Beginning with a dream... a cop-out?

[Donshyoku]

Often times when I write, I begin with a dream. It seems to be a great way to show something from the past, define an aspect, and foreshadow what is to come. But then again, a lot of authors do this.

Is beginning with a dream too cliche for modern fantasy/science fiction? Is it so overused that it causes you to overlook the importance it tries to portray?

Discuss.

[I, Brian]

Plot devices are only ever as good as the writer and story being told - someone can attempt a unique device and end up with a poorly written story, while most any cliche can be at least acceptable with some degree of style and insight.

So I'd say the problem is not about any specific plot device, as much as how it is used.

About the only plot device I can think of that is universally loathed nowadays is the "...and then they woke up and it had all been a dream - the End".

[Lacedaemonian]

Aye but at some point someone will use that device again and it will be cool. 'And it was all a dream....' - Pure heart break.

[MoonLover]

I tend to think that the dream aspect is unrealistic. What I mean is, how many of us really dream of past happenings, prophecies or gain an insight into themselves? It just seems too convenient that a character would 'just happen' to be dreaming about various plot points or background. I don't know about the rest of you, but my dreams tell me nothing. Last night, I was in an elevator that travelled diagonally up the outside of a building whilst the windows sang in Japanese!
Karen
(hey, now that could be the start of an unusual story, perhaps?)

[Stormflame]

Beginning with a dream is not bad. If you remember, Terminator 2 began in that way, if I am not mistaken. Many, many, many movies begin with that to get you hooked on some crazy or interesting plot to get you interested, then, snap, you are transfered to a world where the dream was the best part of the story. Anyway, I would not begin a story like this, certainly because, it has been WORN out over and over by other authors and filmmakers!
Genuine. That is my motto!

[Brys]

It may work, but there is also probably a better way to start a novel. Eddison's the Worm Ouroubouros (sp?) started with a dream, and that part was universally slated and criticised, despite many saying the rest of the novel was excellent. I don't know how a dream can be used well, though I'm sure it can be. If you can come up with another way to start, it probably works better.

[Donshyoku]

I used to use dreams a lot, but anymore, and hopefully for the better, I tend to avoid them completely. But I have seen good examples of where a dream works, and honestly, it is a good starting point. But also, the first thing to edit, heheh!

[kyektulu]

I think starting with a dream is as acceptible as any storys beggining as long as it is fitting well in the tale to come. I have used this method myself in a past story of my own about a seer who warns his village about a massacre going to befall them, and blames himself for not being able to stop this from happening.
In short it doesnt matter how your book begins as long as it is entertaining and makes the reader want to continue reading your story.

[Ash]

It is a cliche, but I think it's sometimes a nescessary one. The thing is, Fantasy and Science Fiction novels tend to be set in worlds different to ours, so to set the "ground rules" as it were you need a fair amount of exposition for the readers. "Real World" novels don't need this degree of exposition as the reader is already familiar with the rules.

There are a few different ways of dealing with it, and a lot of those have become a little cliche, but there is an extent to which such cliches might be nescessary.

Dreams, prophecies, exerpts from history books and the favourite... apprenticing the hero to someone old, wise and knowlegable

That's my take on it anyway.

[cyborg_cinema]

Originally Posted by Ash

It is a cliche...

yea, starting with a dream is cliché.

Are you using it to describe setting? characterization?

[cyborg_cinema]

Originally Posted by Stormflame

...Terminator 2 began in that way...

yea, I think it was a dream sequence that starts in a playground on earth. That dream was powerful—a look into the horrible future on earth. I suppose if you have to use dreams, really make them count.