How common is the omniscient narrator these days?

[nancylebov]

From an essay about post-modernism:
One rarely sees the universal, omniscient narrator any more; one expects to ride the "novel" inside one of the character's heads.

I've noticed that getting inside the character's heads is more common-- first person is typical for urban fantasy-- but has third person omniscient actually become rare?

I don't know if there's an important difference between being inside one character's head, or in many characters' heads, as in Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire.

Link from haikujaguar.

Comments

[houseboatonstyx.livejournal.com]

Hm. 'Strong' is not the first word I'd have chosen for Emma Lathen's omni voice, or Arthur Ransome's, or L. Frank Baum's, or Manning Coles'.

Solid prose, sound -- but certainly not loud or distinctive.