MDDM23: The Man Voltaire Call'd a Prometheus

[John Bailey]

>From: Dave Monroe <davidmmonroe at yahoo.com>
>To: pynchon-l at waste.org
>Subject: Re: MDDM23: The Man Voltaire Call'd a Prometheus
>Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 11:57:17 -0800 (PST)
>
<snip>

>My guess is, Kenner, Chapuis & Droz, and Giedion--in,
>perhaps, even that receeding order--might well have
>been sources for Pynxhon, even ...
>

Kenner...great reference, must find, I see it hits upon "Vaucanson and 
computers (and also on Buster Keaton, Samuel Beckett, Andy Warhol, the Royal 
Society, Wyndham Lewis, Alan Turing, Alexander Pope, and many other 
subjects)."

Chapuis & Droz would seem to be a definite influence, perhaps even the 
(supposedly indispensible) two volume 1928 "Les Mondes des Automates", 
currently asking a cool 1700 pounds sterling. Anyone got a copy they can 
lend me? Limited to 1000 copies, most destroyed in WWII, the 1st 25 presold 
to the then-Emperor of Japan...Copy no. 986 on sale at:
http://www.automatomania.com/books.htm
where you can also pick up copy No. 689 at only two thirds of the price 
(minor damage). Apparently "The books explain the secrets of many long lost 
marvels."

Haven't renewed my Dumas Club Membership this quarter so I'm not in the 
market.

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