Sufficiently Advanced Magic - (Not Quite A LitRPG?)

[Tony]

I just added this one to the group bookshelf, if no one else thinks it belongs there then feel free to take it off.

While some might not consider this to be a real LitRPG, as there is no digital aspect, I believe the class/magic system, tower/dungeon, items, etc give it a strong LitRPG vibe. It is like a Fantasy/LitRPG hybrid, just how I consider "The Game is Life" series to be a Drama/LitRPG hybrid.

As someone who is going through the entire genre like water, I enjoyed this book and think others in the group will as well.

It is also available on Audible and on Kindle Unlimited for those of you who have a subscription.

I'm curious if anyone else in the group has read it and what they thought!

[GaiusPrimus, Kindle Wizard]

It's been on my to read shelf for a while. And personally, am actual game is not necessary for a book to be LitRPG. I find that a lot of times it actually is a better story.

Take a gander at Healer's Gift by Tao Wong.

[Dustin]

I'd agree with you; it may not be exactly what you think of when you think litrpg, but I'm willing to bet fans of the genre will like it.

[Daniel]

I liked the book, but I'd call it psuedo-LitRPG (those that keep with the spirit of LitRPG, but can't technically be defined as such), since it has the technical level progressions, but there is no real game system.

[Chuck]

I agree that Sufficiently Advanced Magic is entertaining and LitRPG like. The invention of the mana watch, in particular, which gives a person's mana as a fraction makes it very similar. However, unless we discover that the world itself is actually a simulation it seems to lack one of the genre tells. Specifically it lacks the tension/irony/whatever between the character, the player in the real world and the NPC interactions.

[GaiusPrimus, Kindle Wizard]

To each their own I guess, but the gamification of the world is what makes it LitRPG, not necessarily the story taking place inside a game.

[Chuck]

I'm not saying the book doesn't belong on the shelf, just that it probably deserves a special category.

[Hud]

LitRPG does not have to take place in a game the story world just has to run like a RPG

[Tyler]

The rules of thumb I use to think of LitRPG I poached from some website which I can't find at the moment. The gist is: the world operates in some way reflective of game mechanics, and the characters have some quantifiable measure of progression.

In this sense, I'd call SAM LitRPG. The world is most definitely based on game mechanics (hello dungeon towers). SAM doesn't spell out characters sheets and explicit skill/stat upgrades, but a character's growth is still quantifiable thanks to the color of their aura and their measurable mana capacities.

Though, if you use my argument, then any Wuxian or Xanxian novel (with cultivation increasing power through stages), is halfway to a LitRPG. Twist the world to be a little more gamey, and you'd meet both requirements. I'd be interested to see how such a novel turned out.

[Mondragon]

I would rate it as litRPG in the "Tower" subgenre. There are a few bools like that.
I really enjoyed that one! Really good find and the twist is great!

[Panda]

I've read that recently, I wouldn't consider it Litrpg, it reminded me of the maze runner so more under YA whatever category that is.

[Freedom]

Hamda wrote: "I've read that recently, I wouldn't consider it Litrpg, it reminded me of the maze runner so more under YA whatever category that is."
Wasn't my cup of tea either, but to each their own :-)