DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/1F5P-XR86
Defense Date
2014
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Fine Arts
Department
English
First Advisor
Thomas De Haven
Abstract
Natural 20 is a novel that takes place between many worlds, most inside the head of Chester Gerber, the protagonist and central character. Chester Gerber has a difficult "real" world life. He graduated high school over a year ago and his best friend moved from Michigan to Baltimore to attend school. Chester himself isn't in college, has no job or girlfriend, and, since his father died, lives alone with his mother in a trailer in a dying Michigan town. To deal with this, Chester uses various means of escape—including playing Dungeons and Dragons, video games, and reading. At various times throughout, the novel follows Chester into these worlds and helps the reader understand Chester to a deeper degree by exploring the worlds he's creating. Eventually, the real world, filled with girl trouble, friendship strife, and someone close battling cancer, becomes too much, and Chester is forced to face it without escape.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
5-13-2014