"crystal palace"

[Paul Mackin]

If  Thomas is right, THE JUDGEMENT FROM WHICH THERE IS NO APPEAL is the
reception this book of such PROGRESSIVE KNOTTING INTO must withstand from
the critics once in print and THE FINAL ARCH is overhead, because there is
wil be no explaining or complaining from this author.

                  P.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Thomas Morrison" <weneedabiggerboat at hotmail.com>
To: <pynchon-l at waste.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2001 10:07 AM
Subject: Re: "crystal palace"


>
> Historical references aside, couldn't it be that P. is also metaphorically
> alluding to (describing) his own novel here? The novel is a fragile thing
> that exists in a delicate balance, and is nearly impossible to get a fix
on.
> Much like (I imagine) an actual crystal palace would be, the thing looks
> different depending on where you stand, and even the slightest shift can
> cause a distortion, or change in perspective. Quite literally, it is
nearly
> impossible to focus on. Later on the page P. mentions the "progressive
> knotting into"  that critics always latch onto to conveniently describe
the
> novel. I see these images as a somewhat accurate description of the novel
> ahead. And consider Prentice's fear as well: "he's afraid of the way the
> glass will fall--soon--it will all be a spectacle [...] But coming down in
> total blackout, without one glint of light, only great invisible
crashing."
> Isn't this fear *our* fear in a way?  Trying to make sense of this monster
> and it's elaborate structure, we fear that will all soon come crashing
down
> around us and we will be left in total darkness. Also, this opening image
is
> quite suggestive of the final image in the movie house that never gets
fully
> played out. If the bomb were to actually hit, wouldn't this be the result?
> It seems to me, more than anything else, the novel itself is the "crystal
> palace."
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