Analyzes the psychological and structural dynamics of three postmodern novels: Beckett's Malone Dies , Lessing's The Golden Notebook , and Roth's The Counterlife . Links the pleasure of storytellng to the pain the authors inflict on their readers in retaliation for their anticipated disapproval and explores the constant agonistic oscillation between text and countertext which reflect the authors' efforts to sidestep criticism and maintain artistic control. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
