Unfortunately, in real life, children sometimes die before the parents. It's a terrible blow. I have friends who lost their beautiful bright, 20-year-old daughter to a sudden illness. It's a tragedy, but it happens.
In fiction, sometimes the question is, "does it work?" rather than is it kind to the characters. Imagine how it would turn out, and are you satisfied with how that works. Happy endings are nice, but not necessary. I far prefer a book with a somewhat tragic but clean ending to one with a more or less happy ending that just peters out and has lots of loose ends.
One another note, for you, Lois, and any other writer who wants to look at this: http://www.avalanchetankers.us/archives/000058.html. It's officially titled "213 things Skippy is not allowed to do in the U.S. Army" but it some of it could just as easily be titled Things Miles and/or Ivan and/or (name your favorite character) are not allowed to do in the Barrayan Army. ROTFLMAO.
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Date: 2004-06-24 06:35 am (UTC)In fiction, sometimes the question is, "does it work?" rather than is it kind to the characters. Imagine how it would turn out, and are you satisfied with how that works. Happy endings are nice, but not necessary. I far prefer a book with a somewhat tragic but clean ending to one with a more or less happy ending that just peters out and has lots of loose ends.
One another note, for you, Lois, and any other writer who wants to look at this: http://www.avalanchetankers.us/archives/000058.html. It's officially titled "213 things Skippy is not allowed to do in the U.S. Army" but it some of it could just as easily be titled Things Miles and/or Ivan and/or (name your favorite character) are not allowed to do in the Barrayan Army. ROTFLMAO.