Apocalypse: "Not for Sale in Canada"

[jbor]

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>From: Dave Monroe <monroe at mpm.edu>
>

> At any rate, keep in mind, these aren't real, individual people, these are
notably
> unusual characters in a notably NOT "naturalistic" or whatever novel

There are "naturalistic" elements, however, surely? even down to that very
precise "6:43:16 BDST" reference on p. 29. And I think it is the sheer ...
ordinariness, say ... of many of the characters which Pynchon is concerned
to project, and which is most "notable". Let alone the real, individual
people, places, events which are referenced and characterised ...

> even then, well, IS it ever really nailed down that that's a
> V-2 there?

It's the rocket with the message from Katje, isn't it?

> But what IS "Is it O.K. to Be a Luddite?" Saying?  What do I want it to say?
What
> do you want it to say?  "Curves of development ... plausibly converg[ing]"
> ... Seems
> "we've" already established GR as a sort of lit'rary Rorschach test, so ....

As I understand it you contend that the novel condemns Blicero and those he
stands for (in your eyes: Nazi scientists, bureaucrats etc who were grabbed
up by the US, Allied, Soviet defence and space programs), and are using the
line in paragraph 22 of the 'Luddite' essay as reinforcement of this. I see
no such specific condemnation of any individual or group of individuals
either in the novel (except for Major Marvy), or the essay, but rather a far
deeper and less conclusive or judgemental meditation on the course of human
history, particularly since the Industrial Revolution/invention of the
printing press/ Renaissance (re)conception of man as "the measure of all
things" & associated moments in the (supposed) progress of (supposed)
civilisation.

So, we disagree. Nothing to get all het up about, is it?