Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix
1 Introduction 1
I Theory and Methodology
2 Playing with Rather Than by Rules 19
3 Between Ludicity and Literariness 37
II Analyses
4 "The Pen Is Your Weapon of Choice": Ludic Hypertext Literature and the Play with the Reader 57
5 "Love Poem or Break Up Note?" Ludic Hypermedia Fiction and Loss of Grasp 73
6 "Your Innocence Drifts Away": Antiludicity and Ludic Mechanics in The Princess Murderer 89
7 Of Windsighs and Wayfaring: Blue Lacuna, an Epic Interactive Fiction 105
8 The Paradox of Poetic Gaming: evidence of everything exploding 123
9 From Paidia to Ludus: The Path, a Literary Auteur Game 141
10 Conclusion 161
Notes 165
References 173
Glossary 193
Index 201

About the Author

Astrid Ensslin is Professor in the School of Creative Studies and Media at Bangor University.