random goodness found in the tubes

[jaebility]

On writing
Tragedy and Comedy by sartorias - Happily ever after (HEA) endings in fantasy genres - Should they be required? As much as I love seeing characters' trials resolve happily, I don't think fantasy stories - or stories in any genre, really - require smiles and rainbows and puppies. It depends completely on that individual story. China Mieville's Perdido Street Station comes to mind: amazing book that stays true to its dark roots, even to the end.

HEA, HFN, and Romance with a capital R by j_cheney - An exploration on the same subject, but in the romance genre. I think that romance is a different fish entirely when it comes to HEA: the whole point of a romance novel is to get the two main characters to hook up, and (at least in the romance genre) love = happiness. In this case, HFN means "happy for now," which apparently is popping up in more new romances. I'm fine with the ambiguity, so as long the story gets resolved at some point, like in a sequel/spin-off/what have you.