Coincidence in Fiction?

[Hwo Thumb]

So I was wondering about the general opinions on coincidence in literature. In the plot of a story I've been developing, I thought of a great plot point that would be very cool - Really connect a character back to the story instead of just having them "there."

There's a problem, though. The addition of this plot point relies on a huge coincidence, when the story already kicks off on a huge coincidence. Basically, I'm asking my readers to suspend their belief enough to buy that a guy who ends up on an adventure as the result of a huge coincidence would just happen to run into the person essentially responsible for creating the entire society that they live in, when there's only the vaguest connection between the two events.

Is it too far of a stretch? How far can a reader's disbelief be suspended? If it adds something to the book, does it matter if that addition is logical?

What do you think?

[chirpy]

If you can find one more way to make it relevant to the story, go for it.

[AuntShecky]

With the actual story sight unseen, it's difficult to say, but in general you have to use your good judgement about coincidences, otherwise your critics will quickly carp that the work is "contrived." On the other hand, comic novels and humorous movies and plays often turn on coincidences -- mistaken identity or totally outrageous events coming out of left field. What about The Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy? Totally preposterous premise, but what a funny, funny book.

In an reply to an earlier thread, yours fooly referred to Aristotle's distinction between impossibility and implausibility and got shot down for mentioning it. But it does show that the success or failure of a particular piece all depends upon the writer's skill. (And confidence.)

Hope this helps answer your question. Otherwise yours fooly will be 0 for 2.

Auntie