J
Jo Walton
Welsh-Canadian fantasy and science fiction writer and poet.
Or What You Will
Sylvia Harrison, a dying fantasy author, finds her fictional characters taking on a life of their own, debating their existence and her legacy. As Sylvia grapples with her mortality, her creations explore themes of storytelling, memory, and what it means to be real. This novel blurs the lines between creator and created, offering a unique look at the power of imagination.
While it is a standalone novel, readers familiar with Jo Walton's other books will recognize her characteristic exploration of meta-narrative and the nature of storytelling, which is a recurring theme in her bibliography.
The novel stands out for its deeply introspective structure, where the protagonist's fictional characters engage in philosophical debates about their own existence and the creative process. This internal dialogue offers a distinct perspective on the relationship between author and creation.