I'm an atmosphere guy. The more I can buy into a world, the more I enjoy it. As I ranted, the main reason I didn't care for F451 was the fact that I thought its' view of the future to be hilariously wrong & over-the-top. I couldn't believe the world, so I couldn't enjoy the book.
Conversely, atmosphere is the reason I love some of my favorite works of fiction. The biggest luring aspect of the Harry Potter franchise for me wasn't the compelling story, but the world of Hogwarts & wizards in general. I would daydream for hours about exploring Hotwarts, and how I would use magic.
One of my favorite movies, Up In The Air, also springs from atmosphere. I'm a travel guy - the rushed feel of a visit to the airport always gets a smile from me. It's a place where everybody has the same goal - get in, and get on your way. Nothing is permanent, and the constant rush to stay on schedule is something that UITA captured elegantly. Additionally, it creates a believable character in an odd situation. Always being on the move, virtually living in various hotel rooms, is an emotion that you can place yourself in.
Atmosphere even plays a role in a favorite videogame - Silent Hill : Shattered Memories. It's a horror game that doesn't aspire to scare you with monsters that pop out of nowhere. Rather, you fear the town itself. You're alone, confused, and looking for your lost daughter. The game works to build the story of the town itself, rather than the lead character - so like the first two you find yourself in the lead's situation.
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So if a story doesn't have an atmosphere that you enjoy or can't find believeable you can't get into the story?
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