Like people, a story only has one chance to make a good first impression. I love a good first sentence, especially if it’s a funny one. Here’s a great one from Monster Hunter International by Larry Correia:
“On one otherwise normal Tuesday evening I had the chance to live the American dream. I was able to throw my incompetent jackass of a boss from a fourteenth-story window.”
With an intro like that, how could I resist? Nor was I disappointed. If you like your action flavoured with werewolves, vampires and lots of snark, it’s a good fun read.
And then there’s the opening of Old Man’s War by John Scalzi, which I reread recently:
“I did two things on my seventy-fifth birthday. I visited my wife’s grave. Then I joined the army.”
How can the army possibly use a 75-year-old recruit? Immediately you’re drawn in. The answer is very thoughtful as well as highly entertaining. I enjoyed it even more the second time round. If you like science fiction and you haven’t read it yet, grab yourself a copy ASAP. You won’t be disappointed.
How about you? Read any good books lately?
I bought a copy of Old Man’s War from Infinitas the other day. I’ve heard good things about the book.
Best book I’ve read in the last year or so is The Blind Assassin, by Margaret Atwood. The first sentence is “Ten days after the war ended, my sister Laura drove a car off a bridge.” A slow read, lots of narrative summary, but a brilliantly-written book (it’s literary fiction, though, not spec fic).
Haven’t read that one, though I like Margaret Atwood. Loved The Handmaid’s Tale. I have The Year of the Flood waiting in my TBR pile. That one sounds interesting too.