GRGR(14) preamble

[JL]

Well, every dog has it's day, and a good dog just might have
two weeks.  Welcome to GRGR(14).

I'm having some problems (understatement) with my home connection
at the moment so bear with me if my postings are a little sporadic.
Next up will be a plot summary, followed by some notes &
questions, mainly personal musings on the minutiæ.  Depending
on how we go, over the next few days I'll post some ramblings
on broader & deeper topics.

Meanwhile, my initial thoughts :

This section covers one 'Episode' only (pp 295-314), following
Slothrop's Progress into and out of the Mittelwerk.

It seems to hold a pivotal position in the book; but on the face
of it that's hard to justify, unless it is as a hollow centre.
Apart from Slothrop (and possibly Marvy) the characters are
marginal (ciphers?) -- unless you include the Rocket, about which
we are told plenty.  Mennippean, or what?  And the Plot is stirred
rather than advanced with the introduction of multiple mythical
allusions.

Don't get me wrong, I love this section and there's plenty to
discuss.  Much of what the novel is 'About' can be found here.
It's just that we are deliberately built up to expect something
to be revealed by S's journey to the Rocket's Source, but P
deflates this expectation like a whoopee-cushion.  Why?

JL
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 Oompa Loompa doompadee doo
 I've got another puzzle for you.
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