Paweł Matuszek’s Novel Zejście49 as Metafiction of Science Fiction
Abstract
The article provides an analysis of the novel Zejście49 by Paweł Matuszek, a rare example of metafantastic literature. The novel is constructed according to a scheme that exposes the illusory nature of the created world, with the adventurous plot focusing on isolating and transcending successive layers of illusion. The first part of the novel presents a simulated futuristic world built according to conventional rules, referencing imagery found in classic works of science fiction. This demonstrates the mechanics of world-building in its schematic realization. Proper names, objects, and characters point to intertexts, with the film Blade Runner, based on Philip K. Dick's novel, taking a leading role among them. The second part of the novel introduces another world construction, in which the previous one functions as a machine simulation. Liberation from the scheme, however, leads to entering another one—a game of constructed ontologies and the identity of the main character entangled within them. The novel's originality lies in its recognition of literature as a generator of virtual worlds competing with digital technology. By introducing a nostalgic element and revealing intertexts (literature and popular films from the 1980s), the novel transcends the rules of "performative metafiction," where literary theory becomes an integral part of the narrative.
Keywords:
science fiction, metafiction, intertextuality, worldbuilding, virtual realityReferences
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