After starting The Sleeping Dragon by Joel Rosenburg, two thoughts came to mind. ‘I can see how this book and series is considered some of his best work,’ and ‘Oy and vey, this is so 1980s but in some less than ideal ways’. Rosenberg clearly has a talent for crafting interesting settings and characters. One of his strong points is the way he introduces his characters in the first few chapters.
An example is with our first two characters. We meet Karl Cullaine and Andrea Andropolous (Andy-Andy): college students and friends. We learn that Andy had rejected Karl despite clearly caring for him. Rosenberg doesn’t come out and say why Andy rejected Karl, but rather shows it. Andy mentions the numerous hobbies and majors Karl has gone through, and his constant losing things.
“Stop trying to sound like a psych major. You’re supposed to be studying to be an actor these days”
“I used to be a psych major–”
“–and a poli sci major. Plus American lit, engineering, philosophy, sociology—am I missing anything?”
“Prelaw. And two weeks of premed, back when I was a freshman. What’s your point?”
“You’re a dilettante Karl. This role-playing stuff is just another one of your temporary obsessions. Remember last year, when it was bridge? You spent your whole semester nattering about Stayman conventions and Southern American Texas transfers, whatever the hell they are–”
“South African Texas, not South American.” He dipped two fingers into his shirt pocket and pulled out a cigarette, then lit it with his shiny new Zippo… He figured that he might as well enjoy it while he could; he’d lose it soon. Karl could never keep track of things; the Zippo was the third lighter he’d bought that semester” (Rosenburg, 9-10).
Without having to spell it out for us, the author shows us why Andy turned Karl down. Karl is wishy-washy, jumping from a total of nine majors in four years. He picks up new hobbies and drops them usually within the semester. He can’t even keep track of a lighter. Andy cares about Karl, but all she’s seen is a lack of commitment with everything else in his life. It’s natural, and fair, she’d assume he’d be the same with a relationship.
Another example is James Michael. James is physically disabled (a lot of the cringing comes from the language used about it) and is in a wheelchair. The group always waits for him if he shows up late, something they never do for anyone else. James hates it. He wants to be treated like anyone else. The only person who does is Walter Slovotsky, which James appreciates despite his jealousy of the jock. He hates how he has to act positive. He wants to snap at the characters for how they treat him, but keeps up a kind and calm facade lest he be ostracized. The author doesn’t outright see all of this, but rather in James’ thoughts and the others’ actions. This is something that seems to easy to do, but a lot of authors can get stuck on. But Rosenburg is able to accomplish.