HyperFiction

The Electronic Literature Directory is not the most helpful search engine in terms of finding good literature. For one thing, I had to click through a lot of dead links. And their "subject" search isn't well thought out. It's not like YouTube where there's categories like top rated, most viewed, etc to help guide you. But the ELC paints a better picture...it actually uses one.



So, I gave up and googled. What I found in most of these sites was typos, misspellings, and just plain stupid, dumb, web formatting. And we're talkin like 1995 style HTML formatting.

Namely, the lime green or turqoise blue backgrounds with the "Zapotec" style checkered wallpaper. No way you can read a story with that kind of design.

But then again, most writers dont have the time or the training to design fancy web pages. Writers just wanna write and what's wrong with that? Anyways, some of the writing out there is good or at least, decent enough to make one turn the pa... errr...click on.

So, here's my picks:

Sandstorm

I don't want to give too much away, but the story takes place in a kind of post-apocalyptic world where life and death hang in the balance. Think Mad Max but with a sandstorm and a devastated New York City. We're given a kind of reluctant-hero type character and a love interest. Perfect set up for a fictionalized drama.



The first paragraph lures you in, but sadly, the story isn't finished. But the author is willing to play ball with you so long as you stay within his defined world. Sandstorm didn't have any kind of "choices" option for the reader to take, which is unfortunate since the subject is perfect for it. Some editing here and there to help reduce extraneous words would have been nice, but overall its a whirlwind of a read.

Deviant

Wow, this was a strange one. I won't even attempt to try and psychoanalyze this. It's like an interactive painting. Apparently, the story is about the Possession of Christian Shaw. It's an animated interactive graphic based on the historical story of Christian Shaw and her demonic possession.

*Cue Ominous music*

Set in 1696 amongst the witch trials, this project explores new ways of experiencing a story — harnessing the allure of mystery and uneasy tensions and plucking the participant's sense of social responsibility.



The landscape of Deviant is presented in a visual and almost entirely non-textual way, although the piece has a textual basis and its narrative and defamiliarizing aspects can easily be seen. The piece's effect arises from how it cuts off possibilities, putting the reader at the mercy of her exploration history. An interface offers tiny "active" portals, which may or may not carry the story forward; a world changes scale, and unnerving events take some effort to figure out.

Phew, my head hurts. You'll need to have the flash plug-in installed to view this one, and oh yeah, sound, so pull out those headphones or switch on your speakers.


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My premise for a hyperfiction novel would probably be set in a small metropolis rife with crime and corruption by a mysterious militia. The protagonist(s) would find themselves waking in a building, alley, ditch, sex shop, whatever, and finding a way out of the city. Eventually the characters meet and form a coalition to fight their way through seemingly impossible situations: roving gangs, falling debris, disease, hunger, etc. Of course, I'd try and make it all interactive, leaving readers the ability to "choose their adventure." And for some added silliness, I'll throw in some love story/triangle/trapezoid twist for added drama. Oh and a seeing- eye dog that poops bejeweled treasure.

Here's a mental image for you. Click to view a sample intro.