Appendices

[Garren Jacobsen]

Often times in fantasy novels authors, or maybe publicists, include appendices. They can range from family and world histories (ala LOTR) or they contain explanations of magic and how it works (see Brandon Sanderson's Ars Acanum). I'm outlining and world building a novel where a magic supreme court decides the laws of magic. Namely who has power, how much of that power, when they can access it, etc. And I was thinking about writing an appendix that looks like a case brief, student outline, or maybe an Examples and Explanations style book.

I was just wondering what you all thought of this idea itself and your opinions why you like or dislike appendices.

 

[psychotick]

Hi,

To me it really comes down to why you're writing it. I'm firmly of the opinion that you should never write an appendix because you feel you have to explain something within the book. There should always be enough within the body of the work that readers feel they understand everything. An appendix should be there to add something new or interesting to it.

I have considered writing an appendix of a sort to some of my books, but stopped - mainly because I have no artisitc ability. I'd like in some of them to add a beastiary, to help share the vision in my head of some of the creatures. Because some of them like the snap dragon from Wildling I think are not only original but might make excellent art pieces and maybe monsters for D and D type games.

Cheers, Greg.

 

[Graylorne]

I agree with psychotick, an appendix should be something extra, with new information. Still, I wouldn't put it in the book. Background information is great to get more views for your author's website. There you have more space, more flexibility (you can update info) and it looks nice.

 

[Svrtnsse]

There should always be enough within the body of the work that readers feel they understand everything. An appendix should be there to add something new or interesting to it.

I don't fully agree with this.
Instead I'd like to phrase it like "there should be enough within the body of the work that readers feel they understand the main plot."
This is a small distinction, but an important one. If something happens that affect the outcome of the story, then it's important that the reader understands that. However, if something happens that doesn't have a major impact on the story and that isn't all that important, then it's also not that important that it's explained to the reader. It's enough that they have a hunch, or are able to make a guess that lands sort of in the right ballpark.

I have in my wip a couple of things that are mentioned a few times, but which are never explained. It's not relevant to the outcome of the story that the readers know what these things are, but I feel that by including them and not explaining them, I add a little bit of extra depth to the world. These things give the reader a little extra to muse on, and by context they should have a hunch that makes sense to them.
These are things that I plan on including in an appendix sometime later on. Not because it's relevant to the story, but just because it may be interesting.

Graylorne brings up a good point about putting the information on your website rather than in the book. I'll probably do that too, but I'll put some kind of information in the book as well. It feels like the right thing to do. I can of course mention that there's further information available on my blog or on my wiki.

 

[Mythopoet]

I love appendices. I'm a worldbuilding fan so I love to be able to dig more deeply into a world and gain a fuller understanding of its inner workings. But it's never a good idea to bog down the plot with a lot of unnecessary information so appendices are a perfect solution.

 

[Giya Kusezu]

I like to put appendices in the back of my books in order to explain some things in more detail or depth. I try to explain most things just enough in the actual story that the reader gets the reference and isn't lost; if they want to know more, they are welcome to read the extra info in back of the book.

I don't like the idea of relying heavily on an appendix to support the story, though, just because it can be a pain to have to keep flipping back and forth to see what the author's talking about. I like to use it as a side dish offering to accompany the main course, if the reader would like to taste it.

 

[T.Allen.Smith]

Like many questions on content, it comes down to whether or not you, the author, enjoys such things.

Where I don't ever read appendices, I'm fully aware that lovers of world building, like Mythopoet above, adore them. So, do you like them? If you do, then by all means, write appendices in whatever form you find pleasing.

Otherwise, I agree with both Psychotick & Svrtnesse. The appendices shouldn't be used to clarify or ensure understanding of anything in the story proper. If it does, you run the risk of confusing readers, like me, who won't be looking at your appendices. However, if the included material is merely extra information for the curious, that digs a bit deeper into history or lore, then what harm can it do? It can only serve to enhance the experience of readers who want more.

 

[Garren Jacobsen]

I'm kind of neutral to appendices. Sometimes I look at them out of curiosity and sometimes I don't.

The purpose behind the appendices here is that when lawyers talk they use case names, statutes, or rules of procedure and the principles that are attached to those principles. One of my characters is going to be a recent graduate of a law school in that world. He will be clerking for that world's magic supreme court. So, when talking with other characters he will say, "In Legolas v. Al'Thor (not an actual case name in the book) the court held that the amount of property you have an interest in limits the power of your magic." (not an actual piece of dialogue).

That gives the principle and a case name but nothing else. I was planning to have an appendix with facts of the case, procedural history, the principle clearly laid out, and some b.s. policy things. Almost none of which will actually enter my writing. Just for a fun little extra tidbit for those like Mythopoet. I would also like to add I think if I made it something like an outline I could add "handwritten" commentaries by the Law Clerk in the margins.

I would also like to note that he is not my only character. I'm going to have a soldier and a female politician. The soldier will be more action heavy, the politician will have a Mr. Smith Goes to Washington type of story, and the law student will have a story in the vein of a Grisham thriller. I have only have a rough sketch of how to bring it all together at this point.

 

[Reilith]

Background information is great to get more views for your author's website. There you have more space, more flexibility (you can update info) and it looks nice.

This is actually an incredibly smart idea, I can't believe I never ever even thought of it. Not that I have a site yet, but the appendix I was planning on including at the end of my book would be pretty vast and too explanatory and just no. So this is a great idea to keep in mind.

 

[Steerpike]

I don't have a problem with appendices being there. I never read them, and most people I know don't seem to do so, but some readers like them and it's a nice extra for them. If you need them to understand the story, I think it's a problem.