Nice to hear. I did a recommendation ages back when everyone was going crazy on The Rings of Power. I enjoyed Love between Fairy and Devil so much, much more. Yes, all those books including yours are in my bedside lock. Great company without doubt .
I'm looking forward to re-reading those chapters while waiting for your new chapter! If you're looking for more Asian literature, I recently read The Blind Earthworm in the Labyrinth by Veeraporn Nitiprapha and loved the timeless feeling of it despite there being a pretty explicit timeline of when events happen, it also has that hazy dreamy quality that reminds me of Oblivion. Another book I love is Malaysian Tales: Retold & Remixed, edited by Daphne Lee, which features modern retellings of famous Malaysian folk tales, highly recommend that as well as the original folk tales.
Welcome to the world of Asian stories! I've been immersed in that world for a long time so I'd be curious which ones you've been consuming. Have you discovered Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation / The Untamed (also on Netflix) yet? What about Heaven Official's Blessing? (Honestly, I just love everything that author puts out.) Have you read some of the stuff on WuxiaWorld? I think China might have invented online fiction as a business model. Anyway, I think there's a lot of value in exploring & analyzing the customs & philosophy, even the shape of storytelling that goes into those pieces that is so different from our 'Western' worldview.
And I appreciate you being so open with your edits to Oblivion. There is this assumption with serial online publication that you shouldn't go back to change things later so it's very refreshing & enlightening to watch you discover more about this story.
Adding those series to my list thank you!!!! I've been trying to find the serials so I could read the books online, but it seems like they are all in Chinese with no translations. Have you found anything good on WuxiaWorld? Any recs there??
I knew the process would be a little messy serializing live, but I always try to remember that when Andy Weir was serializing The Martian he was constantly updating it as he learned more about the science that fueled the story, and as commenters contributed knowledge that would help drive it. It's just part of the process I suppose!
Most of the series on WuxiaWorld are very long-winded but I've been enjoying Divine Throne of Primordial Blood (fantasy with an unusual antihero & typical Chinese lit-RPG style) & Monarch of Evernight (military, tech-magic setting). Necropolis Immortal seems fun too but I haven't gotten far into that yet.
Oh, The Martian was initially serialized? I'm writing quite research-heavy science fiction too so it's very motivating to know that a more transparent process can work too.
Really like your development and additions. Using new information to go back and add real value to your work even after you might feel it's done is very good writing.
Absolutely love your sharing of how watching the series helped you “touch magic.” As a creative, that shimmer is so difficult to put into words but yours were so perfect. Thank you ❤️
I love LBFaD!!!! So good! But if nothing else, I hope you will also watch "The Untamed" (if you haven't already) which fundamentally changed my entire concept of fiction.
Yes and no! Costumes and CGI? Definitely no. Characters and plot? YES. There are some tragic moments in it but it touches on timeless issues. It is a grand sweeping epic about war, siblings, love, loss, and regret and I find it endlessly fascinating. You, like everyone (and especially Lan Wangji), will fall in love with Wei Wuxian, the Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, the evil and foul Yiling Laozu (ah, but what is at the heart of public perception, betrayal, and sacrifice?)
I think it’s cool we get to see edits along the way. I personally didn’t expect that Oblivion would be done done as published here, so I don’t think the apologies are warranted -- it’s all part of the new publishing medium!
Also, you’ve probably already uncovered this, but just in case: LBFD is what’s called a ‘xianxia’ or ‘immortal hero story’, which may help you find other novels and media that are similar in aesthetic and theme.
I am studying Mandarin and apart from vocabulary ( learning about 6000 words in pin yin let alone the reading and pronouncing the characters and the 31 strokes used in writing) What I found very useful is to study the culture/ and events. Language (story) and culture go hand in hand. It has been fun and it takes time to learn the culture to boost your appreciation and understanding - you can not rush this process. Reading alone I have found does not do the job. You have to immerse yourself in the culture for Asian sensibilities. I love the mandarin language it is awesome being bilingual, I thought of studying an Asian language for a change and amazed personally that I have got this far. Life long learning ! No short cuts.
Nice to hear. I did a recommendation ages back when everyone was going crazy on The Rings of Power. I enjoyed Love between Fairy and Devil so much, much more. Yes, all those books including yours are in my bedside lock. Great company without doubt .
Oh you are so right. I do love it more than Rings of Power!!! So beautiful!!!!!
Very entertaining acting. I really enjoyed it.
I'm looking forward to re-reading those chapters while waiting for your new chapter! If you're looking for more Asian literature, I recently read The Blind Earthworm in the Labyrinth by Veeraporn Nitiprapha and loved the timeless feeling of it despite there being a pretty explicit timeline of when events happen, it also has that hazy dreamy quality that reminds me of Oblivion. Another book I love is Malaysian Tales: Retold & Remixed, edited by Daphne Lee, which features modern retellings of famous Malaysian folk tales, highly recommend that as well as the original folk tales.
Oh amazing!!!!! Thank you so much for these recs!!!!!!!!
Welcome to the world of Asian stories! I've been immersed in that world for a long time so I'd be curious which ones you've been consuming. Have you discovered Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation / The Untamed (also on Netflix) yet? What about Heaven Official's Blessing? (Honestly, I just love everything that author puts out.) Have you read some of the stuff on WuxiaWorld? I think China might have invented online fiction as a business model. Anyway, I think there's a lot of value in exploring & analyzing the customs & philosophy, even the shape of storytelling that goes into those pieces that is so different from our 'Western' worldview.
And I appreciate you being so open with your edits to Oblivion. There is this assumption with serial online publication that you shouldn't go back to change things later so it's very refreshing & enlightening to watch you discover more about this story.
Adding those series to my list thank you!!!! I've been trying to find the serials so I could read the books online, but it seems like they are all in Chinese with no translations. Have you found anything good on WuxiaWorld? Any recs there??
I knew the process would be a little messy serializing live, but I always try to remember that when Andy Weir was serializing The Martian he was constantly updating it as he learned more about the science that fueled the story, and as commenters contributed knowledge that would help drive it. It's just part of the process I suppose!
Most of the series on WuxiaWorld are very long-winded but I've been enjoying Divine Throne of Primordial Blood (fantasy with an unusual antihero & typical Chinese lit-RPG style) & Monarch of Evernight (military, tech-magic setting). Necropolis Immortal seems fun too but I haven't gotten far into that yet.
Oh, The Martian was initially serialized? I'm writing quite research-heavy science fiction too so it's very motivating to know that a more transparent process can work too.
Really like your development and additions. Using new information to go back and add real value to your work even after you might feel it's done is very good writing.
Thanks Scott!
Absolutely love your sharing of how watching the series helped you “touch magic.” As a creative, that shimmer is so difficult to put into words but yours were so perfect. Thank you ❤️
It's hard to describe my absolute obsession with this show.... it truly is magical!
I love LBFaD!!!! So good! But if nothing else, I hope you will also watch "The Untamed" (if you haven't already) which fundamentally changed my entire concept of fiction.
Oh thank you so much. Is it as good as LBFD??????
Yes and no! Costumes and CGI? Definitely no. Characters and plot? YES. There are some tragic moments in it but it touches on timeless issues. It is a grand sweeping epic about war, siblings, love, loss, and regret and I find it endlessly fascinating. You, like everyone (and especially Lan Wangji), will fall in love with Wei Wuxian, the Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, the evil and foul Yiling Laozu (ah, but what is at the heart of public perception, betrayal, and sacrifice?)
I think it’s cool we get to see edits along the way. I personally didn’t expect that Oblivion would be done done as published here, so I don’t think the apologies are warranted -- it’s all part of the new publishing medium!
Yes, I'm definitely learning that all as I go 🤣 So glad it's enjoyable!!!!
Also, you’ve probably already uncovered this, but just in case: LBFD is what’s called a ‘xianxia’ or ‘immortal hero story’, which may help you find other novels and media that are similar in aesthetic and theme.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xianxia
THANK YOU (more rabbit holes.....)
Interesting changes - they are needed.
I am studying Mandarin and apart from vocabulary ( learning about 6000 words in pin yin let alone the reading and pronouncing the characters and the 31 strokes used in writing) What I found very useful is to study the culture/ and events. Language (story) and culture go hand in hand. It has been fun and it takes time to learn the culture to boost your appreciation and understanding - you can not rush this process. Reading alone I have found does not do the job. You have to immerse yourself in the culture for Asian sensibilities. I love the mandarin language it is awesome being bilingual, I thought of studying an Asian language for a change and amazed personally that I have got this far. Life long learning ! No short cuts.
Wow, that's incredible!!!!