Can you name some possible candidates for the 'worlds second novel'?

James Joyce's 'Ulysses' is often considered a very misunderstood novel. Its complex narrative structure, which includes stream - of - consciousness writing and a lot of allusions to Greek mythology and Irish history, makes it hard for many readers to fully understand.

One strong candidate is 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' by Edgar Allan Poe.

Sure. 'Endymion' could be a candidate. It has a rich tapestry of characters and events that are set against the backdrop of Victorian society. It's a long and detailed work that really immerses the reader in that era.

Some people might think that 'The Game - World Chronicles' could be among the first. It had in - depth character building based on game - like mechanics, such as attribute points and skill trees. But again, the definition of the first litrpg novel can be a bit hazy as different works had different degrees of the key litrpg elements.

One possible candidate for the first fantasy novel could be 'The Epic of Gilgamesh'. It has elements of the supernatural like the gods and monsters. Another might be 'The Odyssey' which has mythical creatures and magic.

One possible candidate for the first vampire novel is 'The Vampyre' by John Polidori. It was an early work that presented the vampire figure in a more complex way compared to previous mentions in literature.

One of the main candidates for the first black American novel is 'The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano'. Equiano was a former slave who wrote about his life experiences, including his enslavement and his journey to freedom.

Definitely Mark Twain's 'Tom Sawyer' is often thought of as a prime candidate. The time period when Twain was writing coincided with the increasing popularity of the typewriter. He was an adventurous writer in many ways, and using the typewriter was just one of his forays into new territory. While we can't be 100% certain, it's a very likely candidate. There may have been other lesser - known authors trying out the typewriter for their novels around the same time, but without as much historical documentation.

Well, 'The City and the Pillar' by Gore Vidal is often considered among the early works that had elements of gay romance. It was quite controversial when it was first published in 1948. It explored the life of a man and his same - sex relationships, and was a significant step in the representation of gay themes in American literature.

Sure. 'Frankenstein' is often considered a strong candidate. It delved into the idea of creating life through science, which was quite revolutionary at the time of its writing. The implications of Victor Frankenstein's actions and the moral questions raised are still relevant in science fiction today.