't help if a movie comes out, as you can guarentee the characters look nothing like I had visualised.

This link is of sketches for some of the characters, if you are interested.

Index of /ren/mz

[HoopyFrood]

Oh, they're cool pictures, Rosie, thanks!

There certainly are many characters in the books and it does get a little confusing trying to remember what they look like or what race they are. Mind you, I don't really 'see' the characters in any great detail. The most I see is a tall guy with a large sword for Rake, or a plumb woman for Tattersail and so on. It's more their actions that I see rather than any detailed images of the characters themselves.

[Rosemary]

Originally Posted by HoopyFrood

Oh, they're cool pictures, Rosie, thanks!

The most I see is a tall guy with a large sword for Rake, or a plumb woman for Tattersail and so on. It's more their actions that I see rather than any detailed images of the characters themselves.

I have to agree about Rake being tall but Tattersail I visualised as slim but only of medium height. It's really like our taste in books, everyone has their own ideas about what the characters look like, or like you, in their actions.

[HoopyFrood]

Indeed! I think we could be given a whole chapter of description about a character and every reader's perception of said character would still be different!

Oh...just realised...clearly I meant plump in my last post

[Rahl Windsong]

Nice sketches!

I really like the one of Rake because I always pictured him somewhat like Elric of Melnibone in facial features, and that sketch seems to show that somewhat. Yes, I can see Elric in that face.

I too saw Tattersail as being a more rounded woman, not overly fat but not so slim either.