[rumori] Gilligan's Wake & Intertextuality


From: Steev Hise (steevATdetritus.net)
Date: Sun Feb 23 2003 - 10:42:49 PST


I've just found what is probably the most intertextual book i've
ever heard of. It's called Gilligan's Wake, by Tom Carson.
It's Joyce for the 21st century.

So far it's really good. I've read the first chapter. I feel
pretty culturally literate but I'm sure I'm missing 20% of the
allusions and puns, at least. He makes more references to pop
culture and literature in one sentence (actually, in EACH
sentence) than most people think of in a week.

here's a good description:
http://www.soundbitten.com/carson.html

I'd like to start a thread about other highly intertextual
literary works of fiction - those that make lots and lots of
references (in one way or another) to other works. Please send in
any you can think of. and discuss the varieties of referencing...

my criteria for now are works that make (overt) references to
more than one other work, so leaving aside things like
"Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead", "Lo's Diary", "The Wind
Done Gone", and the recent "Snowball's Chance", which are great
but are really only concentrating on one referent.

Others on my list would be:
Foucault's Pendulum, Umberto Eco
The Illuminatus Trilogy, Robert Anton Wilson and Robert Shea
Ulysses, James Joyce
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (ok, it's a comic book, but so what?
  - for those who havent heard of it, this is an X-men sort of
story about a group of heroes in the 1890s working on secret
missions for England, who are all from previous literature, like
Captain Nemo, the Invisible Man, etc

Philip Jose Farmer's "Riverworld" series
  - if unfamiliar - these science fiction novels are about a
world constructed by super-powerful alien beings where all humans
get ressurrected when they die. Characters include Richard
Burton, Samuel Clemens, and many others. maybe this doesnt count
- i can't remember if there are fictional characters, but it's
definitely an intertextual feel, rather dizzying, as all these
people from throughout history are thrown together.

my brain hurts, i'll stop here for now....

smh

Steev Hise, Technical Thug
steevATdetritus.net http://detritus.net/steev
*Recycled Culture: detritus.net *Recordings: phonophilia.com
*Want Peace? Stop Paying for War: warresisters.org/wtr_menu.htm
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"I just don't understand where the past goes when it goes."
                - Philip K. Dick
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