Into the Black, a sci-fi VRMMORPG novella series by Stuart Grosse with significant references to various other works, is much better than I was expecting. Fundamentally, it’s like an amalgam of Lich Returnee and Corsairs & Cataclysms; the structure and atmosphere of the former with the protagonist, harem, and sex scene frequency of the latter.
Most of the series’ inspiration comes from fairly major franchises like Star Trek, Star Wars, and Warhammer 40k, but there are also sizable references to Starcraft and Resident Evil/Biohazard (of all things) with more minor nods to things like Portal and Youjou Senki. Some of these work better than others and ultimately I ended up having to agree with one of the Amazon reviews that the high point is the harvester battle. Mostly because shortly after is when ‘hellspace’ (WH40k‘s warpspace), which is tied both directly and indirectly to almost all the worst parts of the series, shows up. Aside from that and everything related to it, my only complaint is that the implementation of slavery is fairly inconsistent and bordering on unbelievable.
On the other hand the author’s Free VRMMO Life novella series is unfortunately just as bad as I expected it to be. However, it wasn’t the acts of depravity that caused me to drop it. No, instead it’s how this gameworld that boasts total realism isn’t realistic in the slightest. Give yourself a 2-foot long dick and suffer no ill effects? Instantly add permanent enchantments to items with no material cost? Fresh characters still in the Tutorial can create unresistable, unremovable slave collars? Nope. Sorry. Hard pass.
