“O'Sullivan's book is a much-needed contribution to a fast and ever-changing field of practice. The author has presented an enthusiastic, engaging and coherent way to make sense of a field that is notoriously - often deliberately - slippery and hard to ‘fix’ or define. Acknowledging these challenges, On Theory-Fiction and Other Genres acts variously as a map, glossary, primer and embedded account of the author's own participation in the scenes he explores.”

—Susannah Thompson, Professor of Contemporary Art and Criticism, The Glasgow School of Art

“At once a critical account and a resource, On Theory-Fiction and Other Genres compellingly charts what might be referred to as an expanded field of writing. It will be invaluable to those of us interested in writing as a creative and critical practice beyond the confines of literature.”

—Ola Ståhl, Professor of Design, Linnaeus University

This book looks at three different kinds of writing practice - theory-fiction, autofiction/autotheory and art writing - that are increasingly prevalent as genres (or ‘hybrid genres’) in the arts and critical humanities. The chapters in the book operate as a critical survey of these new forms of writing (many examples are listed) whilst at the same time they each work towards some provisional definitions. Some key precursors to these new genres are also identified.

The book explores what these new kinds of writing do. What is particular to them or what do they add to those already existing styles and genres (and especially the academic essay and article)? Key here is that each form of writing works in a performative manner or as a device that enables a shift in perspective. A case is made for their urgency in relation to contemporary issues and concerns and for their importance in terms of being both from and for more marginalised communities.

The book concludes with a discussion of machine writing and especially our collaboration with artificial intelligence language models.

Simon O'Sullivan is Professor of Art Theory and Practice at Goldsmiths College, University of London.