Introduction : "What, don't you read?" : Lost's literary influence -- The books of Lost -- "Are you there, God?" : faith, sacrifice and redemption -- Who has the "power over the clay"? purpose, fate and free will -- Stuck and "unstuck" in time : a tradition of time travel -- "Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath" : Lost parents -- "We're all mad here" : dreams, illusions and the nature of reality -- "Maybe there is a beast-- maybe it's only us" : group dynamics and the communities of Lost -- Conclusion : the purpose of "stories that aren't even true."
This is an accessible exploration of the cult TV show "Lost", looking particularly at its fascinating use of novels, plays, stories, and other literary texts. From the moment that Watership Down made its appearance on screen in season one, speculation about "Lost"'s literary allusions has played an important role in the larger discussion of the show. Fans and critics alike have noted the many references, from biblical passages and children's stories to science fiction and classic novels. "Literary Lost" teases out the critical significance of these featured books
