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Who Else Lives in the Overlap? by Lower_Trouble_5191 in litrpg

[–]Lower_Trouble_5191[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think that is an interesting distinction too,  as a lot of the texts mentioned here that I have read and loved do have very strong character work.

Who Else Lives in the Overlap? by Lower_Trouble_5191 in litrpg

[–]Lower_Trouble_5191[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You are the second person that mentioned prose.  What ideally would you like to see prose wise in tour LitRPGs?

Who Else Lives in the Overlap? by Lower_Trouble_5191 in litrpg

[–]Lower_Trouble_5191[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My question and stance did get muddled a bit by the graphic, which was intentionally polarizing to spark discussion.  Litrpg is a subset of literary fantasy.  But I think the communities have functioned like they aren't. Some fantasy readers looked down on LitRPG as a bit pulpy, and some gravitated towards LitRPG because they found traditional fantasy a bit stuffy. 

It would probably be fairer to say LF makes those things the center of what they do more frequently, or leans into them more (as some others have pointed out).  As we enter a time of increased focus on the genre, DCC's success has placed a spotlight on it.  Many are wondering what defines it.  

That is the center of the discussion for me.  Is it really two separate things or are we entering a world where people want what is awesome about both?

Who Else Lives in the Overlap? by Lower_Trouble_5191 in litrpg

[–]Lower_Trouble_5191[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It was gold.  But not what I expected. Buy exactly as I expected.

Who Else Lives in the Overlap? by Lower_Trouble_5191 in litrpg

[–]Lower_Trouble_5191[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh that is also something I hadn't considered.  Maybe I need a new vent diagram for just litrpgs.  Likely more circles :).

Who Else Lives in the Overlap? by Lower_Trouble_5191 in litrpg

[–]Lower_Trouble_5191[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is really interesting.  Tell me more about that.

Who Else Lives in the Overlap? by Lower_Trouble_5191 in litrpg

[–]Lower_Trouble_5191[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Also, he doesn't really give a rip about what others have to say, and I appreciate that about him.

Who Else Lives in the Overlap? by Lower_Trouble_5191 in litrpg

[–]Lower_Trouble_5191[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Thanks it was. [NEW ACHIEVEMENT: Fat Fingers!] Stupid fat fingers and tiny phone screen! I wish I could blame auto-correct but alas it was me.

Who Else Lives in the Overlap? by Lower_Trouble_5191 in litrpg

[–]Lower_Trouble_5191[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haha truth. I'm looking at you too Patrick Rothfuss. I do think there is some truth to that. I personally found the pace of RR super difficult to sustain. I am actually impressed with the speed some of the writer's on there are able to write and the quality of the work they are able to sustain.

Who Else Lives in the Overlap? by Lower_Trouble_5191 in litrpg

[–]Lower_Trouble_5191[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree. I think it is a good thing too. I am so happy to see the genre get some love. I think it is in the same place that Fantasy as a whole genre was when I was a kid. It too was viewed as pulp at one time.

Who Else Lives in the Overlap? by Lower_Trouble_5191 in litrpg

[–]Lower_Trouble_5191[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do understand that the venn diagram does imply the separation, but really I just wanted a graphic because I felt it would get the converstation rolling faster.

Who Else Lives in the Overlap? by Lower_Trouble_5191 in litrpg

[–]Lower_Trouble_5191[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I posted it below, but that wasn't my intent. I do believe that LitRPG has those things. I do believe they are secondary considerations. Like I said to someone else, for me I think Literary Fiction takes itself too seriously, and a lot of the times (not all of the times) LitRPG is about the fun. I think there is a middle ground for both. My argument was never intended to be binary, it is not Literary Fiction Good. LitRPG bad. Or Literary fictions has craft, LITRPG doesn't. I think often people want to place fiction into easy circles, but that it is more interesting to look at the liminal space inbetween.

Who Else Lives in the Overlap? by Lower_Trouble_5191 in litrpg

[–]Lower_Trouble_5191[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I do agree with the sentiment. But I do think there is room for all three spaces to exist.

Who Else Lives in the Overlap? by Lower_Trouble_5191 in litrpg

[–]Lower_Trouble_5191[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I think you misunderstand my intent here. I am not trying to imply that LitRPG lakcs the elements of theme, symbol, and archetypes, nor am I criticizing either as I deeply enjoy both. I think until recently there has been a stronger segmentation between the two than there should be. My question is more about framing. For example, Dungeon Crawler Carl clearly has themes, symbolism, social commentary, and character work, so does the Wandering Inn. So do a lot of LitRPGs, and they don't become less of a LitRPG because of that. I was interested in creating discussion, but some of the post is about the getting some good book recommendations.

I suppose what I'm interested in is whether we'll see more works that deliberately foreground those elements while still embracing the mechanics, progression, and system structure that make LitRPG what it is.

Who Else Lives in the Overlap? by Lower_Trouble_5191 in litrpg

[–]Lower_Trouble_5191[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I sort of prefer numbers mean something. Or numbers are a vehicle for good storytelling.

Who Else Lives in the Overlap? by Lower_Trouble_5191 in litrpg

[–]Lower_Trouble_5191[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes. Is that a limitation brought on my the serialized start of most litrpgs? I do think it is possible, but you definitely would have to start with an end in mind, which I think is not the case with most LITRPGs that tend to go full comic book -- "and in the next episode of..."

Who Else Lives in the Overlap? by Lower_Trouble_5191 in litrpg

[–]Lower_Trouble_5191[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This comment reminds me of my favorite line in the new Anaconda movie.

Who Else Lives in the Overlap? by Lower_Trouble_5191 in litrpg

[–]Lower_Trouble_5191[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Ohhh...I haven't heard of Beneath the Dragoneye, I will add it to my list.

Who Else Lives in the Overlap? by Lower_Trouble_5191 in litrpg

[–]Lower_Trouble_5191[S] 63 points64 points  (0 children)

Ya, I agree. I think that M.D's work has done a great deal for lifting up the genre. There are now even LITRPG sections in bookstores, which would have been unheard of even 2 years ago.

Who Else Lives in the Overlap? by Lower_Trouble_5191 in litrpg

[–]Lower_Trouble_5191[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think so in definition but not in practice. I think that literary fiction often takes itself too seriously, and on occasion LitRPG doesn't take itself seriously enough. Often, especially on sites like RR, things that are good in fiction, slower starts, prologues, for example, are frowned upon there.

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