Pure writing virtuosity! How did England get Amis and Barnes in the same generation?!

I think its fair to say that all the skill is aimed towards the postmodern goals of indeterminacy, intricate interconnections, and the triumph of both the personal and social construction of reality; although, Mr. Barnes does show an admirable humanism in resisting pure relativism.

I would say that he shows brilliantly, especially in his final "heaven" story, the highpoint of postmodern thought, in all of its full glory. But, for me at least, he is showing all that causes it to decay from being simply not enough as well. Where does it get you? Its power erupted magnificently, artistically, like this book, but it is cooling into a slow extinction as its generation passes. And, sure, if it were indeed a volcano, it would look like Mt. Ararat.