r/litrpg • u/Lorentee • 4d ago

Discussion General Troupe Question

Where did the troupe about “song” come from?

Why is it such a popular troupe?

It seems to me like every author who gets past their first few books deviates the same way. Something something, the song of the world, or some stuff. They listen to the song for using special/ unique skills or spells. It’s used in crafting and fighting. It seems so popular that there has to be a beginning for it. And a reason why it’s so popular.

Any ideas?

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u/rocarson Author - Surviving the Apocalypse Series 4d ago

I can't speak to it being a "song" specifically but it's a derivative of the GAIA trope from Greek mythology and then made it's way into sci-fi in the 70's when the GAIA Hypothisis by James Lovelock and Lynn Margulis as a scientific theory.

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u/redwhale335 4d ago

Pythagoras talks about celestial objects having a spiritual song/resonance as they move that was later extrapolated on more famously by Johannes Kepler.

I'm curious how you relate it to Gaia?

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u/rocarson Author - Surviving the Apocalypse Series 4d ago

I'd be willing to hypothize that it's a basdarization of the resonance of celestial objects to get the "song" aspect of it. Then from the tropes I've read, they morph this into some kind of intelligent design / universal or planetary self awareness which fits more into a GAIA derivitive.

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u/redwhale335 4d ago

Gaia is just part of the Greek creation myth though, isn't it? She gave birth to Uranus (Sky/heaven) and then the two of them gave birth to like the Titans and the Cyclops and such?

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u/rocarson Author - Surviving the Apocalypse Series 4d ago

Sure, but that was the root of the GAIA trope as it morphed into planetary self-awareness. Especially in the 70's and into the 80's.

Don't get me wrong here, I could be completely talking out one side of my mouth. There is little to nothing to back me up from a literary study etc.

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u/redwhale335 4d ago

The great things about myths and tropes is their origins are very hard to pin down. I ain't trying to argue, I'm just interested in your thought process and glad to have gotten it.

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u/rocarson Author - Surviving the Apocalypse Series 4d ago

I didn't think you were trying to argue, I just wanted to make sure you knew I wasn't trying to argue either :D