This dissertation examines the relationship between American fiction and computing. More specifically, it argues that each domain explored similar formal possibilities during a period I refer to as Early Postmodernism (1965-1980). In the case of computing, the 60s and 70s represent a turning point in which modern systems and approaches were beginning to proliferate. Relational databases, object-oriented programming, and robust artificial intelligence systems all originate from this period. Meanwhile, the formal approaches to information and data that were indicated by these innovations, I propose, were in turn reflected and reimagined by a number of postmodern American novels. In particular, works by Thomas Pynchon, Joseph McElroy, and William Gaddis demonstrate a sustained interest in computational procedures. More than just narratively discussing such procedures, I argue that these authors "formally" incorporated similar procedures in their novels, with Pynchon's "Gravity's Rainbow" (1973), McElroy's "Lookout Cartridge" (1974), and Gaddis's "J R" (1975) serving as the focal points of my analysis. These works provide a compelling record of attempts to grapple with the emergent technologies of modern computing through the aesthetic possibilities of the novel. Along with providing a new perspective on this period of American fiction, I argue that the parallels between novelistic forms and computational forms also provide a unique window into the history of information technology, revealing some of the overlooked effects and consequences of postwar developments. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]