@diazona@mikebaarda@DocCarms@bookstodon Personally I think the difference is the reader’s ability to form a mental image. Even if it’s inaccurate, it gives them a kernel to start building the story around. They don’t know what a hobbit is but they can picture the sorts of things that live in holes… and then quickly discover a hobbit isn’t any of those!
That’s why I think the Gunslinger opening works too.