COL49: The beginning is the beginning is the end

[calbert at hslboxmaster.com]

MalignD:
> I'm afraid this is for me no more persuasive than Millison's shifting
> layers of multidimensional irony and close to saying "anything's
> possible." 

That wood chipper is looking more and more attractive by the 
moment.....

> I think it wise to follow Occam's advice and, real evidence to the
> contrary, assume that Pynchon is simply calling a collection of
> not-so-great stories not so great.

I would credit that position if there was any more evidence of 
Pynchon's "playing nice" with his readers and critics. It may be out 
there, I'm simply not aware of it..... obliged by editors to supply a 
foreword to SL, I don't think he would strip just because he was 
asked......rather, I suspect he would take the opportunity to 
continue "the game".......again, if viewed through the prism of 
Driblette, this appears a credible theory.....and I have a very difficult 
time determining when Pynchon is being "sincere", and am prone 
to believe that he choses not to share that side......that crack 
about having forgotten everything that he had learned to date 
seems hyperbolical.....

but I can only speculate....

love,
cfa

>