Week 7 Daniel Spargo

 Scott Rettberg writes about Network Writing, which is a very simple genre of electronic literature. It really seems to boil down to pieces of electronic literature that come from multiple collaborators and/or move through multiple pages and sites as it progresses, creating a sort of network of authors and different pieces that combine to create something whole. In my opinion, the cool thing about network writing is how expansive and creative it can be. In that aspect, it differs from other forms of media because of the abilities it gives users. People can freely explore a tapestry woven together in a myriad of different ways.

I chose to look at The Unknown by Scott Rettberg, Willian Gillespie, Dirk Stratton, and Frank Marquardt. It is a hypertext novel written through a collaborative effort. It is different than other hypertext works that we have explored, as it is a more long form piece of work and provides tons of different hyperlinks to go through. The story has so many branching paths and different avenues that can be explored, which makes it all the more interesting to go through. There is also a menu at the bottom of each page with many links that take the readers to other pieces of the story. Whether it is a picture of the authors and Frank Sinatra, or a link prompting a download for a new page, it provides tons of exploratory avenues for each reader. I will say that is is a hard piece to work through considering how expansive the network is, but it is also incredibly cool in both concept and execution. It is something that I would tell others to take a look at because it is a wonderful example of how electronic literature can push the boundaries of storytelling in the modern age.