HYPERIZONS

Hyperizons is a study of interactive reading and readership in hyperfiction theory and practice, with readings of afternoon and Victory Garden .This dissertation was written by Lisbeth Klastrup as a part of her Master- programme in Image Studies at the University of Kent at Cantebury. It was published in 1996/1997.

In order to make easy the reading of this dissertation, she offers a readers guide where she gives a brief explanation of the terminology and “quotational” practice employed in the paper. For example she sometimes uses a terminology and methodology of her own invention, such as:Storyweb.-This term she uses to describe both “stories and structure of a hyperfiction work”. Key-scenes.-It is a term she gives to certain lexias that the readers will find themselves taken back again and again. Key-trail.- some key-scenes that are part of a progressively ordered number of lexias. The words in bold in the quotation have been emphasized by her, not by the author or the lexia...

Her dissertation is organised in the following way:

-         In chapter I, she discuss the writings on hypertext by the hypertext-theorists George P. Landow ( “The convergence of Contemporary Critical theory and technology –1992-) and Jay David Bolter (“Writing Space: The Computer, Hypertext, and the History of Writing –1192-)

-         In Chapter II, she analyses two hyperfiction products, Michael Joyce (“afternoon”)and Stuart Moulthrop (“Victory Garden”)...

-         In chapter III, She gives her point of veiw about what one might do in future hyperfictions. She also examines two variants on the electronic fiction: CD_ROM Sophie’s World and the interactive computergame and film The Pandora Directive. 

In the conclusion, she talks about the conflict between immersion and reader control.

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