Designs of Darkness in Contemporary American FictionIn Designs of Darkness, Arthur M. Saltzman examines some of the ways in which fiction has traditionally conspired to promote a goal oriented vision of the work of artand explores the ways in which postmodern (or postrealist) fiction consistently and unavoidably subverts the clarity of this vision. Offering readings of works by well known authors, including Barthelme, Doctorow, DeLillo, and Hakes, as well as works by lesser known writers (Auster,