Jacques Fontanille's "The Semiotics of Discourse "fills a long-standing need for a clear, comprehensive overview of narrative semiotic theory. The book skillfully blends a historical perspective with an emphasis on recent developments. Outstanding features include a clear, thorough exposition; numerous examples drawn from sports, cooking, and literature; a balance of introductory overview and detailed analysis; figures that graphically represent the ideas expressed; and suggestions for further reading at the end of each chapter. The book will be of interest to both scholars and students in semiotics, linguistics, literary theory, and the study of narrative.