The Cambridge Companion to Twenty-First Century American Fiction

This volume explores the most exciting trends in 21st century US fiction's genres, themes, and concepts.

Joshua Miller (Edited by)

9781108978705, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 23 September 2021

342 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2 cm, 0.52 kg

Reading lists, course syllabi, and prizes include the phrase '21st-century American literature,' but no critical consensus exists regarding when the period began, which works typify it, how to conceptualize its aesthetic priorities, and where its geographical boundaries lie. Considerable criticism has been published on this extraordinary era, but little programmatic analysis has assessed comprehensively the literary and critical/theoretical output to help readers navigate the labyrinth of critical pathways. In addition to ensuring broad coverage of many essential texts, The Cambridge Companion to 21st Century American Fiction offers state-of-the field analyses of contemporary narrative studies that set the terms of current and future research and teaching. Individual chapters illuminate critical engagements with emergent genres and concepts, including flash fiction, speculative fiction, digital fiction, alternative temporalities, Afro-futurism, ecocriticism, transgender/queer studies, anti-carceral fiction, precarity, and post-9/11 fiction.

Introduction Joshua L. Miller
Part I. Forms: 1. Short Fiction, Flash Fiction, Microfiction Angela Naimou
2. Experimental Fiction David James
3. Speculative Fiction Mark Bould
4. Graphic Fiction Katalin Orbán
5. Digital Fiction Scott Rettberg
Part II. Approaches: 6. Afro-Futurism/Afro-Pessimism Candice M. Jenkins
7. Transpacific Diasporas Julia H. Lee
8. Hemispheric Routes Mary Pat Brady
9. Transgender and Transgenre Writing Trish Salah
10. Climate Fiction Heather Houser
Part III. Themes: 11. Convergence Mark Goble
12. Dissolution Crystal Parikh
13. Immobilit Dennis Childs
14. Insecurity Hamilton Carroll
Further Reading
Index.

Subject Areas: 21st century history: from c 2000 - [HBLX], Literary companions, book reviews & guides [DSRC], Literary studies: from c 1900 - [DSBH], Literary studies: general [DSB], Literature & literary studies [D]