this post was submitted on 23 Dec 2023
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Science Fiction

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Lemmy World Rules

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Book recommendations that play with what it means to be a book (lemmynsfw.com)
submitted 11 months ago by Worx@lemmynsfw.com to c/sciencefiction@lemmy.world
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I really love sci-fi novels and I read a lot of books. I read 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson a while back and that book is particularly interesting to me. Rather than each chapter advancing the narrative of the story, there were occasional breaks where a chapter would have a list of semi-random words which just gave the vibe of what's happening, or some history of a scene, or a recipe for how to build an asteroid.

There's another book that I have heard of but neglected to write the name down, where the reader of the book is a character within the book, and the narrator speaks directly to you (but not a choose-your-adventure style book).

All of this got me interested in finding other books, preferably sci-fi or maybe fantasy, where the concept of being a book is played with and new ideas are tried. Any recommendations?

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[–] jodawznev@sh.itjust.works 49 points 11 months ago (8 children)

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski fits that model really well.

[–] moon@lemmy.cafe 8 points 11 months ago

+1 to this book, it's really surreal

[–] cabhan@discuss.tchncs.de 8 points 11 months ago

I immediately thought of House of Leaves. Do not read it as an ebook, if there even is an ebook version. It must be read as a physical book.

[–] FollyDolly@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago

Agreed! House of Leaves is a must read. Get the physical book, it won't work with an Ereader. I got the softcover edtion and it was totally worth it. If I ever sell my house I am going to rough up my copy real good and hide it somewhere for the new owners to find.

[–] ChicoSuave@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago

It gave me actual nightmares about houses. Such a high quality book!

[–] Xraygoggles@lemmy.world 5 points 11 months ago

Great call, you have to be careful that you get the color version!

I lost my original copy and when I replaced it, there was no more color. Had to return that one to find one with color. I think it adds so much.

[–] jjjalljs@ttrpg.network 5 points 11 months ago

House of Leaves is fantastic.

Another book of his, Only Revolutions, is wild, but I couldn't get through it. You have to turn the book upside down to read half of it.

[–] jrbaconcheese@yall.theatl.social 2 points 11 months ago

Fun fact, his sister is the singer Poe