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Postmodern Pfiction with Ptim Callan
by Ptim Callan
Today: #121 in Arts, Ireland on our combined chart.
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Latest episodes
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A Garden of Forking Paths
September 28, 2026 · 33 minIn this episode I describe the postmodern narrative structure called the Garden of Forking Paths and give examples from Jorge Luis Borges, John Fowles, Mark Danielewski, Robert Coover, Alan Lightman, Steven Milhauser, Thomas Pynchon, and…
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One Grand Conceit
September 21, 2026 · 16 minSometimes a postmodernist will start with a completely mind-blowing premise for a work of fiction and then will diligently tell that story as if it were the plainest of ideas. This technique, when done well, can be surprising and…
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Self Awareness
September 12, 2026 · 34 minIn this episode I discuss the most basic defining characteristic of postmodernism, which is acute self-awareness. I explain how postmodernism, as a response to modernism, is fundamentally about figuring out how we want to create literature…
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Nested Frames
August 31, 2026 · 24 minI follow up my episode "What Is a Frame?" to discuss the concept of nested frames, or frames within frames. I discuss some of the possibilities for this structure and why it may be appealing to metafictionists and other postmodernists. I…
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Alphabetical Antics: Lipograms, Abecedaries, and More
August 24, 2026 · 24 minI describe how the very alphabet itself is a potential source of content, technique, and constraint for the postmodern writer. We discuss abecedaries, lipograms, and other alphabetical games. Authors include Georges Perec, Ernest Vincent…
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Content Versus Technique
August 14, 2026 · 17 minI discuss subject matter and technique as two ways to address a school like postmodernism in literature. I describe the pitfalls of simply associating the postmodern movement with subject matter that is anchored to the postmodern era and…
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Six Postmodern Books on My Reading List
August 6, 2026 · 12 minI always have a long reading list, including works both postmodern and otherwise. I go over six books on my reading list, including The One Hundred Brothers by Donald Antrim, Numbers in the Dark by Italo Calvino, Voice of the Fire by Alan…
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What Is Concrete Prose?
July 30, 2026 · 25 minConcrete poetry or concrete prose is poetry or prose in which the arrangement of the printed words on the page adds to the meaning of the work in a meaningful way. I explain the form and give an overview of contributions from writings like…
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Going Meta: Career as Postmodern Narrative
July 23, 2026 · 23 minPostmodernists pay great attention to the form of a literary work, be it a short story, a play, a novel, a film, a TV series, a book of short stories, or even a series of novels. But what happens when a postmodern storyteller starts to…
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Five Postmodernists I Don't Like
July 16, 2026 · 25 minI generally am a huge fan of hardcore postmodernism, but these five popular and highly postmodern authors simply don't resonate with me. Join me as I discuss Kathy Acker, William S. Burroughs, Thomas Pynchon, Chuck Palahnuik, and Umberto…
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What Is a Frame?
July 11, 2026 · 17 minThe frame structure is very common in postmodernist writing. I define frames, explain why they are popular among postmodernists, and give examples going all the way back to medieval times. We look at The Canterbury Tales, Hyperion…
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What Is Aleatory Fiction?
July 6, 2026 · 19 minAleatory fiction is the technique whereby the narrative can be presented in a different order to different readers based on their choice or some randomizing element. This is as opposed to tabular fiction, where multiple, independent…
About the show
A hardcore fan and sometime author of postmodern fiction dives deep into the world's greatest literary genre. Join me as I explore authors, books, structure, crossover with other media, influences, and more. The P is silent.