Computer-Generated Books and the Work of Nick Montfort
The intersection of coding and creativity has given rise to a unique literary genre: computer-generated books. Rather than writing text line by line, authors in this field create programs—sets of instructions—that generate the final narrative or poetic output. A leading figure in this movement is Nick Montfort, whose work explores the boundaries between human language and machine logic.
Key Facts
- Nick Montfort is a pioneer in generative literature and the founder of the Using Electricity book series.
- Conceptual writing is the framework often used to categorize these computer-generated works.
- NaNoGenMo (National Novel Generation Month) is an event dedicated to writing programs that generate novels.
- Generative works can exist across multiple mediums, including printed books, web pages, and gallery installations.
The Art of Algorithmic Poetry
One of Montfort's most notable works is The Truelist (Counterpath, 2017), a book-length poem produced by a single page of computer code. To maintain transparency regarding the creative process, the code used to generate the poem is included at the end of the book. Beyond the printed page, a complete studio recording of the work is available via PennSound.
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Montfort also explores the inherent "personality" of different coding languages in his work #! (pronounced "shebang"). By utilizing Python, Ruby, and Perl—the latter of which has a documented history as a poetic medium—he creates impressions of an ideal where machines are based on the rules of language. A specific piece from this collection, "Taroko Gorge," exists as a Python version in the book and a JavaScript version online, which has been modified by various authors. These "remixes" are featured in The Electronic Literature Collection: Volume 3.
Collaborations and Multilingual Experiments
Generative literature often transcends a single language. Montfort collaborated with six other creators on 2x6, published by Les Figues. This project consists of six short programs that generate narrative poems in six different languages: English, Spanish, French, Polish, Japanese, and Russian. The project has been presented as a printed book, a web-based experience, and a gallery exhibition.
Another example of this versatility is Autopia, a project that assembles short sentences using the names of automobiles. Like 2x6, Autopia has been published as a printed book by Troll Thread, hosted as a web page, and displayed as a gallery installation.
NaNoGenMo and the Challenge of Scale
The community of generative writers often gathers for NaNoGenMo (National Novel Generation Month). During the inaugural 2014 event, Montfort wrote programs that produced three self-published books: Hard West Turn (2018 Edition), Megawatt, and World Clock. The global reach of these works is evidenced by their translations; World Clock was published in Polish by ha!art, and Megawatt was published in German by Frohmann.
In November 2019, Montfort introduced "Nano-NaNoGenMo," a high-constraint challenge. He called for participants to write programs of 256 characters or less that could generate novels of 50,000 words or more. Montfort and several other contributors successfully produced programs meeting these rigorous specifications.
| Work Title | Format/Medium | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| The Truelist | Book, Audio | Generated by a one-page program; code included in text. |
| #! (Shebang) | Book, Web | Uses Python, Ruby, and Perl to explore language rules. |
| 2x6 | Book, Web, Gallery | Multilingual poems in six different languages. |
| Autopia | Book, Web, Gallery | Sentences assembled from automobile names. |
| World Clock / Megawatt | Book | Created during NaNoGenMo; translated into Polish and German. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a computer-generated book?
A computer-generated book is a literary work where the text is produced by a computer program rather than being written manually by a human author. The author focuses on designing the algorithm or code that determines how the text is constructed.
What is NaNoGenMo?
NaNoGenMo stands for National Novel Generation Month. It is an event where writers create computer programs designed to generate full-length novels.
What is "Nano-NaNoGenMo"?
Nano-NaNoGenMo is a specific challenge introduced by Nick Montfort in 2019, requiring authors to write extremely short programs (256 characters or less) that can generate novels of at least 50,000 words.
Which programming languages are used in these works?
Nick Montfort has utilized several languages, including Python, Ruby, Perl, and JavaScript, often choosing them based on their specific rules and history as mediums for expression.
What is the "Using Electricity" series?
Using Electricity is a series of computer-generated books published by Counterpath, for which Nick Montfort serves as the founder and series editor.