A Girl Corrupted by the Internet is the Summoned Hero?!

by Eliezer Yudkowsky

"My family name is Yugano. My given name is Yuuki. I have no redeeming qualities." So begins this light novel of a girl corrupted by the Internet, and then summoned to another world. She's jaded from having already read many stories like that - but will that prepare her for what awaits in this world? Of course not! But she's going to plunge ahead anyway, and not slow down for anything!Eliezer Yudkowsky is the author of "Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality" and " From AI to Zombies". He is a decision theorist specializing in self-reference and reflection, a fact which unstoppably infects his writing no matter how frivolous.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Short Stories, Science Fiction, Light Novel, Novella

80 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2016

About the author

Eliezer Yudkowsky is a founding researcher of the field of AI alignment and played a major role in shaping the public conversation about smarter-than-human AI. He appeared on Time magazine's 2023 list of the 100 Most Influential People In AI, was one of the twelve public figures featured in The New York Times's "Who's Who Behind the Dawn of the Modern Artificial Intelligence Movement," and has been discussed or interviewed in The New Yorker, Newsweek, Forbes, Wired, Bloomberg, The Atlantic, The Economist, The Washington Post, and many other venues.

Reviews

[Eric Herboso · Rating 5 out of 5]

The intersection of decision theory and sexual depravity is not my usual go-to place for light reading, but in this case the combination works beautifully.

Although the book is woefully short, the author has managed to set up a rational hard fantasy premise that successfully thrusts the reader from beginning to climax. (Puns intended.)

The book will be more enjoyable if you have some familiarity with Japanese light novels, tropes concerning B theory time travel paradoxes (or, more specifically, consistency re: decision theory), and ...advanced... pornography. But it's readable even without these prerequisites.

I'm giving it five stars because it was really good; but at the same time I'm quite disappointed at the extremely short length. I feel teased by how short it lasted!

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Japanese light novel style" apparently means a very informal first-person present-tense narration. Also, reading the authorial foreword, "hero summoned to another world" is a genre now.

This was charming, funny, and very silly.

I think I could do without the weird title, though. If I recommend this book to anyone it will be as "the latest thing Eliezer Yudkowsky wrote".

Content note: roughly 75% of text is about sex. Text contains no actual sex.

[Callum G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would not recommend this book unless you are more comfortable with some of the less than safe for work parts of the internet.

If you aren't then you're missing out... on this fun, cleverly written little story! Crafted in such a way to have the reader laugh and think in equal measure. The sloppy, first person narration compliments Yudkowky's continual emphasis on decision theory and gives a quirky feel to the whole book.

Definitely a good read to pick up if you're looking for something a little less ordinary.

[kalyx · Rating 1 out of 5]

in my trash era. help.

[Mells · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eliezer Yudkowsky, what are you doing? I get enough strange looks when I say that my favourite book is a Harry Potter fanfic, now I'll have to explain why I liked a book about a girl who likes porn a lot.

A good illustration of why the genre doesn't matter, but the content does. Before I've read this, I had no idea that there was the whole 'summoned hero' genre, but the clichés are pretty much universal, and the quality of their circumvention is easily measurable by the 'yaaaay's your inner voice excitedly squeaks when you like the plot devices.

Also, yup, if you by any chance dislike sex, thoughts of sex, even more thoughts of sex, did i actually mention sex yet, thoughts of perverse sex, the absence of the actual sex and cool plots, you might want to avoid reading this, but if it's not possible, I'd suggest to shut your kindle and think about a certain beautiful country that is rainy, traditional, reserved and that has given us Doctor Who.

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

High lol-density. Also, I didn‘t know that there was a whole in my heart to be filled by a likable hardcore-kinky literary role model. The main character will, basically by design, dominate any sexual kink in its fucked-up-ness. Somehow reassuring.

[SP · Rating 3 out of 5]

As in Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality, Eliezer Yudkowsky takes a fantasy world and lets the characters really test the tropes.

The "laws" of fantasy often seem less like natural laws and more like human rules constructed to drive the plot. (Which, I suppose, is exactly what they are.) Yudkowsky lets his characters push back by complying with the letter of the fantasy "laws" while violating their spirit. The characters don't drop into the narrative roles that the world seems to push them toward. Instead, they act the way real people would: by gaming the system.

Unfortunately, there's only a limited amount to explore here. Maybe it's a function of the Japanese "light novel," but this breezes along to a very rapid conclusion. (It's only 74 pages long, according to Amazon.)

Overall: Fun and interesting, but maybe a bit superficial. There's a decent chance I will reread it. In my idiosyncratic reviewing system, that supports my initial estimate: three stars, liked it.

[Adam Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even if the race of Earth can't win at anything else, we won't lose at degenerate pornography!

Yugano Yuuki is a girl that has sunken to the greatest depths of depravity that only the Internet can provide. When the holy white mages of another world cry out for a pure unsullied hero to save their world from evil, they get way more than they bargained for. Now, Yuuki plans to take this righteous world of black and white moralities for everything she can. A summoned hero the likes of which have never been seen before.

This book was hilarious. I loved every moment of it. The only problem is that it is so short. I'd love to see more of this world. Perverted, snarky hero Yuuki isn't interested in saving the world, all she wants is to fulfill her basest desires. I really had fun reading this. I loved Methods of Rationality, so when I saw the author promoting this I knew I had to read it.

Nice little fun story about a perverted Japanese school girl dragged into a world of angels and demons that have no idea how depraved the Internet can be.

[Mati Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not familiar at all with the genre "Japanese light novel", even less the subgenre "hero summoned into another world", but this book is written as one of those (apparently). It's also a rational fic (a genre I'm more familiar with).

If Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality is the fictional mirror of Rationality: From AI to Zombies, then this fiction is the fictional mirror of Timeless Decision Theory (all by the same author).

I think being somewhat familiar with timeless decision theory, or at least some of its problems, such as Newcomb's problem, makes this fiction more enjoyable (so just Google that before reading the fic). Having some deviant sexual interests (or just liking to watch porn really) might be another aspect making this fiction more interesting.

[Chris Waterguy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good - funny, clever and original. Not Yudkowsky's best, but would give 4.5 if we were permitted half stars.

[DJay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short book, but it is also an awesome book. You know how Japanese light novels are all about someone going to another world to be the main hero, builds a harem of beautiful girls all trying to marry him and he still be this super pure and wholesome young boy/man that can't do anything because he's trying to get with his sweetheart? Yeah, take all of those thoughts and throw them out. This is definitely a western light novel in build, but that's where it all stops. This is more in the vein of JK Haru is a Sex Worker in Another World but instead of working in a brothel, this girl is working the planet. This book is very tongue in cheek and has a highly perverted main character becoming pretty much the lord of hell. She freaking ends up getting SATAN's soul. Not like, finding it, but OWNING it. I gave this 4 stars only for one reason. The book needs to be LONGER. Just when it was about to get to the juicy bits you get hit with that good ol TBC.....Well, this got me hooked, so I'm waiting for book two. Until next time.

[aggums · Rating 1 out of 5]

awful awful awful awful. absolutely awful.

i knew this was going to be bad going in but yeesh. this little pamphlet, either making fun of or inspired by (i hope the former because god he did a bad job otherwise) japanese light novels, reads exactly like the author's more famous work, "Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality", except this one has more sex jokes thrown in. the author literally cannot stop himself from rambling on and on about statistics and probabilities for pages on end, even in a light-hearted story about a girl getting isekaied. the kind of terminal STEM brain this guy has is a curse.

this thing's only saving grace is that it took less than an hour to read.

five middle fingers out of five!

[Andrew Clough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but delightful. I laughed several times and it was also clever.

[Kaj Sotala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not exactly Great Literature That Gives A Deep Insight To The Secrets of the Human Condition, but regardless quite entertaining.

[Coyora Dokusho · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this... I really liked it!!! I was amused~~~~~~

[Fatima Javed · Rating 5 out of 5]

wtf ??

[Alfie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: [A]

[Петър Стойков · Rating 5 out of 5]

Колкото повече гледаш порно и не общуваш с живи хора, особено с тия от другия пол, толкова по-извратено става съзнанието ти и толкова повече се отдавлечаваш от нормалното човешко общуване.

Но дали от това би могло, в някакъв странен, изолиран случай, да има някаква полза? Е, случаят трябва да е бая изолиран и много, много странен, но все пак?

Кратка и неистово забавна A Girl Corrupted by the Internet is the Summoned Hero?! е просто още един малък страничен проект на автора на голямо количество rational fiction.

[Costin Manda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had a blast reading Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality, a humorous take on Harry Potter if he were educated in science and not just another emotional teen lucky enough to be "the one", so as I was reading A Girl Corrupted by the Internet is the Summoned Hero? I was really hoping it wasn't just a one off. And it wasn't! Although much shorter and not so rich with references, this novella from Eliezer Yudkowsky is just as funny as I hoped.

A self proclaimed translation of a Japanese manga that was never written, the story follows a girl that gets summoned into another realm as the virgin hero to save the world from evil. However, the reason she is still a virgin is habituation to Internet pornographic depravity and losing interest in any normal relationship. The world she arrives in is a world of prudes and the power of the magic there relies on one) being a virgin and two) asking prudish demons to do something awfully depraved so that they refuse.

I won't spoil it for you, but it's funny and short and I recommend it highly.

[Ranjani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't stop laughing from beginning to end. I love Yudkowsky's now established style of turning tropes on their heads with a liberal dose of probability and decision theory, and this short story is no different. It will likely offend any delicate sensibilities you possess, and I conveniently have none so I absolutely loved it. It does end a bit abruptly - it feels like there's so much more that could be written, but all the same I understand why. You can almost tag on a "I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship" at the end there.

It's a very short (and very intelligent) read, and it will delightfully surprise you at many turns, so well worth giving it a try.

[LOL_BOOKS · Rating 1 out of 5]

I THINK I MIGHT HAVE READ SOME OF THAT LIGHT NOVEL THING. IT WAS RLY, RLY BAD.

I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY HE HAS SOME ISSUES.

[mybluesunset · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not the first time I've read this but I forget how long it's been. It's pretty cute and funny, a lighter version of Yudkowsky's normal style but with typical themes (decision theory mostly, a little consequentialism). He doesn't QUITE hit the light, flippant tone I assume he's going for (not being familiar with light novels) but he does pretty well. The core ideas are pretty cute (pervy online teenage girl is easily more depraved than everyone in the innocent fantasy world she's summoned into, and this is a superpower bc the magic system allows you to control a demon and/or take their soul if you call them under a succubus ritual and ask them for something they won't do; being told she has 100% chance of success is the only stable loop that gives her the confidence to summon Satan himself under the ritual, and she immediately breaks him by asking him to suck her toes, bc as Satan himself he's incapable of doing submissive acts. This actually wouldn't have worked on a lower/otherwise easier to control demon ; the "Evil Emperor" who she's supposed to overthrow is actually just a reformist dude who figured becoming Emperor was his best leverage point on the summoning ritual (tl;dr the ritual calls the person most likely to defeat the Evil Emperor, so he decides that he will step aside IFF a person is called with useful knowledge on governance + the ability to bind a powerful demon to rule with, hence making our hero the person most likely to be called).

I remember when I first read this I wanted more of the romance/erotica element, but this time I didn't mind bc honestly Yudkowsky is probably not the writer for that anyway...?

Characterization is pretty thin for everyone except the main character, but that's ok given the length.

There's a summoning chant with a good rhythm to it that I like ("Ash. Dust. Desert. Emptiness. Death to fire, death to earth, death to water, death to air. In the center of all things there is a white flower. A drop of my blood falls upon the petals as a sign. The book of law contains protections for mortal beings. I forfeit those protections. I forfeit those protections. I forfeit those protections. I open my heart to the gaze of Hell.")

[Douglas · Rating 3 out of 5]

NOTE: This review contains SPOILERS. Read at your own risk.

So this is really just an extremely straight forward short story. The MC, Yuuki, is summoned by the good guys to fight the evil emperor. As a virgin Yuuki's innocence allows her to be given a guardian angel. How, Yuuki is only innocent due to lack of opportunity and is in fact a big fan of internet porn and so has a large amount of depravity in her mind if no direct experience.

Then comes the first twist: The evil emperor knows all about the summoning and his troops have surrounded the entire site, quickly capturing Yuuki. Upon delivery to “The Wicked Vizier” Yuuki quickly learns that the evil emperor was manipulating her summoning. As a result Yuuki is sent to evil school to learn demonic summoning. This doesn’t take long and thanks to the Yuuki’s unique situation she is able to summon The Devil and, essentially bind The Devil to her person. The Devil is not Yuuki’s to command and so an accommodation must be made between them which is where the story end.

Basically an enjoyable little read but falls short of being a truly worthwhile read largely due to is brevity.

[Anton Hammarstedt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't really give a proper synopsis without spoiling anything but I can at least tell you that the magic system is internally consistent and the plot hinges critically on the application of the rules of said system. Fantasy in style, sci-fi in substance.

Setting presentation, design and originality (how cool is the setting?): 3
Setting verisimillitude and detail (how much sense does the setting make?): 5
Plot design, presentation and originality (How well-crafted was the plot, in the dramaturgic sense?): 5
Plot and character verisimillitude (How much sense did the plot and motivations make? Did events follow from motivations?): 5
Characterization and character development: 3
Character sympatheticness: 4
Prose: 5
Page turner factor: 5
Mind blown factor: 4

Final (weighted) score: 4.4

[Adam Newgas · Rating 1 out of 5]

So bad it retroactively lowered my opinion of HPMoR. I'd say I'm not the target audience, but if so, it's a pretty damn niche book.

The parts about sex aren't funny, and the Japanese parts are so very gratuitious. As for the plot, it certainly talks about probability a lot, and the final denoument has a certain ring to it, but the characters are not so rational I'd call this a rationalist novel. For the most part, it is just silly (though not funny, as mentioned).

Go read Erfworld if you are looking for a loser protagonist summoned as the Designated Hero. And obviously, go read HPMoR if you want a rationalist protagonist wreck up a fantasy world.

[Red Alibi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quick read before bed. It started off with a great premise but soon realized that it is very superficial with- and I cannot stress this enough- incredibly bad writing. I understand what the author was aiming for, a sort of a parody of light novels, but good God, man. Was he trying to imitate a how LNs are written? Nope. No. This read like something a literal 12 year old who had just discovered porn would write. An absolute terrible waste of a good idea. Author should have spent more than an afternoon writing this. Also, the extent of Yuuki's mighty pervertedness is some light BDSM and a flying mention of guro (erotic gore). Embarrassing.

Tl;dr: this sucked balls.

[Khana Santamaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muhahahaha!

I've not laughed this hard in ages. I had to go apologize to my son for waking him up with my laughter.

This story is short, and *brilliant.* It's so irreverent and flippant.

It's gloriously evil, and also loads of fun. It showcases Earth in... strange, yet flattering ways. Degeneracy transformed into power, in hilariously rational ways!

I love it. So much. I will read it again when I need a giggle, though never shall it make me laugh as much as it did the first time.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this. It takes a number of tropes and considers what could happen if you apply these tropes in a different way. The main character is...hm. The problem. There are a number of things that are great, but some parts feel really unrealistic. I don't often complain about authors with main characters that are different than they are, but I think this might have felt less odd if the author wasn't a man writing about a sex-obsessed female teenager. It's a bit squicky. That's coming from someone who appreciated the movie Sucker Punch.

[Dennis Palmero · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short story, and kinda trashy, but its a decent attempt at writing a parody of the Japanese genre of light fantasy story.

I have to admit I laughed a couple of times, so in that, it satisfied.

One of the main complaints about this novella is that it ends abruptly. I didn't mind this, because in a lot of the real anime/manga genre the story DOES end abruptly or even nonsensically. So in that, it stays true to its roots.

[Rory O’Kane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty clever and funny. However, the ending came way too soon. There was still so much I wanted to know about what would happen, though it could be worse—at least the story outlines a possible future.

I just thought of another potential reason to read this: if you are ever sucked through a portal into a fantasy world, this story points out a few common pitfalls you will be able to avoid.