The Art of Immersion: How the Digital Generation Is Remaking Hollywood, Madison Avenue, and the Way We Tell Stories
*Starred Review* Before the Internet, people were accustomed to storytelling, that basic human impulse to try and make sense of life, as something linear and passive. But the multimedia dynamics of the Internet have changed all that, encouraging participation that often takes control from the creators of the story. Wired contributing editor Rose takes a broad and deep look at how electronic media are changing storytelling, inviting an immersion that drills down beneath surface information and encourages a deeper level of emotional involvement. Rose interviewed movie producers and game developers, including the creative minds behind Avatar and The Sims, to explore innovations in storytelling since the creation of the novel. He provides historical context for the evolution of storytelling from television to the movies, from role-playing games to blogging and tweeting. Creators, in essence, are losing some control of their stories as fans take them over. Star Wars fans maintain a Wookieepedia of detail beyond anything envisioned by its creator, fans of Mad Men began unauthorized tweeting in the role of characters from a show set in the 1960s, and the Potter Wars have erupted over control of the popular series as fans start blogs and websites. Rose asserts that in the new world of immersion storytelling, stories become games, and games become stories. Completely fascinating. --Vanessa Bush