End of Books

From Robert Coover's article, I learned about hypertext which "describe(s) the writing done in the nonlinear of nonsequential space made possible by the computer" (1992, 706). With the creation of hypertext, Coover believed that books would be replaced since hypertext allowed for "true freedom from the tyranny of the line" (706). Additionally, the most revolutionary aspect of hypertext is that it's interactive so readers and writers are both co-learners and co-writers. Also because it is interactive, readers have the opportunity to organize the texts however he/she so chooses. 


The most interesting part of the article for me was the section where Coover discussed how hypertext supporters think that the greatest events in the history of literacy are the invention of writing, the invention of movable type, and the invention of hypertext. I thought this was a very bold proclamation and I can't say that I disagree with this idea. I especially enjoyed George P. Ladow's quote, "It [hypertext] promises or (threatens) to produce effects on our culture, particularly on our literature, education, criticism, and scholarship, just as radical as those produced by Gutenberg's movable type" (706). Indeed the world wide web, which is based off hypertext,  has led to radical changes in the world. 


To be honest, I didn't enjoy this article very much. I thought the idea of the article was cool but I didn't enjoy Coover's writing style. I am sure, however, that his article was pretty revolutionary at the time just like the Dynabook and Man-Computer Symbiosis one.