Northern Cronopios: Chilean Novelists and Short Story Writers in Canada (An Anthology)

FOREWARD: The Cronopios are fictional characters invented by Cortázar. Their lack of a practical mentality, their social inadequacy and their almost oriental understanding of life create an ambiguous spot in a world inhabited by Fames (Famas), who are extroverted, practical and happy-go-lucky, and Hopes (Esperanzas), who are naive, enthusiastic and sentimental. As for the Cronopios here, the Chilean narrators in Canada, they seem, at first glance, to share both a criticai, marginal point of view and an almost oblivious lack of consideration for the needs and demands of the public. However, since a vast array of different characteristics and perspectives are present in their narrative, they seem to be unified only by their being Chilean. A good number of them share an unconventional approach to their craft and even the rules of the genre that might be irksome to some professors of Creative Writing. The plot may be virtually non- existent; an almost dramatic dialogue may be present; or the emphasis may be placed on the discourse. Parody and “magic realism” are often interwoven with the commitment, and violent and erotic elements lace the texts. […]