SLSL Intro (A Couple-Three Bonzos

[calbert at hslboxmaster.com]

His comments about TSI do provide a contrary example, and I should have
mentioned it. But here again, he says little about what, in particular
makes this story of a different quality than the others. He dwells on the
flaws in some detail, however.


....and yes, the slam on COL 49 is dismaying, but I don't consider it the
"key" to discerning any "intent" with respect to the entire piece,
primarily because, once again, he is so glib in his dismissal. A fair cop,
however, is that COL 49 does not illustrate any tangible "progress", in a
technical sense, over what he put on display in V. 


But honestly, I anticipated a comment on the "money and power" citation. I
believe that you have some insight in that regard.


love,
cfa

Original Message:
-----------------
From: jbor jbor at bigpond.com
Date: Sun, 10 Nov 2002 09:38:38 +1100
To: pynchon-l at waste.org
Subject: Re: SLSL Intro (A Couple-Three Bonzos


on 10/11/02 3:25 AM, calbert at hslboxmaster.com at calbert at hslboxmaster.com
wrote:

> Does he have nothing good to say about a
> set of stories that at the very least can be described as REMARKABLY
> PRECOCIOUS? Would not such postive commentary also elucidate?

On 'TSI':

"I like more than dislike the story. ... I am pretty content with how it
holds up .... there are parts of it I can't believe I wrote. Sometime in the
last couple of decades some company of elves must have snuck in and had a
crack at it." (pp.21-2)

And then, after confirming the actual, literal significance of the "slow
learner" title he gives to the collection, he goes on to say that this story
represented a "positive and professional direction", and contrasts it with
_Lot49_. In fact, the way he slams _Lot49_ was the most contentious and
provocative thing, for many critics at least, about the 'Intro'.

Do those who are, for various reasons, plumping for P's disingenuousness
contend that the positive remarks about 'TSI' aren't sincere?

best






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