VLVL2 (1): Annotations (pp. 3 - 4)

[Tim Strzechowski]

VLVL2 (1): Annotations  (pp. 3 - 6)

3.1  "Later than usual one summer morning in 1984"   The time period for this novel is repleat with connotations, not the least of which is Orwell's novel.  As an established author, Pynchon was no doubt aware of that connotation, since so many of the themes from the Orwell work are echoed in P's novel (reality vs. illusion, surveillence, governmental control, etc.).

3.1  "Zoyd"  "Z"ero + "void"  (i.e. concepts/characteristics related to Pynchonian schlemihls like Benny Profane, Oedipa Maas, and Tyrone Slothrop.)

3.3  "a squadron of blue jays"   A suggestion of military aircraft, which will become important later in the novel; also corresponds to the "flight" motif found in the opening sentences of GR and M&D.

3.4 - 3.8  "In his dream ..."   Zoyd's dream of carrier pigeons is essentially a dream of missed communication, an opportunity to receive a message (rescue?), but an inability to get to them. Throughout the novel, watch for additional hidden signals and "missed communications," a recurring motif in this work (and other Pynchon novels).

3.8  "another deep nudge from forces unseen"  Suggestions of paranoia, conspiracy, hidden meanings

3.16  "Count Chocula"  Artificially flavored chocolate cereal with marshmallows (a companion cereal to Frankenberry and Boo Berry, as I recall).
http://www.narangkar.com/pete/chocula.html
http://www.hellfire.com/versus/thecount_vs_countchocula.html

And, depending on who you consult, Frankenberry was apparently the headliner:
http://home.attbi.com/~Frankenberryfans/index.html

3.19  "Channel 86"  A number that comes up frequently in Pynchon discussions; most notably used in the "Introduction" to Slow Learner:

"My first reaction, rereading these stories, was oh my God, accompanied by physical symptoms we shouldn't dwell upon.  My second thought was about some kind of a wall-to-wall rewrite ... [but] I mean I can't just 86 this guy from my life" (SL, 3).

Also, see Doug's post to the List on 6/11/03, from A.Word.A.Day:
http://waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l&month=0306&msg=81228&sort=date

3.21 - 3.22  "Froot Loops," "Nestle's Quik"  More staples of the artificially flavored Saturday morning set.
 
4.1  "Desmond"   The affable Wheeler pet.  But since Pynchon has demonstrated an affinity for jazz greats (e.g. McClintick Sphere/Thelonious Monk), the dog's name possibly alludes to saxophone great Paul Desmond.
http://www.interlog.com/~mirus/desmond/desmond1.html
http://www.blockhead.com/desmond.htm

4.2 - 4.4  "the blue jays [...] came screaming down out of the redwoods and carried off the food in [Desmond's dish] piece by piece"   Again, echoes of the opening sentence from GR.

4.15  "More is Less"   Described in the book as "a discount store for larger-sized women," this is the first of many humorous names for retail stores, filling stations, etc. that P sprinkles throughout the novel.

4.20  "Breez-Thru gas station"   Ditto.

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