I read this as a compilation of all three volumes, so this review will be more generalized (still spoilerless).
Well for starters, this is a strange novel. It is overall very exposition and narration heavy, especially in its beginning sections. While this got a little tiring for me rather quickly, there is just something about all the descriptions that creates an almost cinematic experience for me as a reader. The writing style creates a feeling as though the reader is the sole viewer of Jaehwan's lonely journey, making reading it more compelling.
I was expecting it to start off at a slow pace but to my surprise, the story escalates quickly from the beginning. I will admit, my interest wavered when Jaehwan reaches as many new characters and world aspects are introduced all at once. However, the future arcs/volumes are definitely worth trudging through the early sections of the novel for. While the world introduced at first is straightforward and rather simplistic, the worldbuilding becomes increasingly abstract (and significantly more fascinating and quirky) to make for good rereads later on. Everything pieces itself together nicely at the end.
I read this after reading the authors' primary work, Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint. While I prefer ORV over The World After the Fall, this novel is definitely worth a read if done with patience.
So, first impression... ahahahhahahahhaha. This was very amusing, unlike the subsequent sequel that has more characters and details, and therefore more plot holes, this series was very consistent. On the other hand, most of the constipated ideas that drives the main character are petty and socialist. example; he hates the world and the active people out there that he imagines are doing meaningful things and making money in petty jealousy, so to vent his frustration, instead of taking action, or communicating, he stabs the world... for millions of years. Now that is just hilarious. I have met Introverts before, this is level Asian. And I'm sure the demographics that reads this genre filled with return and regret, has nothing but sympathy for him.
This book.. I read first two years ago and honestly left in middle cause proper translations weren't available. Recently I saw its webtoon and so started book again. I got full translations and can I just say the writer's a poet!!
The world building and words used to describe things to make differences between stages and "worlds" is amazing! - the ml being a "boy" fighting the adult world and then the rupture people using the same terminology with his friend - was my favourite part of the novel 🤌 - I loved the irony of the novel and the /hatred/ the 'boy' has toward it all but is still fighting
Though there are obvious plot holes, like - at start part it looked like ml was too ol until the 'boy' nightmare chapter so it is a bit confusing to me how can he be so mature despite being not cause it took me sometime to get used to the narrative that he is a child still because the first part definitely portrayed him as a world destroyer and op mc (though once u get along story from the child narrative u can totally see the immature nature and the way of the mc according to it) - the first part of itself really, it portrayed mc as op af, but then when he came to second part they showed his flaws so the contrast was a bit too sudden for me
All in all it is a very good and memorable read. Cannot wait for the webtoon to release more. Especially since the art is phenomenal 😭 I am very intrigued about how they gonna show the /naked/ settings 👁️👄👁️ very.
This is a review for 'The World After the Fall Manwha and Webnovel'. I read the Manwha until I caught up and then started reading the novel from chapter 96 onwards.
It was good, I enjoyed it. It doesn't reach the heights that the author's next novel (ORV) does, but it is still an enjoyable read. It is a lot more action oriented than philosophical, which is reflected in the main character who basically stabs whatever obstacle comes his way without asking more questions. The more insightful bits are still good, though. I also like the parallels the novel draws between itself and The Little Prince.
A Foucauldian-style criticism of power structures, using web novel tropes and format. Intelligent, self aware, and unexpectedly touching. This is a web novel that cares about its readers.
I did not expect references to The Little Prince, (Hans Christian) Anderson, Magritte, Gestaltism, Jean-Paul (Sartre)'s Being and Nothingness, the Panopticon, Melville, and Borges.