TRP and the Science Fiction Connection

[Bonnie Surfus (ENG)]

Will L. wonders about the connection between Pynchon and Science Fiction, 
suggesting it's a faulty association.  

Will, I think the defnitition of Science Fiction has little to do 
with the presence of extraterrestrials, spaceships, or "magical realism" ( a 
term 
still not adequately problematized, I think.)  Broadly defined, Science 
Fiction seems, for me, concerned more with encounters with the alien 
"other" (which is not necessarily our traditional "alien," i.e., e.t..)  
The author's work is to forge a negotiation between our relatively static 
ontological and epistemological realities with other, more shattering 
worlds.  We come to recognize that our abilities to communicate, and 
hence to act within our own cultures have been stifled by our most 
destructive impulses to order.  In the 20th C., these impulses find 
currency not merely in the will to empire (which is still foremost, it 
seems), but in a drive to know (i.e., the Manhattan Project) that 
seduces us beyond our ability to think, communicate, and act wisely.  At 
this point, the necessity of the alien other becomes clear.  Without the 
intermediary presence of an agent(s), we are left on our path to 
destruction without the possibility of an objective view toward our 
folly.  Even the author is in a bind, quite often.  Sometimes, the 
destruction happens anyhow, as in the bunker at Argonnes in Barth's _The 
Floating Opera_ (hmm. . . FO) where he is able to observe himself 
objectively as "a shocked and drooling animal in a mudhole."  Only the 
observation of and attempt to communicate with his German "roomate," is 
Todd Andrews able to forestall his actions long enough to have this 
telling vision.  He kills the German anyhow, but then, according to 
Pynchon, this would have to be so.  Still, for the reader, the encounter 
with the alien other, in this case, is profound.  And few would call the 
FO Sci-fi.  
I think that by this def., GR could be called Sci-fi, as well.

Also, I was watching a rerun of the Rachel Owlglass visit on the John 
Laroquette show last night and noticed one more Pynchon ref I hadn't 
before.  JL's girlfriend, Katherine, ran into Rachel, as she came to 
surprise JL by showing up in the nude.  Shocked, Katherine goes home to 
hide in the closet.  JL goes to get her and she comes out dressed in 
about 4-5 layers of clothes, just like Ms. Maas.

I'm happy to report that I survived the storm.  No major damage either.

Bonnie