Introduction Chapter I Towards Postmodern Playful Narrative 1.1 The Evolution of Theories of Play 1.2 Robert Coover as a Postmodernist Game-Master Chapter II History Revisited: The Public Burning 2.1 Unrelenting Parody on History: The Rosenberg Case Reevaluated 2.2 Roaring Carnival Laughter in the Times Square Chapter III Playing at Religion: The Origin of the Brunists 3.1 Justin Miller as a Self-Conscious "Homo Luden" 3.2 Robert Coover as a Game-Maker 3.3 Robert Coover's Metafictional Impulse Chapter IV The Games Within the Text: The Universal Baseball Association, Inc., J. Henry Waugh, Prop 4.1 Analogy Between Henry's Play-World and Fiction-Making 4.2 Henry's Game: "Agon" and "Alea", Mimicry and Ilinx Blended 4.3 Henry's Game-World Constructed 4.4 Play Corrupted: Henry's Integration with the UBA 4.5 An Open-Ended Game Chapter V Playing at Fictional Codes: Gerald's Party 5.1 Textual Games Within Anti-Detective Story 5.2 A Game of Caillois's Vertigo Conclusion References Acknowledgements