Narrative Space and Time: Representing Impossible Topologies in Literature

237 Pages·2014·1.23 MB·English

by  Elana Gomel

Narrative Space and Time
Space is a central topic in cultural and narrative theory today, although in
most cases theory assumes Newtonian absolute space. However, the idea
of a universal homogeneous space is now obsolete. Black holes, multiple
dimensions, quantum entanglement, and spatio-temporal distortions of
relativity have passed into culture at large. This book examines whether
narrative can be used to represent these “impossible” spaces.
Impossible topologies abound in ancient mythologies, from the Australian
Aborigines’ “dream-time” to the multiple-layer universe of the Sumerians.
More recently, from Alice’s adventures in Wonderland to contemporary sci-
ence fiction’s obsession with black holes and quantum paradoxes, counter-
intuitive spaces are a prominent feature of modern and postmodern narra-
tive. With the rise and popularization of science fiction, the inventiveness
and variety of impossible narrative spaces explodes. The author analyses
the narrative techniques used to represent such spaces alongside their cul-
tural significance. Each chapter connects narrative deformation of space
with historical problematic of time, and demonstrates the cognitive and
perceptual primacy of narrative in representing, imagining and apprehend-
ing new forms of space and time.
This book offers a comprehensive analysis of the connection between nar-
ratology, cultural theory, science fiction, and studies of place.
Elana Gomel is Senior Lecturer in the Department of English and Ameri-
can Studies at Tel-Aviv University, Israel
Routledge Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Literature
1 Environmental Criticism for the 9 Wallace Stevens and Pre-
Twenty-First Century Socratic Philosophy
Edited by Stephanie LeMenager, Metaphysics and the Play of
Teresa Shewry, and Ken Hiltner Violence
Daniel Tompsett
2 Theoretical Perspectives on
Human Rights and Literature 10 Modern Orthodoxies
Elizabeth Swanson Goldberg and Judaic Imaginative Journeys of the
Alexandra Schultheis Moore Twentieth Century
Lisa Mulman
3 Resistance to Science in
Contemporary American Poetry 11 Eugenics, Literature, and
Bryan Walpert Culture in Post-war Britain
Clare Hanson
4 Magic, Science, and Empire in
Postcolonial Literature: The 12 Postcolonial Readings of Music
Alchemical Literary Imagination in World Literature
Kathleen J. Renk Turning Empire on Its Ear
Cameron Fae Bushnell
5 The Black Female Body in
American Literature and Art 13 Stanley Cavell, Literature, and
Performing Identity Film
Caroline A. Brown The Idea of America
Edited by Andrew Taylor and Áine
6 Narratives of Migration and Kelly
Displacement in Dominican
Literature 14 William Blake and the Digital
Danny Méndez Humanities
Collaboration, Participation, and
7 The Cinema and the Origins of Social Media
Literary Modernism Jason Whittaker and Roger
Andrew Shail Whitson
8 The Gothic in Contemporary 15 American Studies, Ecocriticism,
Literature and Popular Culture and Citizenship
Pop Goth Thinking and Acting in the Local
Edited by Justin D. Edwards and and Global Commons
Agnieszka Soltysik Monnet Edited by Joni Adamson and
Kimberly N. Ruffin
16 International Perspectives on 25 Narrative Space and Time
Feminist Ecocriticism Representing Impossible
Edited by Greta Gaard, Simon C. Topologies in Literature
Estok, and Serpil Oppermann Elana Gomel
17 Feminist Theory across
Disciplines
Feminist Community and
American Women’s Poetry
Shira Wolosky
18 Mobile Narratives
Travel, Migration, and
Transculturation
Edited by Eleftheria Arapoglou,
Mónika Fodor, and Jopi Nyman
19 Shipwreck in Art and Literature
Images and Interpretations from
Antiquity to the Present Day
Edited by Carl Thompson
20 Literature, Speech Disorders,
and Disability
Talking Normal
Edited by Chris Eagle
21 The Unnameable Monster in
Literature and Film
Maria Beville
22 Cognition, Literature and
History
Edited by Mark J. Bruhn and
Donald R. Wehrs
23 Community and Culture in Post-
Soviet Cuba
Guillermina De Ferrari
24 Class and the Making of
American Literature
Created Unequal
Edited by Andrew Lawson
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Narrative Space and Time
Representing Impossible
Topologies in Literature
Elana Gomel
Routledge
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Taylor & Francis Group
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First published 2014
by Routledge
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and by Routledge
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Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group,
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© 2014 Taylor & Francis
The right of Elana Gomel to be identified as author of this work has been
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Gomel, Elana.
 Narrative space and time : representing impossible topologies in
literature / Elana Gomel. -- First edition.
  pages cm.— (Routledge interdisciplinary perspectives on literature ; 25)
 Includes bibliographical references and index.
 1. Space and time in literature. 2. Imaginary places in literature.
 3. Place (Philosophy) in literature. 4. Narration (Rhetoric)
 5. Literature—History and criticism. 6. Science fiction—History and
criticism. I. Title. II. Title: Impossible topologies in literature.
 PN56.S667G66 2014
 809.3'8762—dc23
 2013036106
ISBN13: 978-0-415-70577-6 (hbk)
ISBN13: 978-1-315-88952-8 (ebk)
Typeset in Sabon
by IBT Global.
I SUSTAINABLE Certified Sourcing
1 FORESTRY www.sfi prog ram.org Printed and bound in the United States of America
INITIATIVE SSFFII--0011223344 by IBT Global.
SFI label applies to the text stock
For my mother, Maya Kaganskaya 1938–2011
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Contents
Introduction I: Space 1
Introduction II: Time 26
1 Layering; Or the City of Two Tales 39
2 Flickering; Or Ghosts of Space 60
3 Embedding; Or the Pocket Universe 92
4 Wormholing; Or the Darkness Within 116
5 Sidestepping; Or Dimensions of Divinity 143
6 Collapsing; Or Urban Black Holes 172
Postscript: “A King of Infinite Space” 203
Notes 205
References 209
Index 223