Much Ado About Nonexistence: Fiction and Reference

Rejecting standard presuppositions that have guided much of the debate about fictional discourse, Stroll and Martinich offer a novel approach to fictional discourse―indeed, theirs is clearly the most developed and important ordinary language-style treatment of fictional discourse available. This is essential reading for anyone interested in fictional discourse, and also will be relevant to those with broader concerns about meaning and reference and the relation between fiction and history. — Amie Thomasson, University of Miami

A. P. Martinich and Avrum Stroll have written a crisply argued and fascinating book about fiction and reference. Clear and penetrating, the book performs its two tasks―as a study in the philosophy of language of the nature of reference and a defense of a conception of fictional discourse―in such a way that students are bound to learn a great deal about both. It will serve as an excellent survey of some major developments in twentieth century philosophy of language as well as a providing a compelling view of what fictional discourse is. — Michael L. Morgan, Chancellor”s Professor, Department of Philosophy, Indiana University