Many start with a sense of mystery or a strange occurrence. In 'The Lord of the Rings', Frodo inherits the One Ring, which is already a mysterious object. This sets in motion events that will eventually lead him and his companions into different parts of Middle - earth, a world that is both beautiful and dangerous. It's about hooking the reader with an initial enigma that pulls them into the story of being transported to another world.
They usually begin by setting up the normal life of the protagonist. Then, there's a sudden disruption. In 'A Wrinkle in Time', Meg is a misfit in her school and home life at the start. Then the appearance of the strange women who introduce the concept of time - traveling and other worlds disrupts her normal existence. It's a common pattern to show the ordinary before the extraordinary journey into another world.
Many of these novels start with a sense of dislocation or a sudden change in the character's situation. In 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz', a tornado sweeps Dorothy away from her home and deposits her in Oz. In 'Outlander', Claire touches a standing stone and is flung back in time to 18th - century Scotland. So, it could be a natural disaster, a magical encounter or a simple accident that sets the stage for the transportation to another world.
Some might consider 'Peter Pan' in this category. Wendy and her brothers are transported to Neverland, a world full of pirates, fairies, and the boy who never grows up. Also, 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' is a classic. Dorothy is swept away by a tornado to the magical land of Oz, where she meets all sorts of strange and wonderful characters on her quest to get home.
One popular one is 'The Chronicles of Narnia' by C.S. Lewis. It transports readers to the magical world of Narnia through a wardrobe. Another is 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' which takes Alice to a strange and fantastical world. And 'The Lord of the Rings' by J.R.R. Tolkien can also be considered in a way, as it takes characters into the epic world of Middle - earth.
Often, they start with some sort of accident or unexpected event. For example, in 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland', Alice falls down a rabbit hole. In 'The Chronicles of Narnia', the children stumble upon the wardrobe. It's a common way to get the human characters into the other world suddenly.
They can start by observing the new world's culture. Just like when we travel to a new place in our world, the OC can watch how the people interact, what their values are. For example, if the new world values honor above all else, the OC can try to uphold that in their actions.
One popular 'female transported to another world' novel is 'Ascendance of a Bookworm'. In this story, a female bookworm is reborn into a world where books are scarce. It's a great read as it shows her struggle and determination to create books in a world that doesn't value them much at first. Another is 'The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent'. The female lead is summoned to another world as a saint but is initially ignored. However, she uses her magic power in unique ways and grows into a powerful and respected figure. There's also 'My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!'. The female character finds herself in the world of an otome game as the villainess and has to find a way to change her fate.
One common theme is self - discovery. The protagonist is often thrown into a new and strange world, and through their experiences there, they learn more about themselves. Another theme is power - growth. In the new world, they usually start from scratch and gradually gain power, whether it's magic or combat skills. And there is also the theme of forming relationships. They meet various characters in the new world and form friendships, alliances or even romances.
There are quite a few. 'Konosuba: God's Blessing on this Wonderful World!' is a humorous take on the 'suddenly transported to another world' genre. The main character Kazuma dies and is sent to a fantasy world with a goddess. It has a lot of comical situations. 'No Game No Life' is also interesting. Siblings are transported to a world where everything is decided by games. They use their intelligence and gaming skills to survive and thrive in this new world. And 'Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash' is about a group of people who wake up in a strange world and have to learn to fight and survive together.
A prevalent theme is the exploration of new abilities. Since they are in a different world, the female characters usually have the opportunity to develop or discover abilities they didn't have before. For instance, in 'That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime', Shizu had unique abilities in the new world. Another theme is friendship. They form new friendships in the new world which help them in their journey. In 'The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent', the female lead makes friends who support her. Also, the theme of changing the world or making an impact is common. In 'Sword Art Online', Asuna makes an impact on the virtual world she is trapped in by fighting for the safety and freedom of others.
Often, advent novels start with the introduction of the main character in their ordinary life. For example, in 'The Hobbit', we first meet Bilbo Baggins in his comfortable hobbit - hole, going about his normal, uneventful daily routine. This gives a contrast to the adventure that is about to unfold.