Effacing the Author

[Kim L. Serkes]

Your humble Correspondent has noted that some of the Participants in this List
have been pleased to make certain Obs. upon the design and manufacture of the
Book at hand, even if he has not, in truth, attended every word of each
message. Some have remark'd that the so-called "blind" embossing of the
Author's name is situated uncommonly, on the back edge of the book opposite the
binding. 

He has scried a Phenomenon which he hopes will be of some slight interest, or
at least afford passing Amusement, to the Company. 

As the reader (whether diligent or dilatory) takes the book in hand, his or her
fingers "naturally" fall in just the Zone where the Author's name is embossed.
As the reader progresses along the line of the narrative, the pressure of those
digits tends to smooth out the embossing, thus effacing the author's name.

Your correspondent's limited Wit and scant Learning compel him to abandon to
French Philosophes of more arcane attainments and those of their School, the
field of speckulation regarding the Significance of this Phenom. and its
relation to the Text. 

All the same, it is a delicious Morsel, is it not? Might Pynchon been the
Author, not only of the Text but the cover design as well? He is widely held to
be inclined to be self-effacing, is he not? Or might the Connection be one less
"linear," as so many of his Connections are?