queries

[James Kyllo]

Hello

>----- Original Message -----
>From: Robert S.
>To: Pynchon List
>Sent: Sunday, October 28, 2001 10:07 PM
>Subject: queries

>As I'm finishing my Polish translation of GR, would anybody please help as
far as the >following are concerned:

>1. "Silver Streak"  - in reference to Bland's pinball wizard  Bet Fibel
(V.583, 586). What is >this?

It's the name of the railway service, seems to have been common in USA at
one time (see eg beginning of R Powers first novel, where protagonist
travels on "Early Riser" and "Technoliner")

>2. "bags of chuckling glass" (V.584). What does it refer to? The thumbs'
childhood
>("playground slides")?

bags of marbles as referred to just previously, yes that the thumbs were
used to play in childhood

>4. "Ginger Groupers". (V.615) Fictional?

Members of a "ginger group".  From Shorter Oxford:  "A group within an
organisation which stimulates or enlivens the main body"

>5. "RPMs" (V. 619)

Revolutions Per Minute   (as commonly used for records - 33, 45, 78 - and
lots else)

best

James