I really liked the first book due to all the nerdy references and the ending utilizing Monty Python’s Holy Grail. Even when his friend was revealed to be a black lesbian due because it was better to present herself as a white male I just rolled my eyes. The second book on the other hand was garbage. You get the whole women in gaming lecture, the real hero was a woman trope, lgbt stuff of course, and the aforementioned character whining about the lack of representation everywhere they go or whining about the fact that Prince (they visit an area of the Oasis with Prince playing concerts) became a Jehova’s Witness and condemned homosexuality. The book overall seems to use to Sword Art Online plot as well.
It’s like the author felt the need to apologize. Although the the woke crowd a white make nerd from the 80s is evil incarnate it seems
Yea I could see the first book as a love letter to the 70s/80s nerd culture since that is when the author grew up but that appeals to nerds like me even though I grew up in 80s/90s. Like you said that is a niche market. More and more I’m seeing it’s best to let things be niche. Like comic books. I hear they may adapt one of Sanderson’s book series. I can only imagine what they will do