All possible plots by major authors (2020)
Satirical “plot templates” for famous authors spark a broader look at how formulaic storytelling, genre tropes, and even tech culture can be boiled down to a few recurring patterns. Commenters extend the joke to Stephen King, Brandon Sanderson, Dan Brown, Michael Moorcock, social networks, rom‑coms, and “all possible codebases,” while also comparing human wit with AI-generated attempts at similar humor. Alongside the comedy, some reflect on shared literary canons, the value of reading classics, and older parody projects that reduce novels and authors to their essence.
Overall reaction to the piece
- Many commenters found the “all possible plots” concept very funny, pithy, and surprisingly accurate.
- Some called out specific entries as making them laugh out loud or wheeze, appreciating the concise skewering of genres and literary reputations.
- Others noted that the pieces read like decent flash fiction rather than pure criticism.
Debates about how fair the caricatures are
- Several people argued certain authors were misrepresented or oversimplified (e.g., one whose books are seen as relentlessly bleak was defended as more complex or even enjoyable).
- Some felt the portrayals of humorists and “light” writers were too narrow, ignoring large parts of their oeuvre.
- The treatment of one blockbuster thriller writer drew extended joking, but also some genuine enjoyment of their books “as dumb fun.”
AI-generated additions and their limits
- One commenter tried having an AI generate similar plot summaries; a few were entertaining, but most were described as too on‑the‑nose and glib.
- They remarked that statistical text generation tends to rush to the punchline and struggles with subtle, zoomed‑out satire.
- Others appreciated that the AI use was clearly labeled and that its weaknesses were openly discussed.
Meta‑commentary on Hacker News and online discourse
- Multiple subthreads parodied “every possible HN comment,” including: shallow expertise, ideological tangents, licensing nitpicks, “I didn’t read the article, but…”, and obligatory Rust mentions.
- People linked to an old site that mocked HN posts, expressing nostalgia and doubting AI could fully match its withering personal tone.
Related resources and similar satire
- Commenters shared links to “all possible plots” style systems, including combinatorial plot generators, trope tables, and ultra‑short “book in a minute” summaries.
Reading habits and the canon
- Some reflected on how few of the parodied authors they had actually read, and whether that “matters.”
- One thread debated the value of a shared canon of ~50–100 books versus diverse, individualized reading paths.
Spin‑offs beyond literature
- A popular subthread translated the “all possible plots” idea into “all possible codebases by major programmers,” with jokes about quick hacks becoming world‑dominating standards.