: Re: How far into a speculative novel should one go before introducing the central conflict? By speculative, I mean mostly science fiction, fantasy or intrigue. For example Neal Stephenson's Anathem,

@Hamaas631

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In my opinion, if you are feeling that a reader might get bored, then the readers might actually get bored. Consider the following:

Start the novel with the central conflict. Give a teaser, then go back to the set-up and lead it up to there.
You have mentioned that there may be subplots before the main conflict. That's a good thing. If you can make the characters and the issues they are facing interesting enough, it should not bore the readers. Only that, the central conflict should originate somewhat organically from your set-up. The reader should not feel that you just constructed empty worlds and characters in order to introduce your central conflict.
Link all your issues/characters/subplots to the central conflict. It might give a nice thematic roundness to your novel. E.g., while introducing any character you can maybe give the reader an inkling of where it will stand in relation to the central conflict when it manifests.

(Point 2 and 3 might be the same).

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