William Gaddis, dead at 75.

[Heikki Raudaskoski]

What a week is has been. First Tanner, now Gaddis. (Let alone the 
bombings that will strengthen the mad Saddam's power considerably.) 
Tanner was one of the very first scholars to deal well with both 
Gaddis and Pynchon, in his arguably most influential book, _The 
City of Words_, from the turn of the 70s. The last critical piece 
by him that I know of is the review of _Underworld_, in one of the 
latest issues of Raritan. Tanner did not appreciate the novel much; 
Don compares unfavorably with Tom consistently. In _The City of 
Words_ he focuses also on the entropy theme so conspicuous in the 
Am Lit of the 60s, and traces its roots back to e.g. the Dickens of 
_Bleak House_. In that book there's this gloomy neighbourhood called
Tom-all-Alone's, where the Thanatoidlike Jo comes from. And while 
this discussion group makes a much more encouraging community, right 
now it feels strongly that it takes place around "Tom-all-Alone's".  
    


Anyway: Serene Holidays to All of You,

Heikki