The Greatest Inovation?

Hypertext is seen by many of its champions as the greatest thing that has happened to literature…ever. In Coover’s essay “The End of Books” Hypertext is shown as a daring innovation that changes the world of books forever and even has the ability to make classic writing obsolete. One addition to the ever-changing definition of hypertext that Coover presents is that unlike classic texts, such as novels, hypertext is based on structure more than prose. This distinction frees hypertext and makes this medium much more versatile than was previously possible with classic writing. This change is what really sets hypertext out from other styles of writing. Using a complex labyrinth of links a hypertext can take on new and different forms with each separate reading or experience.
Novels can do something similar to this with each different reading of a novel the reader might have different reactions to the text the reader could notice something different that they may have missed or have a different emotion when reading. This is similar to the different reactions a reader could have to a hypertext but not the same at all. With hypertext a reader could actually skip whole sections of the story they may not even know that they missed it but must continue with the story without what might be crucial information. This creates completely different reactions for each reader. This is what makes hypertext so interesting.
This innovation of hypertext is explained in Sven Birkerts “Hypertext: Of Mouse and Man” When Sven and his friend explore the hypertext Victory Garden, by Stuart Mouulthrop they begin the story at a interactive table of contents which maps out the interactive space that is Victory Garden. This interactive table of contents is used in many hypertext stories, such as Shelly Jacksons “Patch Work Girl.” The interaction that the reader has with a hypertext makes them feel more of a connection to the work, even if the hypertext does not make sense to the readers they can only continue to try and find a way trough the labyrinth that a hypertext can create. The choices that the reader makes create the experience that they will have.
As stated earlier the champions of hypertext believe that it is the greatest thing to happen to literature and that it will soon make classic writing styles obsolete. I believe that hypertext is an interesting and innovative style of writing but it cannot replace classic writing. The two styles of writing work equally well in different ways to convey meaning and an experience to its readers. The pros and structure of each of these styles have the ability to cause distinct and profound emotions, ideas and experiences for their readers. There will someday be another innovation to writing that will change this experience for future readers but it will always need the advances that have come before it and will never replace old styles, such as the novel or someday hypertext.