The Sword and Laser discussion

Hey all, this is my first time posting and I'm super late to this folder, so I have low expectations for this thread, but here goes.

I'm really enjoying this book, and I find that I'm quite a fan of books with little or no plot, if it's done right. Maybe I value concepts, character and prose above plot, and didn't realize it. The other plotless book I loved was Exit West.

Does anyone feel the same way, and do they have good recommendations in this sphere? Preferably also Sword/Lasery but it doesn't have to be.

Well, there's Gravity's Rainbow by Pynchon. It's considered a classic. Mind you, I couldn't stand it and dropped it after 50 pages, but it fits the bill of what you are asking.

Paul wrote: "I'm really enjoying this book, and I find that I'm quite a fan of books with little or no plot, if it's done right. Maybe I value concepts, character and prose above plot, and didn't realize it."

While not exactly plotless, the plot for A Calculated Life is almost beside the point. The character study and worldbuilding are the chief draws there.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Also, the story Flowers for Algernon is likewise mostly plotless. It’s one of the few times where the short story and novel are equally powerful. (And heartbreaking.) It’s really more about the character of Charly and what he goes through when his IQ is boosted from 68 to supergenuis level, which can be seen as a metaphor for our lives as children, adults and then senescent elders. But have tissues handy.

I’ve also heard that Space Opera by Catherynne Valente is plotless, but I haven’t read that one.

Hmm do you mean plotless in the sense that plot is less important? I felt like Exit West had a plot but there was a fantastical element.

If you are in for the surreal, I can recommend Dhalgren by Samuel R. Delany (my review is long but not as long as the book!)

The second novel in the Sprawl Trilogy by William Gibson, Count Zero (this comes after Neuromancer) is from a mind trapped in cyberspace.

One of the novels that is the cornerstone of this book club, Memoirs Found in a Bathtub, there are things happening, kind of, but it's arguable whether they matter, which renders all things plotless and ridiculous. This is where the word Lem comes from....

I wonder if instead of “plotless”, “character-driven” or “character-focused” might be the better term?
In any case, you may find the very edges of Sword and Laser territory, the magic realism/litfic borderlands, a profitable place to explore.

Possible suggestions:

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake has fairly limited plot, it’s more about characters and concepts. It’s about a girl who discovers that she can taste emotion in food.

The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock is an historical novel set in 18th century England. It’s sort-of about a mermaid, but more about society.

The Binding has an intriguing concept: that memories can be extracted from the human mind and bound in books.

I just finished The Slow Regard of Silent Things and loved it. It's just a "week in the life" of a side character from The Name of the Wind but it's very beautiful writing.

Currently listening to How to Stop Time by Matt Haig and unless something drastic happens in the last 20% this is definitely not about plot. It’s character all the way down.

If you're doing a search, you may want to use the term "slice of life" which may get you more results than "plotless."

I'd add Hild as a character-driven book - it's historical fiction (based on a real person), but if you've read medieval european-based fantasy the world will be familiar. Nothing happens for long swathes of time, and I really enjoyed it (my review here).

Another suggestion: not a Sword or Laser book, but for the ultimate in plot-lite character-heavy beautifully-written litfic, try Mrs. Dalloway

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Hmm do you mean plotless in the sense that plot is less important? I felt like Exit West had a plot but there was a fantastical element."

Yeah, I guess totally plotless would be more stream-of-conscience type stuff, while in Exit West, stuff does happen, there's not really much of a story arc, and whatever story there is seems like a back-drop. Its focus is its interesting concept and character engagement, much like with this story.

I've really enjoyed all of these suggestions though. Definitely added a bunch to my shelf. Thanks so much all!