SOLVED. avante-garde novel written via algorithm [s]

[Feliks]

I've heard tell of an author who once used an algorithm to help him construct his plot, chapters, and/or characters.

He lived in a basement apartment of a large apartment building, and he found a clever, iterative, recursive way to combine either the apartment mailbox #'s or the apartment telephone #'s of the neighbors above him, in a way that translated into sequences of the story.

From each neighbor he would determine what 'trait' or 'element' to derive and utilize, by finding their 'assignment' in the sequence of numbers gained from their location in the building.

I can tell you that its not Raymond Roussel and its not Henry Darger.

Any clues?

[Kagama-the Literaturevixen]

Sorry dont know the book but finds myself a bit puzzled by the mention of Henry Darger. Someone suggested this was the author of your book?

I mean his work was a bit surreal and no one know what he thought while Writing it.

You remember when you first Heard this story?

[Feliks]

I actually thought Henry Darger was a pretty good guess. What makes you think he was not a good candidate for the author?

This author I'm hunting for --mention of him emerged in a college course I took. His methodology was quickly overshadowed by a discussion of Raymond Roussel, who was even more bizarre.

Thanks for expending some brainpower on this for me, much obliged..

[laurenpie]

Tactic similar to serialism composers.

[Michelle]

Phil Parker created algorithms to let him write a novel in minutes.

[Kagama-the Literaturevixen]

Feliks wrote: "I actually thought Henry Darger was a pretty good guess. What makes you think he was not a good candidate for the author?

This author I'm hunting for --mention of him emerged in a college course ..."

I wrote a long concise comment...but goodreads ate it.

So all I can say is if you know about Henry Darger and his work then you have your answer why he is the most unlikely author for the book you are searching for.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

No idea but try Alfred Jarry and Raymond Queneau.

[Feliks]

Hey there everyone

I've returned to this group for a while, to clean up as many of my old searches as possible.

Specifically here to confirm a 'find' for this one.

The answer turns out to be Species of Spaces and Other Pieces by Georges Perec!

Thanks

[Kate]

I am glad to know this. Another book for me to enjoy! I've read some Queneau, and now look forward to Perec.

[Feliks]

Yah! Hurrah! But I don't want to lead you down the wrong road. To clarify: the author is indeed Georges Perec but the mystery was solved when I came across him discussing the book in 'Species of Spaces', which is like his autobiography.

The actual book --the one I was searching for--the one which is filled with algorithms and literary puzzles is this:

Life: A User's Manual

Doesn't the description sound amazing? Check out the synopsis. Just grand!