The Millions

Put Down the Controller: Five Novels About Video Games

I’ve recently been seeing more fiction writers like myself turning to video games for inspiration. The ways that books and video games can tell us stories aren’t as different as I used to think. Both require intense concentration and thoughtful interaction, albeit in different ways. Both also insist upon our willingness to escape from the workaday world in order to step into one built word by word or bit by bit by somebody else.

Now, with summer fully upon us, it’s time to—however reluctantly—step away from our video games and head to the beach or the local pool. For those gamers willing to put down the controller for a few hours and pick up a book, I’ve compiled a list of five novels that gamers are likely to enjoy.

enjoyable debut novel actually a video game.

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from The Millions

The Millions6 min read
The Other Boy and the Heron
The heron has a robust mythological history across many cultures, and while the meanings differ, many deal with death, rebirth, and transformation. The post The Other Boy and the Heron appeared first on The Millions.
The Millions7 min read
A Year in Reading: Elvia Wilk
You have to pick the book up, and you also have to know when to put it down and go do something else with your hands. The post A Year in Reading: Elvia Wilk appeared first on The Millions.
The Millions6 min read
Suzanne Scanlon’s Life Was Shaped by Books—for Better and for Worse
I'm uncomfortable with the simple statement of “books saved us” as much as I agree they do. The post Suzanne Scanlon’s Life Was Shaped by Books—<br>for Better and for Worse appeared first on The Millions.

Related Books & Audiobooks