If on a Winter's Night a Traveler

The story Without fear of wind or vertigo stops as the students discuss various topics. The Reader and Ludmilla want the story to continue rather than discuss what they’ve already heard. When they ask Lotaria for the novel, however, she insists that they already have “enough material to discuss for a month” (91). The novel has been divided up among the departments, though she thinks her department has the best part. Later, the Reader and Ludmilla meet to try to find the endings to any of the novels they’ve read thus far. They agree that a trip to the publishing house may be necessary, but Ludmilla, much to the Reader’s disappointment, suggests that the Reader go alone. She says that she’s the type of person who reads books, rather than someone who makes them, and doesn’t want to blur this “boundary line.”

The Reader arrives at the publishing house and meets Mr. Cavedagna, who assumes that the Reader has submitted a manuscript. As Mr. Cavedagna leads the Reader through the building, the Reader inspects what he sees. These days, the Reader understands, books are no longer the product of individuals. They’re written by “collectives” (96), including political parties, research groups, and students in seminars.