George Landow's widely acclaimed Hypertext was the first book to bring together the worlds of literary theory and computer technology. Landow was one of the first scholars to explore the implications of giving readers instant, easy access to a virtual library of sources as well as unprecedented control of what and how they read. In hypermedia, Landow saw a strikingly literal embodiment of many major points of contemporary literary theory, particularly Derrida's idea of "de-centering" and Barthes's conception of the "readerly" versus "writerly" text. From Intermedia to Microcosm, Storyspace, and the World Wide Web, Landow offers specific information about the kinds of hypertext, different modes of linking, attitudes toward technology, and the proliferation of pornography and gambling on the Internet. For the third edition he includes new material on developing Internet-related technologies, considering in particular their increasingly global reach and the social and political implications of this trend as viewed from a postcolonial perspective. He also discusses blogs, interactive film, and the relation of hypermedia to games. Thoroughly expanded and updated, this pioneering work continues to be the "ur-text" of hypertext studies. Challenges the reader . . . Because it invites (and nearly requires) readers to place themselves in more than one position: as a student of communication theory, as a student of computer science, as a student of academic publishing, or as a student of literature. ―Paul Baker, Education PR Blog Landow['s] . . . presentation is measured, experiential, lucid, moderate, and sensible. He merely points out that the concept 'hypertext' lets us test some concepts associated with critical theory, and gracefully shows how the technology is contributing to reconfigurations of text, author, narrative, and (literary) education. ― Postmodern Culture Worth reading, whether one's initial mood is enthusiasm, skepticism, or simple curiosity. ― Contemporary Sociology A bold and enthusiastic prediction of the impact of hypertext on literature and pedagogy. ― Rocky Mountain Review of Language and Literature In this insightful and readable volume, Landow explores the relationship between contemporary literary and social theory and the latest advances in computer software. ― Voice Literary Supplement "Landow['s]... presentation is measured, experiential, lucid, moderate, and sensible. He merely points out that the concept 'hypertext' lets us test some concepts associated with critical theory, and gracefully shows how the technology is contributing to reconfigurations of text, author, narrative, and (literary) education." ( Postmodern Culture ) "Worth reading, whether one's initial mood is enthusiasm, skepticism, or simple curiosity." ( Contemporary Sociology ) "A bold and enthusiastic prediction of the impact of hypertext on literature and pedagogy." ( Rocky Mountain Review of Language and Literature ) "In this insightful and readable volume, Landow explores the relationship between contemporary literary and social theory and the latest advances in computer software." ( Voice Literary Supplement ) George P. Landow is a professor of English and art history at Brown University. Used Book in Good Condition