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What stories make strong arguments against (or for) nihilism? Burr Send a noteboard - 08/10/2012 06:20:25 PM
I'm going to be, essentially, GMing a short-story style roleplaying game for another person, one which pits the nihilism of their character's past against the character's newfound hope.

His career as an artist never advanced, true to the warnings of his family. Feeling a failure, he tried to jump off a bridge. But just as he jumped he was grabbed by a woman. She thereafter used her status as his rescuer to assert control over all aspects of his life. He became fatalistic in his self-loathing.

But then one day he breaks free, and something happens that feels like he's been given a second chance to prove the worth of his own autonomy.

This story is going to focus on whether that seed blossoms or whether the continued attacks of nihilistic training will kill it before it gets the opportunity. The strength of the character's emotional grip on that seed will be tested.

I want it to be a cathartic story, so not so sentimental as It's a Wonderful Life, but nor as grossly horrific as Saw. If you've ever played My Life With Master, you might recognize something in it close to what I'm going for.

Right now, I'm just trying to curate a collection of sources to be used for inspiration. If you know a story specifically attuned to this, please let me know. But if you just have a good notion of what would make a good story for this, I'd love to hear that too. :)
||||||||||*MySmiley*
Only so evil.
This message last edited by Burr on 08/10/2012 at 06:36:14 PM
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What stories make strong arguments against (or for) nihilism? - 08/10/2012 06:20:25 PM 1154 Views
Turgenev's Fathers and Sons is a quintessential story about nihilism. *NM* - 09/10/2012 01:00:02 AM 289 Views
And a great book besides. *NM* - 09/10/2012 08:01:20 PM 310 Views
Thank you. *NM* - 10/10/2012 10:16:35 PM 337 Views
The Conspiracy Against the Human Race, by Thomas Ligotti - 15/10/2012 02:35:56 AM 959 Views

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