Writing Theory

[Tim Durkin]

At 02:10 PM 2/28/00 -0600, Mark A. Douglas wrote:
>Continuing with the thought that Pynchon is writing one big novel, COL49
seems almost like an outtake from an idea while writing GR and M&D.  This
is not at all to criticize the book, but its themes, while found in V., GR,
and M&D...  I think of COL49 (and Vineland, for that matter) as outtakes
from other works, not to say that they were originally part of other works.  

I like to think of GR and M&D as responses to the same question.  

49)  What's Oedipa waiting for?

a)  dissemination, slow death, the brenschluss apocalypse 	of GR
b)  clashing systems, narrative and historical conflict, 	but ultimate
humanism in M&D?
c)  either/or
d)  and/both

Tim