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20 ratings, 4.10 average rating, 3 reviews
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published
July 1987
by Methuen young books
binding
Paperback, 300 pages
isbn
0416364004
(isbn13: 9780416364002)
description
"This is one of the most lively and lucid studies of contemporary fiction around. Whether or not you agree with his provocative definition of ...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 33)
Read in March, 2008
Read this one a few times but recently reread it again. It is notable for McHale's primary thesis, that modernism's poetics were concerned with epistemological questions and postmodernism in all its myriad forms is concerned with ontological questions. Part one discusses this shift from epistemological to ontological concerns with an emphasis on hybrid texts and then sets the context for the rest of the book with its analysis of the ontologies of fiction. Context established, McHale proceeds wit...more
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This is a must have book for anyone interested in postmodern theory. McHale does an excellent job of breaking down the various terms and arguments that [could:] constitute the definition of postmodernism [if indeed postmodernism exists:].
The language in the book is very accessible and McHale uses a large number of excellent examples to illustrate his points.
The language in the book is very accessible and McHale uses a large number of excellent examples to illustrate his points.
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Read in January, 2007
excellent study of pomo except: too much pynchon not enough acker. no acker at all, in fact! but, to his credit, discusses in detail cortazar and angela carter, neither of whom get enough cred amid the coover and the pynchon.
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