Slipstream (literature)

Slipstream is a term for a literary work which pushes the boundaries of the conventions of and thus neither sits comfortably within the confines of either science fiction or fantasy or in mainstream literary fiction. Christopher Priest wrote, "In literature you might include Angela Carter, Steve Erickson, Paul Auster, Haruki Murakami, J. G. Ballard, Jorge Luis Borges, some of John Fowles. In films, Memento, Being John Malkovich and Intacto are recent examples of pure slipstream."

Related Topics:
Science fiction - Fantasy - Literary fiction - Christopher Priest - Angela Carter - Steve Erickson - Paul Auster - Haruki Murakami - J. G. Ballard - Jorge Luis Borges - John Fowles - Memento - Being John Malkovich

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The term slipstream when used in reference to literature, was coined by cyberpunk author Bruce Sterling in an article originally published in SF Eye #5, July 1989. He says in part that "...this is a kind of writing which simply makes you feel very strange; the way that living in the twentieth century makes you feel, if you are a person of a certain sensibility." Slipstream fiction has consequently been referred to as "the fiction of strangeness," which is as clear of a definition as any others in wide use.

Related Topics:
Cyberpunk - Bruce Sterling

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Slipstream as indicated in the first paragraph above, falls in the gap left between SF (science fiction) and mainstream fiction. Fans of mainstream literature tend to avoid it because it is too strange, and fans of SF tend to avoid it because it is not strange enough. While some slipstream novels employ elements of fantasy or magic realism, not all do. The common unifying factor of these pieces of literature is the surreal feeling they leave with reader. Most readers who have never heard the term slipstream, will still recognize the names of authors, such as Christopher Priest, Margaret Atwood, Karen Joy Fowler, Steve Erickson, Douglas Coupland, and William S. Burroughs, who have written slipstream novels.

Related Topics:
Christopher Priest - Margaret Atwood - Karen Joy Fowler - Steve Erickson - Douglas Coupland - William S. Burroughs

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