In her article, "Gender Identities in the Contemporary Slovene Novel," Alojzija Zupan Sosic argues that perspectives of sexual identity have become prominent topics. Based on her library and ...publication research, Zupan Sosic proposes that in the period of 19902005 the Slovene novel is illuminated by a development of the personal or intimate story. In this development, changes of sexual identity evolve through the binary system of the heterosexual matrix whereby issues of sexual minorities remain. Important innovation in the Slovene novel include aspects connected to an identity formation determined by sexual identity where perhaps the most significant innovation is found in the narrative structures and themes of the Slovene novel of today, such as the increasing number of female literary figures as main characters, in turn the result also of the increasing number of women novelists. Zupan Sosic suggests that the second main innovation touches upon the sensitivities of new movements in identity formation representing a reflection of post-postmodern sincerity she designates as a new "emotivity." Zupan Sosic argues that the development of the said new emotivity is located in the contemporary Slovene novel in the relationship between the sexes, the romantic theme, and in an ironic and parodied attachment to literary tradition.
In this paper, three contemporary Slovene novels are discussed in which the otherness of the literary figure is closely linked to the otherness of the literary language used: Vitomil Zupan's Journey ...to the End of Spring, Berta Bojetu-Boeta's Filio is Not at Home and Lojze Kovacic's Childhood Things. The otherness of these novels is not only confirmed primarily within the context of the contemporary Slovene novel, but also in comparison with the world stage, where the Slovene novel represents a minority literature. The novel Journey to the End of Spring is different because of the main character Tajsi, who is an erotomaniac, a compulsive writer and a picaresque figure; as well as the otherness of the protagonist, the dynamics of the poetics is also shaped by the modernist narrative connected with the universal category of the neo-picaresque. The contribution of the novel Filio is Not at Home to the sense of otherness lies in the generic syncretism of dystopia, as well as in in the eponymous female character whose name, Filio, indicates a vision of the female and male principles being brought together. In the new millennium, the greatest sense of otherness has been brought to the Slovene context by the autobiographical novel Childhood Things, particularly the child's perspective, the unreliable narrator and enigmatic descriptions. The very technique of this autobiographical novel is also different, combining realist and modernist poetics into realistic modernism; this connects smoothly with the difference of the main character Bubi, who in spite of his young age (from newborn to eleven years old) expresses himself with merciless candour, an innovative critical stance, radical provocation and consistent nonconformism. Key words otherness; contemporary Slovene novel; erotomaniac; dystopia; autobiographical novel
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