Paul Auster, American author of The New York Trilogy, dies aged 77

Paul Auster, the author of 34 books, including the renowned New York Trilogy, passed away at the age of 77. He died on Tuesday due to complications from lung cancer, as confirmed by his friend and fellow author Jacki Lyden to the Guardian.

Auster was known for his unique and intricate postmodernist fiction, characterized by unreliable narrators and ever-shifting plot foundations, as described by novelist Joyce Carol Oates in 2010. His stories often explore themes of coincidence, chance, and fate, with many of his characters being writers themselves. Auster’s work is self-referential, with characters reappearing across different novels.

Critics have praised Auster’s distinct narrative voice, comparing it to that of the Ancient Mariner. His writing journey began at the age of eight when he missed out on getting an autograph from his baseball hero, Willie Mays, due to the absence of a pencil. This incident led him to carry a pencil everywhere, as he believed it could inspire writing.

A pivotal moment in Auster’s life occurred during a summer camp at age 14 when he witnessed a boy being struck by lightning and dying instantly, an event that profoundly impacted him and influenced his recurring theme of chance in his fiction.