G:fantods (03/22/83)
Well, just as net.books "degenerates into an adjunct to... .sf-lovers" lets drag in Thomas Pynchon again. Pynchon's "Gravity's Rainbow" is brilliantly written, although a tad sophomoric in outlook. I'd say, in fact, that it is probably the most absorbing and detailed, frightening and delightful comic book I have ever read, and that will ever be written. It's main symbolism revolves around rockets and garter-belts-and-stockings, it is large and contains multitudes, including one of everything, and you must have at least a month of spare time to read it. Take a month off, devour it slowly and thoroughly, and don't do a lot else. You will go slightly bananas, and probably enjoy yourself immensely. Unless of course you are a rather sensible woman, wherein you will either find it pretty silly or slightly offensive or just puzzling as to why so many guys go apeshit over it. I have met three or four males who just think this is the living end, novelwise, but women seem to consider it an expertly written but pointless montage, for the most part. There are enough stunning and brilliant set-pieces and fables sprinkled throughout to keep anyone amused, though, and this book wins my personal "Mind-Virus on Paper" award for 1981, when I finally finished it. My favorite part is still the Disgusting English Candy Drill, best when read aloud at parties, but the sequences with Tyrone falling down the toilet bowl, the whole Herero mythology, and much else is haunting. As is the tale of Byron the Bulb, and the little piece about the silence of the sun. Like I say, it contains one of everything. Go read it. Take your time. Richard
filed01 (03/24/83)
Be sure to read "V" before reading "GRavity's Rainbow". It's better and introduces the characters. HRS @ ABI
paul (03/26/83)
I would just like to butt in here, depositing my two cents' worth -- I am in the crowd that feels that Thomas Pynchon is just the greatest writer drawing breath. I like V and Gravity's Rainbow -- but not The Crying of Lot 49 (as much, anyway). This all leads into my question? How many people on the net recognize the name "Sacvan Bercovitch"? I usually carry on with this stuff on net.religion, but might get a better audience here. Discussions on the American (with a big scarlet letter) novel -- Hawthorne, Melville, types. Anyone with a background in American Studies? Sure would like to hear if there are. Thanks for the indulgence -- Paul -- paul@uofm-ciprnet burl!sb1!mb2b!uofm-cv!paul Ann Arbor, MI