Pynchon and fascism

[barbara100 at jps.net]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Nightingale" <isread at btopenworld.com>
To: <pynchon-l at waste.org>
Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2003 4:29 PM
Subject: Re: Pynchon and fascism

> I'm looking, as I write, at the cover of the Plume paperback. It's
> arguable that Pynchon's name ("With a new foreword by ...") is more
> prominent (white against a black background) than Orwell's (a dirty
> cream against maroon).

Yes, I noticed that too about the new book. When I take it with me to work,
I pack it upside-down in my bag so his name sticks out the top. Hoping to
catch the eye of some Paul Nightingale, no doubt...

>Top edge of the cover, the same black band with a
>white-print heading: "Centennial Edition" ... which is juxtaposed to >the
Pynchon-reference along the bottom edge. Indeed "new foreword" >implies old
novel.

"New foreword" implies old novel, and the contrast is illustrated too-- on
torn piece of paper and the hand-written "by George Orwell" and "Animal
Farm" juxtaposed to the modern white on black stripes. Pynchon's foreword
acts much the same way--giving a tired old story present-day appeal.

And how about the curiously plastic feel of the cover--state-of-the-art as
far as paperback books go--contrasted with offset cut of the pages. I don't
know what that technique is called, but I've only ever seen it on old books.