What is it about George Lucas and J K Rawling?

[xiphias]

I mean, let's face it -- both of them are, well, mediocre story-crafters. And the universes they create don't REALLY hold together all that well -- their world-building is, y'know, okay. Their characters are fairly two-dimensional.

But, damn, there's something there. Something about what they create just sticks with you.

What is it?!

I can point to the weaknesses in Star Wars, and in Harry Potter. But that doesn't matter. There's SOMETHING in those that works.

Are there other fictional universes that just, y'know, get you that way? Even if the people who created them are fairly mediocre in their craft?

And what IS it? Can it be learned? I mean, all of you who write for a living -- you've probably asked yourself this question occasionally, too. . .

Is it the same thing for Star Wars and for Harry Potter?

Comments

[gilmoure.livejournal.com]

Dude, you're complaining about Coca-Cola and Doritos. Yes, they've managed to tap in to some fairly universal tastes in people and can reach down and grab you by the woo-hoo, to get your attention. As to what is the hook, that can catch so many people, ya' got me. But yeah, that would be a cool power to have.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

I'm not complaining: I'm asking for the recipe.

[gilmoure.livejournal.com]

Yellow #7? Sweetened Corn Syrup?

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

i think the recipe comes from having spent really quite a lot of their points on bardic skills and having gotten lucky rolls for how many points they had to distribute.

me, i spent all my points on the "able to sing along with any song i've heard a verse and a half of" skill. well, that, and getting along pretty well with small dogs. ah, well. my choices in character creation do not make me rich, but they do keep me entertained.

[gilmoure.livejournal.com]

I picked "not spill a beer while falling down stairs" and "able to negotiate slippery floors while wearing goat legged hooves." They're actually complimentary skills, when it comes to stairs.