Main point>>> How is it Isekai when the main character has no memories of their past life? Or in other words, "Isekai, but the MC has no memories of their past after they were reborn"
I get it. It's a popular genre. I myself enjoy lots of fictions about Isekai, but I'm getting tired of seeing this kind of synopsis.
At that point, the character might as well be a blank slate. No, I should reword that. It IS a character with a blank slate.
My opinion is that "Isekai but with no memories of past" line that I'm seeing in synopsis is that it is NOT isekai at all. In any way shape or form. It should not have the Isekai tag in the first place, and the story should remove the tag. It is no different than, AS AN EXAMPLE, J.R.R. Tolkein saying: "Bob had a good life, but he died. When he was reborn as a halfling boy named Frodo, he had no memories of his past. His Uncle gave him a mysterious ring that had an old wizard visit his door for. What is so special about this one ring?" What I mean by this, just so I'm clear, is that Lord of the Rings is a Fantasy, just like all the others, but it is not an Isekai in that fashion, but some authors would pretend it is just because of their synopsis. I have read at least 4 or 5 stories on RR or here on SH with synopsis reading something close to that, and not once did their previous life ever matter in any way.
"Well yeah, but," I hear an imaginary person say, "They might have vague recollections of their past, and/or they might be able to invent something the world doesn't have!"
My rebuttal to that previous line would be: That's a contrived plot convenience. A Lazy way of inserting something the author wants or needs at that moment for that character. If you want a character that doesn't have modern world memories, but also want them to invent things, then make them smart. Which, admittedly, can be difficult, but it wouldn't feel like the author cheated.
"But but," the imaginary person continues, "the character did something in the afterlife just before they were reborn! It will change how the world works!"
Then don't put it in the synopsis. Don't tell the reader that. Show it to them. Show how, for some reason, the character might be special. Maybe the character made a deal with a god or something. The main character doesn't know that. Why should the reader? Use it as a deeper plot device so it can be a twist in the future. A tool you can use later on. Surprise the main character, and in turn, surprise the reader. Don't tell the reader something, and then never use it. That's just frustrating.
Quote: "If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired. Otherwise don't put it there." -Ernest J. Simmons. Also look up Chekov's Gun.
But that's just my opinion. Anyone else have thoughts on why "Isekai but with no memories" should or should not be a thing? Or am I just crazy for having this opinion?
