Experimental Fiction

What are some of the best experimental fiction writers?

Personally, I love experimental writing. I do, however, believe that some writers stray too much and the writing becomes unreadable. Or things are so abstract that they are truly nothing at all. Just another un-entertaining journey for no reason at all.

I really like Ben Brooks. He wrote a book recently called Fences. He plays a mad game with the font, which he uses to change up emotion and emphasis. It's quite readable as well. It, of course, doesn't pursue the traditional narrative forms but it's not too out there either.

Is experimental fiction needed today more than ever? Or, in your opinion, is it mainly just nonsense by authors who don't understand craft?

I've not read it through but Danieliwski's 'House of Leaves' is pretty strange

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Originally Posted by Sulla

I really like Ben Brooks. He wrote a book recently called Fences. He plays a mad game with the font, which he uses to change up emotion and emphasis. It's quite readable as well. It, of course, doesn't pursue the traditional narrative forms but it's not too out there either.

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This actually makes me mad. Sounds like an unnecessary gimmick the author used just to come off as 'innovative'. Real experimentalist authors have a very good explanation for all of their techniques.

Of course it all depends on what you consider experimental. I probably include more writers than most people.

I've only read experimental fiction recently, but I dislike the title "experimental". It makes it sound like the whole point of it is to perform literary tricks. But yeah, reading experimental fiction is a good way to weed out the boring, realist, neo-Victorian crap that is usually passed off as literary IMO. You know, the novelists who almost completely ignore Kafka, Beckett, literary theory, etc.

Besides the obvious stuff, I highly recommend David Markson (since Wittgenstein's Mistress), Jacques Roubaud (The Great Fire of London, The Loop), Tom McCarthy, Gabriel Josipovici and Steve Tomasula. Blake Butler is a pretty good contemporary writer. I'm probably missing a lot of good experimental writers; I'm looking for recommendations especially of foreign writers. I haven't read Ben Brooks yet.

As for House of Leaves, I don't know. I'm reluctant to read it because to me it seems like the whole point of it is to mess with typesetting and to show off a Derridean influence.

Click only if you like Lovecraft and Clam Chower.

I guess it isn't really "experimental," but the stories sure are strange (and wonderful) in Jeff VanderMeer's City of Saint and Madmen.

And that was hilarious, Darkshadow03. "6. Mother is dead"--LOL.

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Originally Posted by Mutatis-Mutandi

I guess it isn't really "experimental," but the stories sure are strange (and wonderful) in Jeff VanderMeer's City of Saint and Madmen.

And that was hilarious, Darkshadow03. "6. Mother is dead"--LOL.

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Yeah, experimental fiction is tricky in that one can confuse merely weird stories (content) or unusually told stories (prose level) with experimental (which I tend to think of happening on a stylistic/structural level).

Like would anyone consider this story an experimental story or merely off-beat/unusual?

Kathy Acker, especially Blood and Guts in Highschool and Great Expectations, is essential.

House of Leaves is thin gruel and goes nowhere.

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Originally Posted by hanzklein

This actually makes me mad. Sounds like an unnecessary gimmick the author used just to come off as 'innovative'. Real experimentalist authors have a very good explanation for all of their techniques.

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He adjusts font size (I should've probably clarified in the initial post).

I don't think he uses it as a gimmick but rather uses it as part of his writing. The page can be seen as a canvas. Part of the reading is a visual experience. Focus is changed and re-arranged depending on font size.

What authors do you think have a good reason for their experimental technique? Isn't the answer very subjective? Especially given the fact that you haven't actually read Ben Brooks before or know anything about him.