I'm a sucker.

For high concept, that is.

I love a decent plot and well developed characters as much as the next guy, but I have a weak spot the size of a Volkswagen Beetle for everything that's even remotely high concept. And don't even get me started on everything post-apocalyptic. This goes for both books and films.

But, what exactly is high concept.

It's a tricky concept to define, when you think about it. And even trickier to explain to someone who hasn't a clue as to what exactly it is; you either know it, or you don't. My definition of the term would be something like this:

The central premise of the book or film in question is highly unique and can be summarised in, preferably, one sentence; this premise immediately grabs your attention, and, if all is right, you right away see the potential this premise has.

In short: Summer blockbusters are high concept. Dogme films are not.

If all is well, the above explanation of high concept is longer and wordier than the explanation of the central premise of a high concept film or book.

An example:

• The story of a man who wakes up one morning and decides to reconcile with his ex-wife, because he misses his kids and has been depressed since the divorce, is not high concept. It's not particularly unique, nor is there an obvious potential.
• The story of a man who wakes up one morning only to find that a tiny alien has invaded his inner ear, enabling him to converse with inanimate objects, definitely is high concept. It's a one sentence pitch that you've probably never heard before, with very obvious potential for comedy and adventure.

My latest high concept find: I finally got my hands on Adam Roberts' The Snow, a novel which chronicles the lives of the few people who survived a snowstorm which covered the Earth in three miles of snow. That's as high bloody concept is it's ever likely to get!

I can't wait!

Cheers