Beautiful Chaos: Chaos Theory and Metachaotics in Recent American Fiction

Beautiful Chaos: Chaos Theory and Metachaotics in Recent American Fiction

Beautiful Chaos Chaos Theory and Metachaotics in Recent American Fiction GORDON E. SLETHAUG State University of New York Press iv Published by State University of New York Press, Albany©2000 State University of New York All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher. For information, address State University of New York Press, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207 Production by Kelli Williams Marketing by Michael Campochiaro Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Slethaug, Gordon Beautiful chaos : chaos theory and metachaotics in recent American fiction / Gordon E. Slethaug. p. cm.—(SUNY series in postmodern culture) Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index. ISBN 0-7914-4741-3 (alk. paper)—ISBN 0-7914-4742-1 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. American fiction—20th century—History and criticism.2. Chaotic behavior in systems in literature. I. Title. II. Series. PS374.C4. S58 2000 813'.5409384—dc21 00-038766 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I wish to dedicate Beautiful Chaos to three colleagues who have been great friends and have always given me good advice: Dr. Neil Hultin, Dr. Warren Ober, and Dr. James Van Evra. ...