Welcome to the New River! After a period
of dormancy, the New River has been re-designed and reborn,
complete with exciting new works by leading digital authors.
David Herrstrom's The Nicodemus Glyph is a heady investigation
of the ancient author and teacher, Nicodemus. Herrstrom has
constructed the Glyph to taunt the reader's desire for more
definite knowledge of Nicodemus, while simultaneously signaling
that we can never fully know a historical person or circumstance.
Jason Nelson's work tests the boundary between "game-like" interfaces
and serious poetry. Poetry Cube not only allows readers to reorganize
Nelson's words, but it also allows them to enter their own poetry
and, with the click of a button, shuffle the lines into an array
of possibilities. Between Treacherous Objects takes a form reminiscent
of a video game flight simulator. Using the mouse, readers fly
through the space of images and poetry, choosing to stop where
they desire.
Dan Waber's Writing Through Time examines and challenges the
limitations and constructs of space and time as they traditionally
apply to the written words. Words appear and disappear on the
"page", creating a layered fabric of text and meaning that can
be further manipulated by the reader.
If you're new to the world of digital writing, we hope that
you will explore these pieces with an attitude of adventure.
Digital writing is not intended to provide you with a traditional
narrative or sense of closure. Rather, it is an interactive
form in which you become a co-author as you choose the order
in which you will view the text as well as decide when you will
stop reading. This process also gives you a greater role in
determining the meaning of the text. Digital writing is a way
of exploring the evolutionary edges of language, words, and
meaning, so bring your curiosity, and have fun!
Laura Dulaney and Bryon Sabol, Managing Editors