The preceding chapter has outlined the concept of a narrative space as a textually prompted construct used in story construction. Narrative spaces can thus be distinguished through their temporal dimension, a consistent subplot, or the construction of a specific epistemic point of view. I have also explained how narratives achieve coherence through levels of blending leading to an emergent story.

However, reading a work of fiction invariably assumes a text-mediated contact with the constructed fictional subjectivity often referred to as ‘the teller’ or ‘the narrator.’ The concept is textually constructed, which has been stressed repeatedly, primarily in order to avoid simplifications whereby the narrator is identified with the author. At the same time, the illusion is compelling in many narratives, and the reason why the author is so naturally understood to be responsible for the way the story is told has not been answered in sufficient depth. While the ‘death of the author’ (as a viable narrative concept) has been widely publicized, the news may be exaggerated, as some flesh-and-blood authors begin to claim their right to be considered legitimate participants in the narrative exchange.