a form you can handle

[marycatelli]

One trick to bringing the gods on stage:  have them deliberately tone themselves down to not overwhelm the poor mortal.

Logical.

However. . . .

Most writers tone their gods down considerably further than is necessary.  Disguise is a different matter, having more motives, and justifying a lot of toning down, but if the god's sole purpose is not to overwhelm, there is no reason for him to divest himself of awe and majesty.  (We shall gently overlook the possibility of writerly incompetence in rhetoric.  Causes are not justifications.)

For the god to misjudge how much is needed raises serious questions about his competence.  This is unwise.  Making the Powers That Be more foolish than mortals is not sound world-building.  They can hardly run the world if they are all born fools. That the mortal needs a clear head, or is fragile and needs more toning down than most, or the god wants him comfortable rather than coping would all work, but need more development than the bald statement.  Most uses of this technique only confirm me in my opinion that gods belong off-stage.

Comments

[arhyalon.livejournal.com]

John has managed to run gods for 25 years in his roleplaying game without having them either seem ungod-like or outmatched by the rocketing ascent of the super-powerful players. I've never quite figured out how he has done it...but it would be worth figuring out.

[marycatelli]

It is quite a knack, and much lacking in modern fantasy writers.

[arhyalon.livejournal.com]

It really is, which is why it amazes me so much. Normally, gods fall apart the moment they come onstage.

Gene Wolfe does a pretty good job in Soldiers of the Mist.

[marycatelli]

How true. I have ranted about it before, here, and here, and here.

[jryson.livejournal.com]

If the first thing they have to say is "Be not afraid," they've blown it. However, gods and angels do manage to pass, when the plot calls for it.

[marycatelli]

Blown it? I would think it the mininum requirement. How could one of the Powers That Be be at all convincing if he inspired no fear?

Passing would be disguise, which is a different thing.

[jryson.livejournal.com]

Well, if the god is there on business, he wants the mortals on his side to stay engaged, rather than screaming and running off to the bathroom. If there is a mix of good and bad mortals, that's what you're writing about, I'd guess. A lot would depend on the character development of the mortal. A young agnostic would have problems. A fundy, or religious equivalent, would expect the god to do this, if pushed far enough. He hears the trumpet and shouts to the baddies, "Okay, now you clowns are gonna see some CGI!"

It might be more scary if the god stays out of sight, merely telling his servant to animate the statues along the corridor he is being chased down.

[marycatelli]

There are many degrees of fear short of screaming.

But, yes, the out of sight god is often more scary. One can intimidate greatness much more clearly than one can depict it. And if they are off-stage you don't have to worry that the stage is too small and anything that can fit on it will likewise be diminished.