Best Experimental Fiction Books
Experimental fiction, as the name suggests, is all about experimentation in literature. It defies genre conventions and plays with form, structure, language, and storytelling techniques to create unique and innovative reading experiences. Here are ten of the best and most influential experimental fiction books of all time, and why they stand out:
"Ulysses" by James Joyce - This iconic novel is a prime example of experimental fiction, as it uses stream-of-consciousness narrative, complex language, and unconventional punctuation to chronicle the events of a single day in the life of Leopold Bloom in Dublin.
"House of Leaves" by Mark Z. Danielewski - A complex and disorienting novel that tells the story of a house that is larger on the inside than the outside, and the characters who become lost and trapped within its walls. With footnotes, multiple narrators, and unconventional formatting, this book is a real head-scratcher.
"Infinite Jest" by David Foster Wallace - This tome of a novel is a postmodern masterpiece, full of footnotes, digressions, and non-linear storytelling. It's set in a near-future dystopia where entertainment has become addictive and dangerous, and it follows the lives of several interconnected characters.
"Gravity's Rainbow" by Thomas Pynchon - A sprawling, complex novel that uses hallucinatory language, multiple narrators, and non-linear storytelling to depict the horrors of World War II and the secret rocket programs of the Nazis.
"The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger - This novel combines elements of science fiction, romance, and time travel to tell the story of a man who is unstuck in time and the woman he loves. It's inventive, emotionally resonant, and deeply affecting.
"City of Saints and Madmen" by Jeff Vandermeer - This collection of interconnected stories is set in the fictional city of Ambergris and features bizarre creatures, surreal landscapes, and mind-bending twists. Vandermeer's world-building is unmatched, and his language is rich and evocative.
"If on a winter's night a traveler" by Italo Calvino - This postmodern novel is structured as a series of interrelated stories, each of which ends abruptly and leads into the next, creating a sense of disorientation and playfulness. It's a love letter to reading and to the power of the written word.
"A Clockwork Orange" by Anthony Burgess - This dystopian novel is famous for its use of a made-up slang called "nadsat," which is used by the teenage protagonist and his gang to commit acts of violence and rebellion. It's a chilling portrayal of a society gone wrong, and its use of language is masterful.
"Donald Goines" by Calvin Westra - Easily the funniest and weirdest book on this list, Donald Goines by Calvin Westra is an adaptation of the Donald Goines novel Dopefiend where a massive drug dealer jacks off in front of his clients while his strange bird watches from his cage. It plays with naming conventions and language and structure and there is a scene where Honduran Emerald tries to sell Donald Goines brand game consoles to his drug dealer while his girlfriend waits outside. There is also a pretty magical bunraku puppet scene near the end. It’s wild.
"Pale Fire" by Vladimir Nabokov - This novel is structured as a poem and commentary, with the poem itself serving as a cover for a complex and convoluted narrative about a murdered poet and his mad commentator. Nabokov's playfulness with language and form is on full display here, as is his mastery of unreliable narration.
These ten experimental fiction books are a testament to the power of literature to push boundaries, challenge conventions, and create new forms of art. They're not always easy to read, but they're always worth the effort, and they will leave you pondering their intricacies long after you've finished reading them. If you’re looking for a good starting point or just something that is easy to read while being experimental and weird, start with Donald Goines.