Core Theoretical Foundations:

1. Espen Aarseth – Cybertext: Perspectives on Ergodic Literature (1997) – defines ergodic literature and the necessity of non-trivial effort in navigating texts.
2. Marie-Laure Ryan – Narrative as Virtual Reality 2 (2015) – explores narrative immersion and interactivity.
   
   
3. Tim Ingold – Lines: A Brief History (2007) – discusses wayfinding as an embodied practice in space and movement.

Critical Debates and Counterarguments:

1. Katherine Hayles – How We Became Posthuman (1999) – critiques the over-reliance on digital/fragmented texts as “true” ergodic literature.
   
   
2. Henry Jenkins – Convergence Culture (2006) – argues against fixed authorial intent in non-linear media.
   
   
3. John Bryant – The Fluid Text (2002) – debates whether text mutability undermines narrative coherence.

Empirical Studies & Case Studies:

1. Twine Narratives – examines navigation in user-generated hypertext stories.
   
   
2. The Stanley Parable (2013) – as an interactive game that constantly questions player agency.
   
   
3. Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Books – historical evolution of interactive storytelling.