I don't think that I was the one who came up with the
"magical realist" tag as applied to Willeford, although I
kind of like the idea.
I always figured that the MR expression had something to
do
with the translation of a metaphoric figure into a literal
element of the
plot. In one of Marquez's books, the U.S. asserts
jurisdiction over some
territorial waters, thus "taking" the sea. Of course, in the
story they
literally take it so for the rest of the book the characters
refer to "the
fickle sea". Similarly, Kafka's Gregor Samsa doesn't just
feel like a roach,
he is a roach.
Don't know what this really has to do with Willeford, but
I'd
like to see one of our listers make the connection. Naked
lunch, anyone?
James
James Michael Rogers
jetan@ionet.net
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