VLVL "Karmic adjustment"

[Otto]

"It's like Mr. Sulu laying in coordinates, only different," Zoyd explained
(40.15)

-- in fact every explanation using this "like (...) only different" explains
nothing.

Otto

----- Original Message -----
From: "jbor" <jbor at bigpond.com>
To: <pynchon-l at waste.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2003 10:13 PM
Subject: Re: VLVL "Karmic adjustment"


> In particular, note how Takeshi mimics Ortho Bob's definition of what a
> Thanatoid "is":
>
>     "Trust me -- this is just like insurance -- only different!" (173.5)
>
>     "'Thanatoid' means, 'like death, only different.'" (170.26)
>
> At which point DL readily picks up the slack and tells Takeshi the rest of
> the Thanatoid story while Ortho Bob's mouth is full. (170-1)
>
> best
>
>
> on 18/12/03 4:17 PM, jbor wrote:
>
> > I get the
> > impression that Takeshi comes up with his "karmic adjustment" scam on
the
> > spur of the moment when he and DL meet up with Ortho Bob and become
aware of
> > the Thanatoid population in Shade Creek (174-5).