Screenplay and narrative theory : the screenplectics model of complex narrative systems /

Varotsis is himself a screenwriter, and he addresses some of narratology's traditional questions from that perspective--problem solving through the process of writing and analyzing complex narratives. One of his concerns is moving beyond a "story grammar" perspective toward a "plot-algorithm" perspective. Plot algorithms allow the screenwriter, or creators of narrative, to analyze and account for more complex narratives. The volume includes numerous figures, story sequences, and graphs that map out visually--and elucidate--the aspects of narrative or plot algorithms the author describes. Varotsis's focus on character as a key element of narrative study is useful, but the overall discussion would benefit from examples drawn from narrative films--references to familiar characters or scenes that would give the reader a purchase or an entry beyond the hypothetical. Though the author does not reference films or fictional characters, he does engage productively with the works of a number of important narrative and film theorists, placing the work here in clear dialogue with others. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students, researchers, faculty, practitioners. --Leah M. Anderst, Queensborough Community College - CUNY