A comprehensive 2011 guide to the genres, historical contexts, cultural diversity and major authors of American fiction since the Second World War.

Introduction: a story of the stories of American fiction after 1945 John N. Duvall; Part I. Poetics and Genres: 1. Postmodern metafiction Amy Elias; 2. Contemporary realism Robert Rebein; 3. New journalism and the non-fiction novel Stacey Olster; 4. Science fiction Philip Wegner; 5. The short story Susan Lohafer; Part II. Historical and Cultural Contexts: 6. African American fiction Keith Byerman; 7. American Indian fiction Nancy J. Peterson; 8. Multiethnicities: Latino/a and Asian American fiction A. Robert Lee; 9. American Jewish fiction Victoria Aarons; 10. Feminist fiction Jane Elliot; 11. Southern fiction Martyn Bone; 12. Fiction and the Cold War Alan Nadel; 13. Fiction and 9/11 John N. Duvall; Part III. Major Authors: 14. Ralph Ellison Nicole Waligora-Davis; 15. Flannery O'Connor Jay Watson; 16. Thomas Pynchon Brian Jarvis; 17. Toni Morrison Linden Peach; 18. Don DeLillo Laura Barrett; Conclusion: whither American fiction? Jessica Pressman; Index.