Reviewer’s joy on seeing Afterword, by David Markson: a book by [name of author] that a posthumous David Markson novel had surfaced.
Reviewer’s doubt on seeing that the book was published by a small indie press.
The found manuscript faming device.
Reviewer’s on-the-other-hand that Markson was astoundingly never well-known.
Reader’s Block
This Is Not A Novel
Vanishing Point
The Last Novel
Tetralogy.
Wittgenstein’s Mistress
Reviewer’s still hopeful joy on starting to read Afterword, by David Markson: a book by [name of author].
The possibility that Markson planned a book called Afterword to be published after his death—very Markson-esque.
The possibility that someone—his estate or publisher—has enough of his notes and notecards to put together a posthumous book.
Pentalogy.
The implication in Afterword, by David Markson: a book by [name of author] that Markson didn’t really die.
I want to believe.
2010, Markson died in.
2025, Afterword, by David Markson: a book by [name of author] was published in.
Short paragraphs, sentences, even fragments or words. Of facts about, or quotes from, artists. From famous texts.
Lawrence, Kansas. In The Castle books are published in. Or from. Or edited.
Put together.
Amazon. In the Castle books can be ordered from
It’s not actually by Markson. The book's full title is Afterword, by David Markson, but it would be credited to the anonymous author who goes by [name of author].
Being the reply sent by Publisher to Reviewer’s request for clarification.
[name of author]’s use of Markson’s use of Author, Novelist, Writer to refer to himself.
Herself?
And to Markson.
[name of author]’s use of whole sentences and key words from Markson’s novels.
Wanhope.
The possibility of [name of author] being a woman due to an un-Markson-like number of entries about Emily Dickinson.
Entries?
Adrienne Rich slammed Archibald MacLeish for calling Emily Dickinson “girl” in his statement: “I think we’re all half in love with the dead girl.”
In the only authenticated image, she’s 16. At Mount Holyoke.
Maybe not.
Possibility that [name of author] is Publisher.
Inside The Castle being a reference to Kafka’s novel The Castle.
Imitation? Parody? Homage? Plagiarism?
Not parody.
The possibility that Reviewer is part of the joke.
Insidethecastle.org
Reviewer’s possible reaction to reading Afterword, by David Markson: a book by [name of author] if David Markson hadn’t been in the title.
Possibly no reaction. Probably would never have heard of it.
Reviewer’s attempt to imitate [name of author]’s imitation of Markson.
Laughter.
Being Markson’s probably reaction to Afterword, by David Markson: a book by [name of author].
Reviewer imagining someone writing a fourth Borders novel and putting Cormac McCarthy’s name in the title.
Tetralogy.
Collage.
[name of author]’s use of quotes from The Monkees songs being the big give-away.
So, parody?
Reviewer’s fondness for Monkees songs.
All The Pretty Horses Now Dead in Border Cities by Cormac McCarthy: a book by [name of author].
Nevertheless.
Reviewer’s minor panic that Afterword, by David Markson: a book by [name of author] was ‘created’ by AI.
Nevertheless.
The compelling interesting short fact after interesting short fact.
Markson-ish.
Marksonian.
No plot. Not story.
A character.
Reviewer’s belief that David Markson could never be imitated.
Shouldn’t?
[name of author]’s willingness to call Putin a fascist, but not Ukrainian nazis.
Reviewer’s inclination to believe Markson would’ve done the same thing.
The confusion unavoidable as to what’s new material, Novelist, words of other authors, lore, historical facts or the problematic Novelist composed of words of others, lore or historical facts. Such confusion having been the point from word one.
Though Author has endeavored a textual key, if the reader is paying attention. While admitting he’s not always certain which is which. and not giving a damn what the same critics who pestered Novelist about it have to say.
Wrote Markson.
And/or [name of author].
Copied [name of author]?
Reviewer beginning to wonder at just how many lines from Markson’s work [name of author] is going to use.
Allowed?
Before?
Nevertheless.
Read Markson first. Reviewer urges Readers.
Read Afterword, by David Markson: a book by [name of author]. Reviewer suggests to Markson fans.