Infinite Fictions
by David Winters

Selected writings by one of today's leading young literary critics.

David Winters has quickly become a leading voice in the new landscape of online literary criticism. His widely-published work maps the furthest frontiers of contemporary fiction and theory. The essays in this book range from the American satirist Sam Lipsyte to the reclusive Australian genius Gerald Murnane; from the "distant reading" of Franco Moretti to the legacy of Gordon Lish. Meditations on style, form and fictional worlds sit side-by-side with overviews of the cult status of Oulipo, the aftermath of modernism, and the history of continental philosophy. Infinite Fictions is indispensable reading for anyone interested in the forefront of literary thought.

Reviews:
David Winters is a brilliant young literary critic. His literary essays, which have appeared in a vast range of publications, both on- and offline, go far beyond the usual precis-and-evaluation typical of book reviews. He is unique in the philosophical subtlety and depth he brings to his work, and in the striking authors he covers. ~ Lars Iyer, Author of Spurious, Dogma, and Exodus

David Winters is an exceptional talent in literary criticism. He combines a vivid, accessible style of writing with deep erudition and great intellectual precision. Ranging from popular works of fiction to difficult philosophers, he is always able to cut through the jargon and make the reader engage with the heart of the matter. Indeed, Winters is that rare thing: a young intellectual who is able to speak to the general reader while contributing to the academic conversation as well. ~ Martin Hägglund, Yale University

David Winters is the smartest young critic to emerge in recent years. His writing is marked by a desire for the unorthodox, and an attention to our most daring logophiles—Lish, Lutz, Marcom, Schutt—so often overlooked by others. An intimacy with continental philosophy and literary modernism elevates his work well beyond the obvious exegetical formulas of mainstream criticism, and yet it always remains eminently readable and accessible, eminently fun. In Winters I've found a critic whose writing I can read without having to chalk it up to a guilty pleasure—he makes me smarter, there's no doubt about it. ~ Evan Lavender-Smith, Author of Avatar and From Old Notebooks

Whenever I read David Winters' thoughts on a book, it is as though I am seeing that book anew, no matter how well I thought I already knew it. He is rigorous, broad-minded, generous, and courageous—qualities that cannot be taught, but are of essential importance for a critic to have. I look forward to reading him for years to come. ~ Scott Esposito, Co-author of The End of Oulipo

David Winters is a massively intelligent, erudite and inquiring analyst of American letters. I read his essays avidly, and always find fresh insights and fresh connections. He's describing the furniture in the room—a lot of other critics haven't found the door yet. Winters writes with élan, complexity and thoughtfulness. I haven't come across another new critic I like so well. ~ Douglas Glover, Author of Attack of the Copula Spiders

David Winters has become a prominent figure in a new generation of young intellectuals. His literary criticism resists the temptation of liberal humanism and its narrow conception of literature; it interrogates the nature of the novel in a philosophically radical fashion, and sheds light on the alternative voices that are routinely ignored by the mainstream. ~ Carl Cederström, Co-author of Dead Man Working

David Winters’ meditations on the literary experience dance with intelligence and beauty. Powerful and penetrating, his essays turn other writers’ writing into new, exciting pieces that spark the writerly imagination and leave you wanting more. A leading critic. ~ Susana Medina, Author of Philosophical Toys

David Winters is the most exciting critic out there. Each of his reviews starts from scratch, as he looks for a new vocabulary and a new form to talk about each new book. In a sense, his reviews are often even more fascinating than the books themselves—demonstrating how great a writer he truly is. ~ Andrew Gallix, 3:AM Magazine