Joseph Conrad's classic turn of the century novel, Heart of Darkness, requires close reading. It is full of irony, coded meanings, parody and social criticism in a disguised form. He published the novel in the distinguished gentleman's Blackwood's Magazine; that catered for white imperialists, and was used to celebratory adventure tales. This novel, however, does not conform to that canon. The story of Marlow in the Congo, delves deeply into the soul of the colonialists, and is a startling piece of writing.

Kathy Acker's novel of the grotesque, Empire of the Senseless, combines elements of European and postmodern literature to produce enlivening and scintillating cut up prose. The number of topics covered are too numerous to list, the scope is huge. The gaps in culture are explored through the clashing of religion and atheism; the characters surge in an attempt to reach themselves in a useless and mollifying movement of nihilism. This is writing on the edge of pain and death and the horror of self awareness.

Kafka manages to write a story of darkness, confusion and power in that nameless place that is The Castle. As you follow the forlorn story of the main character, K, you feel yourself becoming embroiled within his fears and nervous disposition. The entrapment of the novel is its major point. Kafka imagines a story that takes you into its most intimate regions without the pleasure of seduction, or the warmth of home. This is a soulless and haunting tale. Enmeshed in the folds of central Europe, The Castle, is a place far away from the glorious exploits of conquerors and heroes.