Born out of the clash between oral traditions and Western literary standards, Native American fiction has grown into a unique and distinct art form. Aboriginal writers merge native and non-native elements and talk to a multicultural audience. Based on six novels published in 1993/94, the author illustrates the individual differences and the common ground existing among contemporary indigenous writers. Their fiction deals with concurrent themes, issues and characters, addressing questions of identity, belonging and 'Nativeness' in the modern world. Presenting heroes who move back and forth between the two cultures and create their own individual lifestyles, the novelsdeconstruct stereotypes and define Native American identity in new ways which reflect the reality of modern indigenous life in North America. Born out of the clash between oral traditions and Western literary standards, Native American fiction has grown into a unique and distinct art form. Aboriginal writers merge native and non-native elements and talk to a multicultural audience. Based on six novels published in 1993/94, the author illustrates the individual differences and the common ground existing among contemporary indigenous writers. Their fiction deals with concurrent themes, issues and characters, addressing questions of identity, belonging and 'Nativeness' in the modern world. Presenting heroes who move back and forth between the two cultures and create their own individual lifestyles, the novelsdeconstruct stereotypes and define Native American identity in new ways which reflect the reality of modern indigenous life in North America. PART 1 11(57) 1. Introduction 11(1) 2. Historical Background 12(7) 3. The Native American Worldview 19(4) 4. The Oral Tradition 23(5) 5. The Emergence and Development of Written Native American Fiction 28(7) 6. The `Indian' in Euro-American Literature and Imagination 35(3) 7. `Invented Categories': the `Native American' and the `Native American Novel' 38(10) 8. Audiences, Roles and Objectives of Native American Novels 48(6) 9. Analyzing Native American Novels 54(7) 10. Native American Novels and the History of the Genre 61(7) PART 2 68(150) 1. Richard Wagamese: Keeper 'n Me 68(20) 1.1 Structure 70(1) 1.2 Style 71(2) 1.3 Authorial Objectives and Audience 73(2) 1.4 Themes, Issues and Characters 75(9) 1.5 Criticism 84(4) 2. Lee Maracle: Ravensong 88(24) 2.1 Structure 89(1) 2.2 Style 90(2) 2.3 Authorial Objectives and Audience 92(3) 2.4 Themes, Issues and Characters 95(11) 2.5 Criticism 106(6) 3. Ron Querry: The Death of Bernadette Lefthand 112(23) 3.1 Structure 113(2) 3.2 Style 115(2) 3.3 Authorial Objectives and Audience 117(1) 3.4 Themes, Issues and Characters 118(12) 3.5 Criticism 130(5) 4. Louis Owens: Bone Game 135(26) 4.1 Structure 136(2) 4.2 Style 138(1) 4.3 Authorial Objectives and Audience 139(2) 4.4 Themes, Issues and Characters 141(13) 4.5 Criticism 154(7) 5. Thomas King: Green Grass, Running Water 161(29) 5.1 Structure 163(2) 5.2 Style 165(4) 5.3 Authorial Objectives and Audience 169(2) 5.4 Themes, Issues and Characters 171(14) 5.5 Criticism 185(5) 6. Susan Power: The Grass Dancer 190(28) 6.1 Structure 192(1) 6.2 Style 193(1) 6.3 Authorial Objectives and Audience 194(3) 6.4 Themes, Issues and Characters 197(17) 6.5 Criticism 214(4) PART 3 218(27) 1. Summary: Differences and Common Ground 218(20) 2. Outlook: The Future of the Native American Novel 238(7) REFERENCES 245