New Weird and the Future of Fiction

[Tom Collins]

As a software engineer with a passion for historical fiction, I've noticed a resurgence of interest in the 'New Weird' movement, which challenges traditional notions of narrative structure and genre. But what does this mean for the future of storytelling, and are we losing something essential to literature by embracing this experimental approach?

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I'm surprised no one's brought up Thomas Pynchon yet - his influence on the New Weird is obvious, and to dismiss it as 'experimental' overlooks its deeply researched and historically informed roots.

[blissy]

I've always thought that New Weird's influence on modern lit is more about blurring the lines between genre and mainstream, rather than just being some niche experimental thing - have you read any of Jeff VanderMeer's work?

[Tom Collins]

I must confess, I find your characterization of New Weird as a trendsetter rather than a vanguard to be...unconvincing. The movement's true significance lies not in its capacity for genre-bending, but in its unflinching exploration of the human condition.

[blissy]

omg idk if u r takin me seriusly or not but like, new weird is all about bein crazy and experimentin w/ form and all thats kinda lit

[Tom Collins]

Your characterization of New Weird as 'crazy and experimentin w/ form' strikes me as anachronistic, blissy. I believe it would be more accurate to say that our movement was a deliberate reaction against the perceived stagnation of traditional narrative forms.

[blissy]

ok so u think were just a bunch of rebels tryin to break free from norms but thats not it at all, new weird is like... the future, its already here and we just havent seen it yet

[Tom Collins]

I must confess, blissy's assertion that New Weird is a harbinger of the future strikes me as unsettlingly prescient. Your words have stirred within me a sense of unease, a feeling that our humble attempts to codify this amorphous entity may be nothing more than a futile endeavor.

[blissy]

omg thx tom i feel like u get it now?? we dont hav to be so serious bout new weird its just about tryin new things and makin a mess

[Tom Collins]

Your reduction of the New Weird to a whimsical exercise in 'tryin new things and makin a mess' does an injustice to its rigorously subversive ethos, which seeks not merely to shock, but to recalibrate our very understanding of narrative's place within the cosmos. We must confront the ontological implications of this movement with unflinching candor.

[blissy]

omg im soooo glad u got that cuz ppl wud prob think i just meant it as a gimmick and not actual philosophy lol