What if the title of GRRM's next book "The Winds of Winter" turns out to be a fart joke?
Isn't that just dropping the pretense?
>>25219018All fiction is made up...
>>25219052>t. plotfag
>>25219052>No no, you see, a story about the police trying to catch a serial killer on the loose is the same as a story where a wizard uses unexplained magic to kill a dragon because... Because it just is, okay?!?!?
>>25219078You're right, it simply is the same
Incels are in my opinion the group who have the most to say about the modern world and ones we should listen to the most, but being an incel and/or blackpilled is so soulcrushingly bleak that it makes creative pursuits impossible. Inceldom is defined by the feeling that everything is pointless and that effort is futile, and you simply cannot create if you have internalised that mindset.Incels are loudest when they are young but they have nothing worth saying until they have experienced upwards of a decade of futility. Young incels will talk about how they are owed sex and discuss how to ascend, both positions are puerile and show a fundamentally immature understanding of the world. Old incels are quiet because they have realised the futility of speaking.
>>25219066It is simpler, incels won't lower their standards to match reality. Ugly girls are more likely to be faithful as long as you don't neglect them.
>>25219063>>25219070Inceldom or more precisely the blackpill isn't about "having sex," even if incels are defined by whether they're having sex or not. It's a weltanschauung and the most interesting one in contemporary society. When you say they should lower their standards or try harder, you're completely missing the point. It's as clueless as someone in the 1960s telling a hippie to "get a job."
>>25219074>Ugly girls are more likely to be faithful as long as you don't neglect them.false. they're always looking for validation, so will fuck anybody anytime.
>>25219098Probably what that whole bit about not neglecting them was about.
>>25219102that just makes it more exciting for them
What are the best texts of intellectual history?
>>25217613Designers.
>>25210833My Diary Desu
>>25214358OP this is a solid answer. Bernard Williams is amazing.>>25210833Picrel's a biography but it captures American Transcendentalism better than anything I've ever read, winds up being equal parts Emerson bio and a portrait of the age's literary culture. Not super what you're looking for, but wanted to mention it. >>25212501Will in the World is a fun book. A good portion of it is Greenblatt more or less guessing/speculating about Shakespeare's life, but you kind of have to do that to write about him. Richly informative imo
>>25219000Thanks
Does something like this exist in Western literature? An amoral main character with no sympathetic qualities, yet whom you're still supposed to root for?All the examples I can think of a "villain protagonist" either are actually an anti-hero, or you're waiting for his downfall.
>>25215969Because it's mostly narrated from his point of view.
>>25216229What about those other 5 guys he turns into women?
>>25216665Iirc there are only three people he turned into women>Bai ning bingHe turned her into a woman so that he could blackmail him into helping her, because he held the key her back into a woman>Hei lou lanThis one doesn't really count, she was originally a woman who turned herself into a man, he just forced circumstances forcing her to revert to being a woman and becoming his subordinate >Ying wu xieHis body was dying, so fang yuan had to transplant his soul into another body. The body it made most sense for him to do this too was femaleThe author definitely has a fetish for it but not fang yuan himself, he just does everything for benefits. It just turns out that turning men into women is often beneficial for his cultivation
>>25212404Immoral protagonists are pretty common in western literature, but they tend to be more sexual/insane in nature, e.g. lolita, instead of the cruel ruthlessness of fang yuan.I think this is more because a ruthless, cold hearted rational protagonist doesn't make for a profound novel. It will give you fun to read web novel action slop but that's about it
>>25219069>a ruthless, cold hearted rational protagonist doesn't make for a profound novelNo.
What’s the most testosterone fuels book ever written?
>>25218123Hey man, you're the one that brought up niggers and trannies out of nowhere.
>>25218835Neither of you are funny and your slapfight is really uninteresting to the rest of us
>>25216298black companyno country for old menthe judging eyehow the steel was tempered
>>25218346Frazetta has the best depiction of Conan. Frazetta's dynamic naturalism perfectly captures the gritty yet poetic style of Howard's writing.
I'm looking for a book that talks about society,I just ended up 1984 and I'm looking for a book that talks about society
>>252176301985
Better than 1984 imo
the society of a spectacle
Thank you guys
>considered one of the greatest heroes of greek mithology>was invincible only because his mother used some vodoo magic to make him almost immortal>tried to hide from war by dressing as a women >spends most of the story sobbing because Agamemnon took one the many women that he had slaved during the war>acted like a bitch by letting all his friends die, even after Agamemnon tried to reconcile by giving him back his war bride with a bunch of stuff as a bonus>only changed idea because his boy lover died Greeks had a weird idea of heroism.
>>25218821>was invincible only because his mother used some vodoo magic to make him almost immortalIIRC this is a post-Homeric invention>tried to hide from war by dressing as a womenStill weird though it is implied he was young enough at this time that his mother was able to manipulate him into it>spends most of the story sobbing because Agamemnon took one the many women that he had slaved during the warSpends like three days out of ten years you mean>acted like a bitch by letting all his friends die, even after Agamemnon tried to reconcile by giving him back his war bride with a bunch of stuff as a bonusSocietal disaffectation do be like that>only changed idea because his boy lover died100% a post-Homeric invention
the actual greek heroes perseus, jason, and heracles mog him
>>25218825Because the Iliad just tells a part of the Trojan War, while the rest is told in the other stories of the Epic Cycle; other than the Iliad and the Odyssey, most of they were lost. There is also the Aeneid, which technically could also be considered a part of the Epic Cycle because it is related to the Trojan War, but it was written in Latin in 20 BC, centuries after the original poems were first sang.
>>25218859Pretty sure Telegony exists
>>25218879Not really, only 2 lines of the original text were found, the rest of the story that we know came from summaries.
Completely impenetrable. How do I understand it?
>>25216302It's funny, inventive, clever, poetic, playful and complex to a fascinating degree. It also deals with a dizzying variety of themes.I don't know what you look for in a novel, but tha's enough for me.
>>25216333good 2ndary lit is excellent for extremely difficult passages or refining interpretations you've already come to yourself, but don't have the knowledge/experience necessary to take it to the next level. i loved ulysses, and i loved it even more after reading what kiberd and nabokov had to say about it, just to give you an idea.
>>25216463>muh monomythCampbell was a fucking hack retard.
>>25216490You make a good point. I haven’t read any secondary literature before as I said but I know I probably should, for more difficult texts that is. With Ulysses I just reread it quite often because I enjoyed it so much and felt I was finding something new in every revisit. I should probably check something out for that too though. Might find even more I missed, especially parts of Oxen. Thanks anon. >>25216463And thanks to you too, this sounds really promising. I’ll definitely give this a look into. I own FW but it’s been pretty much untouched since I got it since I consider it too daunting lol. As is my wont, if I buy a book, I will read through all of it, even if I don’t like it. But Ulysses is my favourite novel and I really admire Joyce’s language experimentation in FW even if I don’t quite get it. But I see the same amount of skill in it that I saw in Ulysses.
>>25216114>How do I understand it?You don't. You simply accept FW for what it is.
I want to read a big beautiful book full of beautiful writing. Which one of these would you recommend? I'm relatively new to reading old books. I'm looking for something that I can live in and that will stay with me forever.
>>25217434Each of the first four volumes is a unique brand of breathtaking that strengthens those that came before it. Really special stuff. Obviously it's long but each paragraph is a joy and it doesn't feel like work at all.
Can't go wrong with Middlemarch, you can try Silas Marner to get a taste for her prose. I'd probably go for Jane Eyre over Villette if you're going for Charlotte Brontë too.
>>25217347David foster wallace
>>25217775I enjoyed Jane Eyre, very nice book
>>25217347>big beautiful books>The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling>Lonesome Dove>A Suitable Boy>The Tale of Genji>Anna Karenina
This book is absolutely obscene, even by current day standards.
Can someone explain to me why exactly he feels the need to censor the Prussians and Austrians in this book? He had already left Frederick's court and was writing this from Geneva wasn't he?
>>25218805Probably out of fear. When push comes to shove the atheist recoils at the slightest bit of resistance.
>>25218816>Voltaire >atheist Bruh
>>25218818Okay he was a deist. But still...
>>25218783He published it anonymously. Also, I fucking loved this book.
Anna's Archive lost.It's over.
>>25214759libgen still exists
>>25218516>communist statesLike saying dry water, but you wouldn't know about that.
>>25218928>it wasn't real communism!grow up dude
>>25214092Wtf were they thinking? What's their excuse for risking free knowledge for everyone in favor of media slop with no preservation value?
>>25218931>He said the thing again!>He trusts CIA talking points like the words of ChristGOOD GOY. Be sure to NEVER look into it. Israel is your future.
George Orwell on Jack London's politics:>"But temperamentally he was very different from the majority of Marxists. With his love of violence and physical strength, his belief in 'natural aristocracy', his animal-worship and exaltation of the primitive, he had in him what one might fairly call a Fascist strain."
>>25217893>cared enough to post
>>25217893Can you stop making us look bad
“nothing was ever solved by non-violence” - Homer Simpson
>>25218555>wasted tripsVery gay post
>>25217754Well duh....
What's some other depressive lit apart from Dostoevsky work?
>>25212334IMO for Dosto, the overall message is life-affirming and not nihilistic, but the journey is obviously very dark. I can see how you would come away from his novels depressed if you identify with some of his darker characters like Ippolit, Kirillov, Ivan, Smerdyakov, or dare I say, Stavrogin.
>>25218168Thoughbeit you're right, but his message is always weak compared to his narrative. People knew dosto for his pessimistic and nihilistic theme even if he opposed it
Anyone know of any novels which fit the atmosphjere of Giles Corey? Preferably without the breakup whining and pathetic self-pity
>>25212207Jim thompson, read any books written by him. Its not depressive if you're stuck with the first person narrative and get yourself trapped by it, but once you look at the entire narrative from a bird eye or drone or whatever high view standpoint then you realize that its all hopeless
>>25212859maybe try Suicide by Leve. its written in the 2nd person addressed to a friend who killed himself. Leve killed himself I think like a week after finishing it. also there is this Swiss fag who wrote a book in the style of Wittgensteins tractus but about how defensible and cool suicide is, after which he he killed himself also. >>25212963NTA but it's fine. the movie is pretty much a slightly trimmed but otherwise word for word version of the novel. Strindberg has a good little novel on loneliness but not sure if it's available in English. If you want more French I think Thomas the obscure and will o the wisp are underappreciated on here
Seasons, Holidays, Time, and Change Edition FAQ:>What is worldbuilding?Worldbuilding is the process of creating entire fictional worlds from scratch, all while considering the logistics of these worlds to make them as believable as possible. Worldbuilding asks questions about the setting of a world, and then answers them, often in great detail. Most people use it as a means of creating a setting or the scenery for a story.>"Isn't there a Worldbuilding general in >>>/tg/ already?"Yes, there is. However, that general is focused on the creation of fictional worlds for the intended purpose of playing TTRPG campaigns. Here you can discuss worldbuilding projects that are not meant to be used for a roleplaying setting, but for novels, videogames, or any other kind of creative project.>"Can I discuss the setting of my campaign here, though?"If you want to, but it would probably be better to discuss it on >>>/tg/ . We don't allow the discussion of TTRPG mechanics, however. If you want to discuss stats or which D&D edition is best, this is not the place.>"Can I talk about an existing fictional setting that is not mine?"Yes, of course you can!>"Does worldbuilding need to be about fantasy and elves?"Worldbuilding, as already stated above, and contrary to what many believe, does not inherently imply blatantly copying Tolkien. In fact, there are many science-fiction setting out there, and even entire alternative history settings which do not possess supernatural elements at all. Any kind of science fiction book has an implied setting at least, which involves a certain degree of worldbuilding put into it.Old thread: >>25130237
>>25218478Thread Questions:>How do the people in your settings celebrate the changing of the seasons? Are there any seasonal festivals or ceremonies that aren’t just copies of ones from our world, and how do you make such holidays?>Are there any supernatural beings with ties to the seasons in some way, be they spirits, gods, etc.? And how are they affected by the aforementioned rites and rituals>Similarly, what about monsters and mystical beasts with special ties to the seasons in some ways, like a special deer that shows up around spring? And what are some less obvious animals to tie to each season, thematically speaking?>What about magically speaking, are certain spells tied to the seasons or certain Honestly surprised no one’s made a new thread until now. Bonus questions: >What kinds of fantastical creatures and outright monsters exist in your worlds, and how did you design/choose them? What process did you use when designing them and/or would recommend to others? And what is your favorite monster of all (hard mode: no dragons)?>If you used any existing monsters or creatures from myths and legends, like dragons, how did you put your own spin on them? And where do you prefer to look for your inspiration and ideas?>Speaking of, did your monsters and/or magical beasts evolve more or less naturally, or were they deliberately created by gods, wizards, and/or some other beings? And if the latter, why did the creators make them and how?>How does the presence of the monsters affect the ecosystem of the setting? Are any of your monsters herbivores or do they solely feed on the blood of the innocent?>Are any monsters in your setting sapient, or are they all just beasts? And if any are sapient, what do you have to consider when including them?>Do the people of your setting tame/domesticate any monsters somehow, and if so, how does that affect their society, and how do they manage that feat? Speaking of, how do people defend against wild monsters?Comment too long. Click here to view the full text.
>>252184802/2>In your setting, what is the major religion(s) present? What advice do you have for creating religions, including books and other resources on the topic or existing fictional religions done well?>Where did you look for ideas on the religion's name, religious garb, ceremonies/rituals, tenants, etc.? Are there any religions outside of the Judeo-Christianity umbrella that have good aspects for fictional religions, especially if they aren’t used as often as they should be?>How accurate is the religion to the actual reality of the setting? And if the god(s) of the setting actually exist in the world, how does this affect their faiths, and what needs to be remembered when making said gods and pantheons?>Where do you look for ideas/resources on creating the divinities of your settings? Are there any settings in particular that you feel do gods right?>Do your religions have Saints, Angels, Demons, and/or other important figures besides the actual gods? If so, what are they like, and how do they impact the religion?>Lastly, how much power does your religion have over the setting? And how do the people of your setting view the gods and religions?
How do you overcome the bias against steampunk and other settings inspired by the 19th century?
>>25218896I typically do it by removing the steam.
What's all the hub bub about this one?
>>25212528>Recktall Brownshit on the nose, no?
>>25218632He is the embodiment of middlebrow
>>25218632hes not noteworthy enough to belong in any "canon"
>>25218632>>25218749Obvious samefagging, go back to your schizo threads that are only still up because you keep replying to yourself.
>>25209957how the fuck did they make a copy of the great gatsby that thick? is it size 36 font or something?
