Books like Fame

How much power does the author have to change the fate of his characters? How much power does a human being have to write him/herself into a meaningful story?What if the author is kind enough to offer a terminally ill character a magical healing - only to make the story disappear altogether by removing the plot? Is that better or worse than the tragedy of the death of the character? What if there is no difference between reality and fiction anymore, as we all live virtual lives that we can modify according to our level of imagination?What if ... fiction takes over where life left off? Do we want that to happen? Do we have any choice in the matter?Nine great stories, forming a novel of sorts if connected. And connection there must be, for a perfect parody on the silliness of Paolo Coelho's universal humbug follows the characters in the shape of a fictional Brazilian bestseller author whose books litter the hotels of the globe... The whole universe conspires to interfere in the storytelling.Successfully so. Great fun.