Kelly > Status Update

In the realm of sci-fi, I've always liked how William Gibson throws you into the middle of things, observing characters who are entirely at home in an unfamiliar world that the reader still needs to figure out (The Peripheral is the best example that comes to mind). Makes for very intriguing reading.

I've also liked Michael Ondaatje for the same reason, albeit in a different mode. Coming Through Slaughter and In the Skin of a Lion enmesh their exposition so cinematically into the the main story, such that it's difficult to slice the difference.

I don't think it's incidental that both authors take years to finish their novels. A lot of that time is spent getting the structure right, working out precisely the problem you're describing.

In fantasy, T. Kingfisher does it really naturally imo (even if there aren't a lot of characters to introduce). Clockwork Boys for example

Thanks for the wonderful suggestions, guys! I was definitely getting to the point of thinking it was just something I had to put up with.

Curious.
If you have time, please provide me with an example of "a solid exposition section." Since you mentioned reading "100 pages for everyone to settle down..." I can only think you are referring to novels, as opposed to expository essays, instructional manuals, etc.

Yes that’s what I am referring to. The exposition=the beginning set up of a novel where we get intro’d to the novel’s world and characters. My complaint is that I find most novels I’ve read recently to have an artificial, inauthentic opening that both slows the action and decreases my interest in the characters who take forever to just start being people and not mouthpieces for info.