Well, one key characteristic is the exploration of the individual's search for meaning in a seemingly indifferent or absurd world. For example, in works like 'The Stranger' by Albert Camus, the protagonist's actions and his view of life show this struggle. Another aspect is the focus on human freedom and the anxiety that comes with the choices we have to make. Characters often face moral and ethical dilemmas that force them to confront their own existence.
Albert Camus is a very well - known author of modern existential fiction. His works like 'The Plague' and 'The Stranger' are classics in this genre. Another one is Jean - Paul Sartre. His plays and novels, such as 'Nausea', are important contributions. And Franz Kafka is also often associated with existential themes in his works like 'The Metamorphosis' and 'The Trial'.
Jean - Paul Sartre's 'Nausea' is also a top choice. The main character, Roquentin, experiences a sense of nausea when faced with the absurdity of existence. Sartre uses vivid descriptions to convey Roquentin's feelings about the meaninglessness of life and how he grapples with his own identity in a world that seems to lack inherent purpose.
Jean - Paul Sartre's 'Nausea' is also a key existential fiction work. The protagonist, Roquentin, experiences a sense of nausea when confronted with the absurdity and contingency of existence. Sartre uses vivid descriptions to convey the character's unease with the world around him, making the reader question the nature of reality and our place in it.
One of the best is 'The Stranger' by Albert Camus. It explores the absurdity of life through the character of Meursault, who seems indifferent to the conventional norms of society. His actions and the way he faces the world make readers question the meaning of existence.
One of the best is 'The Stranger' by Albert Camus. It explores the absurdity of human existence through the character of Meursault, who is detached from the norms of society. His actions and reactions, like not crying at his mother's funeral, make readers question the meaning of life and the values society imposes on us.
One key characteristic is the exploration of the absurd. In existential fiction, situations can be highly illogical. For example, in 'Waiting for Godot', the two characters waiting endlessly for someone who might not exist is absurd. Also, these books focus on the individual's experience. They are less about grand social or historical events but more about how a single person copes with existence. And self - awareness is a big part of it. Characters are often forced to confront their own nature, like in 'Notes from Underground' where the narrator has a deep self - examination.
Absurdity is a big part. These works often present situations or worlds that seem illogical or without clear reason. In 'Waiting for Godot', the two characters' endless waiting for someone who may not exist is an example of this absurdity. Also, a sense of isolation is common. Characters in existential fiction may feel detached from society or those around them, like Gregor in 'The Metamorphosis' who is alienated even from his own family after his transformation.
Some famous modern existential novels include 'Waiting for Godot' by Samuel Beckett. This play - novel hybrid reflects on themes like the futility of waiting and the search for meaning in a seemingly unresponsive universe. Then there's 'One Hundred Years of Solitude' by Gabriel García Márquez. Although it has elements of magical realism, it also deals with existential concepts such as the passage of time, the loneliness of existence, and the cyclical nature of life.
Existential science fiction typically features a sense of alienation. Characters may feel out of place in their own world, whether it's due to technological changes, the discovery of new life forms, or a shift in the social order. It also tends to be introspective. The narrative often forces the characters, and by extension the readers, to look inward and confront their own beliefs about existence. Additionally, there's often a blurring of boundaries, such as between human and non - human, reality and illusion, which further complicates the characters' understanding of their existence.