M&D vs. GR

[Doug Millison]

At 12:50 AM 9/4/97, Jay Herzog wrote:
>Sure, GR is more
>impressive in terms of pure technique

M&D's levels of diction, dialect, vocabulary, word play, and narrative
strategies are also quite impressive. Integrating it all within 18th
century novel conventions and then repeatedly subverting those conventions
produces both a level of integration lacking in GR as well as the best of
GR's dizzying, discombobulating shifts of perspective and voice.
Technically, M&D is stunning.

>intensity

GR is certainly intense, but look at what Pynchon achieves in his
development of Mason's character; the steady development, increasingly
intense, of the natural and supernatural imagery and themes (follow what he
does with "wind" throughout the novel, for example, and tell me that
doesn't produce some acute effects); and the emotional intensity that many
of us have noted reverberates so strongly in the human relationships in
M&D.

>and breadth of reference

Even a cursory glance at the notes and questions of the MDMD materials
produced so far indicates that M&D is perhaps broader in scope --
historical, scientific, religious/spiritual, etc. -- than GR

My point is not to diminish GR, which is unquestionably a masterpiece. I
expect that M&D will be judged a masterpiece, too.

D O U G  M I L L I S O N ||||||||||||| millison at online-journalist.com