On the HahaFiction shelf
An Old Man's Journey
Charles is tired of waiting for his grandchildren to call. After his wife's death, a friend introduces him to Crossroads, a virtual fantasy world where he can move without pain and spend time with family. He decides to make somewhere they'll want to visit. A magic stick with far too much power and players who mistake him for a quest giver complicate his search for a quiet spot.
From the author’s blurb
“The solution: Build a place his family wants to visit.”Read the full description at Gregory Allanther, author description
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What makes it funny?
Charles wants some peace; younger players see an old man and expect another quest. Their enthusiasm keeps bringing them back to someone who'd rather be left alone. Readers in LitRPG groups enjoy the reversal of making the elderly hero a quest giver, and compare its comic appeal to This Quest Is Broken!.
The comedy at work
Familiar game habits become irritations for a man whose goals have little to do with heroic achievement. Allanther uses that mismatch to poke fun at endless quest-seeking and harem conventions. Charles's wish to spend time with family gives him a reason to keep entering the game.
Try this if…
A grumpy older protagonist and jokes about the habits of fantasy gamers give this its appeal. Book-group readers describe it as a fresh find, with some finishing it and looking for stories that offer something similar.
Good to know
Loneliness and bereavement sit beneath Charles's virtual adventures. Readers say the harem elements involve other characters, with on-screen sexual material kept around a PG-13 level.
A few distinguishing details
- An elderly player mistaken for a quest giver
- Building a virtual place his grandchildren might visit
More funny LitRPG
Sources & further reading
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