Omniscient Viewpoint Books
Since everyone keeps telling me that no one publishes books in omniscient viewpoint any more, I’m compiling a list of modern books. If you want to add a book, just post the book name, the author, and the genre in the comments. Last fifteen years only.
Accordian Crimes, by Annie Proulx (1997 ) (From The Power of Point of View)
Atonement, by Ian McEwan (2002 ) (From the Power of Point of View)
The Bad Beginning, by Lemony Snicket and Brett Helquist (YA – 1998 )
Black Magic Woman, by Justin Gustainis (Urban Fantasy – 2008 )
The Chase, by Clive Cussler (Thriller – 2007 )
Extreme Measures, by Vince Flynn (Thriller – 2008 )
First Test, by Tamora Pierce (YA – 2000 )
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, by J.K. Rowlings (YA – 1998 )
Lady Knight, by Tamora Pierce (YA – 2004 )
Page, by Tamora Pierce (YA – 2004 )
Sahara, by Clive Cussler (Thriller – 1995 )
Silence of the Lambs (Thriller – 1998 ) (From The Power of Point of View)
Squire, by Tamara Pierce (YA – 2004 )
Supersonic Thunder: A Novel of the Jet Age (Historical – 2006 )
Transfer of Power, by Vince Flynn (Thriller – 2000 )
The Vampire of New York, by Lee Hunt (Urban Fantasy – 2008 )
The Windflower, by Laura London (2003 ) (From The Power of Point of View)
Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith.
I think this is an attempt to write in omniscient viewpoint, but it doesn’t work for me. There’s a chase scene near the beginning which head-hops woefully between three characters (pp 62-67)
Thanks for the addition! I’ll have to check the book out.
I think the viewpoint is difficult to write well. Done well, no one can tell. Done badly, and everyone says, “This is why I hate omniscient viewpoint.” I did a viewpoint workshop, and a lot of people had trouble with headhopping. Just from my reading, where it isn’t noticible, it looks like the writers made a subtle transition to shift between the two seamlessly. Alas, it’s not always done well.