Cornell novel

[delany at sfu.ca]

I've now re-read Charles Thompson's *Halfway Down the Stairs* (1957). I
didn't find any obvious Pynchon links, though they might be there for
someone who knows V better than I do. There is a certain similarity of
atmosphere, especially with TP's early stories - what I would call a
distinctively 50s flavor of male sentimentality - the sort of thing that
makes me gag when I look at Salinger now.
  Much of the novel has to do with a c.1950 subculture at Cornell of
bohemianism, cool jazz, lots of pot & even heroin. The hero, Dave Pope,
plays sax in a jazz group - one tune he likes is "Frenesi" - anyone know
the words?
  Charles Thompson went into the Navy after Cornell & in 1957 was a 
researcher for the New Yorker - anything known of his later career?
The last part of the novel is about the old crowd living in Manhattan
after graduation.
  The conclusion of the novel is very 50s too - "we've had our fling and it's
time to put away childish things" - the evil master of ceremonies of
the weed-smoking crowd drowns, so goodbye to all that.