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From: vallor <vallor@cultnix.org>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
Subject: Re: Looking for story examples (SPOILERS)
Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2025 07:17:54 -0000 (UTC)
Organization: A noiseless patient Spider
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On Sat, 12 Jul 2025 15:46:06 -0500, Lee Gleason <lee.gleason@comcast.net>
wrote in <iQzcQ.11152$y3X7.4493@fx01.iad>:

> On 7/12/2025 12:35 PM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
>> kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) writes:
>>> Lee Gleason  <lee.gleason@comcast.net> wrote:
>>>>    I'm looking for examples of novels or stories that have some detail
>>>> revealed early on that later serves as a major plot point, but the
>>>> significance of which was forgotten or not noticed by the time it occurs.
>>>
>>> That might be anything Agatha Christie ever wrote?
>> 
>> Or pretty much any fiction written by a competent author?
>> 
>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreshadowing
> 
>    I'm looking for extreme examples, especially when the foreshadowing 
> goes unnoticed until much later. Do you know of any npvels that do that 
> better than the two I mentioned?

Well, in any SF mystery -- to be a good mystery -- this has to happen.

I'm currently reading _The Patchwork Girl_ by Larry Niven which is _almost_
a "murder mystery", only it's more of a whodunit-murder-attempt mystery.

Spoilers below
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The murder (attempt) weapon is a message laser.  In the beginning of the
novel, it's well-established that the moon base manufactures very
thin mirrors.  The characteristics of the laser wound indicate the beam spread.

While searching the area on the moon where the assailant was seen,
there's shiny residue under a lunar rock.

I read the novel a long time ago, so I know how this turns out in
general (a mirror was used), but don't remember the specifics.
The Mrs. wanted us to read an SF mystery together, so we are. :)
I do remember there is a rather dramatic scene where a mirror
is used again, but I won't spoil that for you.

-- 
-v