Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?
This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.
Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Notes -
TLDR: Request for fantasy / scifi stories.
I am looking for a certain type of fantasy stories, but it's a bit difficult to describe exactly what too concisely, so please bear with me.
I keep noticing two kinds of problems in Western fantasy stories of the last decade that breaks immersion for me and makes them all feel very similar to each other (and thus more boring).
The first is that the main characters will go out of their way to virtue-signal some stance or action to appeal to the modern Western audience. It may be in the form of immediately going out to fight slavery / chauvinism / racism in a medieval society, even if such a course of action would've realistically carried great risks for the gang and little practical changes.
The second is that their thoughts and actions will be sanitised to not include anything that any large percent of the audience would be likely to find "icky" and cause them to leave a negative review or stop reading the story. This includes inner monologue of sexual nature (if it's in 1st POV); very rarely using intimidation against "non-combatants" / non-enemies; rarely using the character's advantageous position (or e.g. some resource monopoly) to strong-arm concessions from allies, neutral parties, or civilians; almost never deciding to procure slaves of their own (unless there's some convenient excuse to "force" such a scenario upon the MC); and so on.
So I am looking for stories that will not have these two types of writing tropes, and will in addition:
* be well-written in general; preferably be completed and have a large word-count
* the main character(s) should also
** not be edgelords (unless it leads to a really well-executed character development later on)
** not be sadists who tend to cause suffering / harm just for its own sake
** not be hypocrites, not apply double standards when judging others' actions v.s. judging their own
* not be the Prince of Nothing series. (edit:) Or aSoIaF, or Chronicles of Amber.
Does anyone know any such stories? Any format is fine, be it printed literature, web originals, or fanfiction.
And to clarify, I am not advocating for any real-life applications of what I've listed earlier. I just want my fictional stories to have more variety to them, and am trying to find works of western origin that would offer such variety.
edit: stories recommended so far:
-
Thanks for all these recs! If you know any others, please post them too, though.
The Malazan series maybe? personally dnf'd it since it lacked character focus and development for me but if you dig worldbuilding its kinda king.
The Sun Eater series by Cristopher Ruocchio, one book still not out, but you'd have 6 to read to catch up. MC starts out idealistic but things change quickly.
The Bloodsworm saga by John Gwynne recently finished. I'd say it's borderline, characters are mostly following their own motivations, killing is just part of their world, maybe a bit of commentary on slavery but it doesn't feel like a modern sermon it is guilty of the fantasy thing where women have unrealistic combat ability however.
Powder Mage series and it's sequels seemed to mostly avoid this but it's been a while since I've read them so I could be misremembering.
The Witcher series would probably fit this if you haven't read it.
Been recommended The Black Company by Glen Cook a lot for this sort of fantasy, but haven't personally read it yet, on my to read list.
Just started Heroes Die, part of the Acts of Caine series as I was looking for something similar to what you're describing after how guilty of all this Sanderson's latest was. I'll update if it's any good I guess.
If you don't mind manga Berserk fits, and it's not fantasy but I just finished oyasumi Punpun and that story definitely doesn't sanitize it's characters thoughts author might fit your sadism complaint though, even though the characters don't.
this one is quite funny in "The first is that the main characters will go out of their way to virtue-signal some stance or action to appeal to the modern Western audience" category
at the same it has some quite evident targeted attacks and virtue-signalling, but...
Even blatant ethic/racist discrimination stuff is far less jarring as it has more realistic presentation than in a typical modern story (usually both sides did shitty things)
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link