digitalfiction

Digital fiction is fiction that is written, produced, or experienced primarily through digital technologies. It encompasses hypertext fiction, interactive fiction, multimedia narratives, digital serials, and AI- or algorithmically generated works. Digital fictions often emphasize non-linear structures, reader agency, and the integration of text with images, sound, video, or interactive elements.

Historically, digital fiction emerged in the late 1980s and 1990s with hypertext environments on CD-ROMs and the early web. Pioneering authors include Michael Joyce and Shelley Jackson, whose works such as Afternoon, a story and Patchwork Girl became touchstones. Stuart Moulthrop's Victory Garden is another frequently cited early example. The field is often grouped under electronic literature.

Today digital fiction takes many forms, from web-based spaces that host nonlinear narratives to interactive fiction engines, gamebooks, and transmedia projects. Some works offer branching narratives and reader-driven exploration; others employ multimedia overlays, social engagement, or AI-generated text. Distribution ranges from dedicated websites and apps to e-book platforms and digital installations.

Scholars study digital fiction within the digital humanities, examining questions of authorship, reader interaction, preservation, and accessibility. Critics note opportunities for experimentation alongside challenges in archiving ephemeral digital works, licensing, and long-term readability. Digital fiction continues to evolve with new technologies, including virtual and augmented reality and increasingly capable AI systems. See also hypertext fiction, interactive fiction, electronic literature, digital humanities, and transmedia storytelling.