What constitutes the "perfect ending"?

[ZombieGenesis]

As a casual writer I often ask myself the question "how should this end?"
It makes me wonder what the best qualities are for an ending, and I'd like to hear the public opinion.

If you're willing to listen to my mandatory rant here it is:
Since I'm writing a fantasy story at the time I've been suffering from what I shall call the "pen or sword" conflict. Since my book has as much social activity as violence it's difficult to decide just whether the big finale should be something diplomatic, or something to do with the main antagonist getting impaled on something. I'm sure many writers have had this problem, as it's very hard to create an intelligent or thought provoking finale when it all comes down to two people hitting each other with sharp objects- so I've taken something of a dual-path.
What I've decided to do is form two seperate parts for the finale. On the one hand the heroes main ally's will advance upon the scheming mastermind of the story and seemingly fall victim to his greatest plot, only for a final twist to break apart his web completely and bring him to what I like to think of as an intellectual demise. He isn't stabbed or killed, just defeated and ruined for it.
As this occurs the beginning of a confrontation between the main hero and the "up front" villain will be edging into the focus, and finally one intimate final fight will commence drawing things towards the end.
I realise I may be trying to have my cake and eat it, as I can't imagine two different angles of an ending coming together in a climactic way, but I also feel the best qualities of a finale are for the villains to be defeated not only physically but totally.

 

[oliveira8]

Dune ending?

Then again not everyone liked it.

Spoiler

You had the war, the diplomacy and the duel all togheter. The final lines could have better thought out but it was good ending. And the ending left the question if what happened was actually the right thing.

 

[Gmano]

Ummmm, you could have mr backstabby feel guilty and go crazy, winding up killing the up fronter and himself in an attempt at redemption?

Edit: Sorry, i misread that mr ally is taking out someone else. I had thought it was mr ally's treacherous schemes that backfire upon him

 

[JRCB]

Heh, good to see you're not the only one with writing problems. Maybe have the antagonist fall into a very large pit? Maybe (if the protagonist is a nice guy), he offers his hand to try to help the antagonist, but the antagonist refuses it, and dies (presumably) as the result?

 

[PaulyWalnuts]

If you want to go with originality, go with what the reader doesn't expect: the diplomatic ending (only if you can pull it off nicely and uniquely or you'll ruin what COULD have been an epic battle). On the other hand, the epic battle scene is popular for a reason: we're in a fantasy world where if someone wrongs you in enough of a way to be considered the "evil one" then stab that *****. But, to make a choice, I would like to see a fantasy novel have a character that has the power to kick some serious ass but chooses diplomacy since he has the balls to do so

 

[CK76]

People have different taste, some want epic climax, others want to be left with questions.

Personally, I like to end a book with some resolution (meaning, not end it mid sentence), but to think "what did happen next". The book is a window into your world and my imagination fills in gaps.

For example, I love Blade Runner's ending, most people I know do not. I think it leaves clues, gives resolution and has massive question and directions of what happens after it ends.

 

[Proteus214]

I like the poetic, bittersweet endings that end well for some, but not for all.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Rod Serling's narration on how things aren't always quite what they seem, and when that happens you know you've stepped over into The Twilight Zone.

In literary terms, a short statement that says
"Fare thee well readers, for now our story's through. But remember what you've learnt here, because next time... it could be you."

 

[Akai Shizuku]

End it how you like; what makes a good ending is subjective.

 

[Guitarmasterx7]

Do what I would do if I where writing a story. Kill everyone off. EVERYONE.

 

[Emilin_Rose]

The perfect ending is one that wraps everything up in a way that people can imagine what happens afterwords without leaving them desperately wanting to know more.

personally i like the way Super Mario 64 ended. But Ocarina of Time left me wanting to know what the hell happened next.

 

[TheGreatCoolEnergy]

I dont care how it ends, just as long as I can stand up from it, and the spend the next 1/2 hour debateing in my mind where it all went wrong, and maybe what could have happenned if (character) had done (action) instead of (action). Basicaly, if when the book ends the stroy doesn't, I'm pleased.

 

[scnj]

End it based on what you've built up to. For example, the fourth Twilight book built up throughout to an epic battle between many different vampire families, some werewolves and the vampire leaders. The families were gathered in a surprisingly well written setup, then when the leaders showed up they all poised for a fight...

...Then they talked it over for 30 pages or so and the leaders went home. Shockingly anti-climactic.

 

[ZombieGenesis]

Just another reason I despise Twilight from the bottom of my heart.

Sorry, I have to state that point whenever those books are mentioned. It's compulsive.