Introduction: The Universe of Hypertext Fiction

Abstract

This book offers a new critical approach for the analysis of hypertext fiction. The term ‘hypertext’, coined within the work of Nelson (1965, 1970, 1974, 1981), can be most simply defined as ‘non-sequential writing’ (Nelson, 1974). Nelson’s (1981) vision of hypertext is that of a system that ‘branches and allows choices to the reader’ (2), so that the user can move within a hypertext system according to their rationale. Facilitated by a digital environment, hypertext allows documents to be linked according to concepts and ideas rather than alphabetical or numerical sequences. In hypertext, documents are structured according to context and purpose and horizontal or vertical hierarchies are forsaken in favour of ‘intertwingularity’ (Nelson, 1974: 45), an apparently neologised blend of ‘intermingled’ and ‘intertwined’ which suggests complex configurations and multiple combinations. The World Wide Web is the most celebrated and renowned example of a large scale hypertext system in which individual electronic documents are linked to form a vast network containing everything from textual documents and visual media to executable programs and intricate applications. The popularity and extent of World Wide Web 2.0 technology heralds the emergence of more technological sophistication and greater user-accessibility.