<p>This is the story of Arno Strine, a modest temporary typist, who has perfected the knack of stopping time in its tracks and taking women''s clothes off. He is hard at work on his autobiography, <i>The Fermata</i>, which proves in the telling to be a very provocative, very funny and altogether morally confused piece of work. <br><br>Hilarious and totally original, Nicholson Baker''s new novel is a triumphant comedy about sexual fantasy and fantastic sexuality.</p>