Next GENERATION stories | The Lounge podcast

[D.S.Nate]

Last week we talked about Next Gen stories (Like from Naruto to Boruto or Harry potter to that cursed children story that came out after... I know, both are bad examples.) as well as the use of sympathy and empathy in stories.

I'll leave you guys with a question: Do you plan to have a next generation story in your work? If so, what is the most important elements to make a next generations story work?

 

[RepresentingWrath]

No.

 

[RepresentingPride]

No, cause that a shit move who mostly didn't have any sense or can be interesting.

 

[georgelee5786]

No since I think old generation stories are much better

 

[TheKillingAlice]

Nah. The only story I have that technically follows the offspring of characters through Generations is a series hinged on that concept.
The first three volumes are one story about a girl. She's just laying the groundwork for her child to actually solve the problem in Volume four with another kid. That other kid is an adult with children in the 5th. The oldest of his children, a bratty girl, is a grown woman in volume 6. Only the 7th has none of them, because it simply finishes the story of the world overall. The series even has the word "legacy" in the title.
It's not a finished story that's forced to move on, but a "passing of torches" kind of deal until everything is resolved.

 

[D.S.Nate]

Nah. The only story I have that technically follows the offspring of characters through Generations is a series hinged on that concept.
The first three volumes are one story about a girl. She's just laying the groundwork for her child to actually solve the problem in Volume four with another kid. That other kid is an adult with children in the 5th. The oldest of his children, a bratty girl, is a grown woman in volume 6. Only the 7th has none of them, because it simply finishes the story of the world overall. The series even has the word "legacy" in the title.
It's not a finished story that's forced to move on, but a "passing of torches" kind of deal until everything is resolved.

That's very interesting you say this because when we was talking about this topic a bit later (I'll see if i can get it on youtube) we started talking about passing of the torch and next generation stories. And because of that a next generations dose not even have to be related by blood. Just like the cycle of life IS a cycle the intersection between the MC and the passing of the torch is the teacher or mentor. Some stories will lean on this more than others but it's interesting way to look at it.

 

[TheKillingAlice]

That's very interesting you say this because when we was talking about this topic a bit later (I'll see if i can get it on youtube) we started talking about passing of the torch and next generation stories. And because of that a next generations dose not even have to be related by blood. Just like the cycle of life IS a cycle the intersection between the MC and the passing of the torch is the teacher or mentor. Some stories will lean on this more than others but it's interesting way to look at it.

Fair enough. What I don't like, especially in stories like Boruto, is the fact that the original was told. When I say "passing of the torch", I meant a story that isn't finished, and it clear it isn't, because we just started and then someone else takes over on the task. But for Boruto, it's just that the story was told, but they didn't want to let go of the IP, I guess, so they churned out a "Next Gen". I'm not saying nobody is allowed to like that, but it's just not my thing.

 

[D.S.Nate]

Fair enough. What I don't like, especially in stories like Boruto, is the fact that the original was told. When I say "passing of the torch", I meant a story that isn't finished, and it clear it isn't, because we just started and then someone else takes over on the task. But for Boruto, it's just that the story was told, but they didn't want to let go of the IP, I guess, so they churned out a "Next Gen". I'm not saying nobody is allowed to like that, but it's just not my thing.

Yeah, Boruto suffers from being a product that was made to keep the IP going. They lacked confidence in the characters they had and so basically made clones of the OG cast.

 

[TsumiHokiro]

Any story that does not make it clear that it is not about a person right out of the bat and decides to pull a next generation continuation ought to make real good of introducing this character BEFORE writing this continuation. Else, you will end up with just a strange story, like the ones you initially exampled.

I'll give an example: the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov does this superbly, but it was set out from the start that it would follow out not just a single character. You are following a set of families, throughout years. How are you supposed to follow a single character? Instead, you are following an Idea, which in this case is your main character. Which is why it works so well. It is something that few people manage to pull off. And it is what is needed to be able to make a serious world vibrant as well, not only the people, but that which those people believe in.

When people do not believe in the ideas that the universe represents, but instead in the characters, you end up with a fake sequel, like Boruto. Where they had to bring fake-characters, because the characters were the Ideas, and not something separate, as each family was supposed to represent in the beginning.

 

[D.S.Nate]

Any story that does not make it clear that it is not about a person right out of the bat and decides to pull a next generation continuation ought to make real good of introducing this character BEFORE writing this continuation. Else, you will end up with just a strange story, like the ones you initially exampled.

I'll give an example: the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov does this superbly, but it was set out from the start that it would follow out not just a single character. You are following a set of families, throughout years. How are you supposed to follow a single character? Instead, you are following an Idea, which in this case is your main character. Which is why it works so well. It is something that few people manage to pull off. And it is what is needed to be able to make a serious world vibrant as well, not only the people, but that which those people believe in.

When people do not believe in the ideas that the universe represents, but instead in the characters, you end up with a fake sequel, like Boruto. Where they had to bring fake-characters, because the characters were the Ideas, and not something separate, as each family was supposed to represent in the beginning.

That is a really good point. It is true that Boruto ideals are more about himself than holding onto an ideal that is bigger than him. I guess the closest thing they have was the ninja way and how that is changing but it just feels like an odd after thought than a theme that connects the generations together.