Before the novel, communication was an in - person affair when it came to sharing stories. Bards and storytellers would use their voices, expressions, and gestures to convey tales. The range of people who could access these stories was relatively small. Today, we have a vast array of communication channels. Social media, e - books, and streaming services allow stories to be spread far and wide, and people can engage with them in different ways, like commenting or sharing, which was not possible in the pre - novel world.