Good opening scenes for novels? Opinions?

What makes a good opening scene is one re-written after the book is basically complete. By getting to the end, you know what you need to include at the beginning.

Good openings are whatever work, but often introduce the main character, set the overall tone or emotion, set up the everyday and may reference the potential conflict, and get us to the action quickly. As writer's often say, "in late, out early," meaning start the story right at or before the conflict (come in "late" not three months before anything happens) and get out right after the plot is resolved (not three months after everything has happened). Know what story you are telling and get in right as that story, and only that story starts, and out when that story arc is complete.

But seriously, just start writing. No one ever gets it right on first pass. That's why we do subsequent ones. You can (and should) always come back and rewrite the opening later once you know more about your story's total telling, arc, tone, and needs.

Favorite? Begins with an introduction. I love 'setting' beginnings, as an alternative than it beginning with some shoot-out or speedy motion. They're excellent, i assume, if a rationalization follows afterwards, however i love things that start out with you knowing who's who and what's what. Least favorite? Anything establishing with a rainy, angsty scene with the protagonist bemoaning their destiny. Luthien PS: bookluva, what is RA?

It's not a matter of opinion anymore. It's how writers have grown in their knowledge of what works and what doesn't. Here's a book that will teach you, not only how to open your story by hooking your readers, but how to keep them hooked throughout - Hooked: Write Fiction That Grabs Readers at Page One & Never Lets Them Go by Les Edgerton

For a tale such as this, I would defiantly begin by letting the readers get to know the character first. Perhaps a scene in which the main character is thinking, hiding, running, or scared. Start out inside their head, let the reader hear their thoughts. Then mix in other characters and problems. By doing this, the reader instantly learns to trust and know our main character.

Maybe it starts with a fantasy. Your protagonist dreams of adventure, but the reader doesn't know that it's all in his head until your protagonist is reminded to come back down to Earth. And then you see all the things that are missing from his life as the exposition unfolds. That's what I think.

How about it starts in a dream where the son is dreaming, but the reader don't realise it's a dream until he wakes up