Unabomber and Luddites

[LARSSON at vax1.mankato.msus.edu]

OUTRSPACIA wonders:
"I know the unabomber was discussed earlier this summer, but it appears that
the text of the newly published "letter" in the Times or Post, whichever,
rings true to the Luddite discussion that surfaces here occassionally: The
failure of the technological revolution, in particular.
 
Wonder what Pynchon is thinking about this. The whole thing sounds like the
perfect blend of Crying of Lot 49 and Gravity's Rainbow, and perhaps
Vineland. So, I wonder if the unabomber is a Pynchon reader. Of course,
he/she is probably not on the list, as it would require the use of
technology/computer to get here."



This morning on NPR'
s MORNING EDITION, there was an interview with Kirkpatrick Sale, Pynchon pal
and anti-technology writer, about the Unabomber Manifesto.  Among other
things, Sale
--doubted that publication would help catch the guy, as the FBI and others hope
--presumed that the U.b. was honorable and would indeed cease blowing people
	up now that his demand has been met
--ripped the document itself for bad writing and sloppy thinking
--supposed a fair lack of education on the U.b.'s part, stating that he thought
	the document showed the U.b. to be pretty much unaware of the "
	long and honorable" tradition of anti-technology writing and thinking.


I wouldn't doubt that Pynchon's views were at least somewhat similar to his
former classmate's.


Don Larsson, Mankato State U (MN)