_1984_ Foreword

[Steve Maas]

Being, as I am, well-ensconced amongst the Preterite, I only today received 
my copy of the new edition of _1984_. For the most part, I've ignored the 
raging debate about the Foreword to avoid preconceptions before reading the 
thing for myself. I've now read the Foreword and some recent posts.

Am I correct in inferring that some here doubt that Pynchon means for his 
readers to relate his remarks to current conditions in the U.S.A? How it is 
possible for someone familiar with P.'s writing to read, for example, his 
"fascistic disposition" paragraph, about those who call it subversive to 
question or criticize your government's anti-democratic actions during 
wartime, and doubt that P. includes today's conditions in his own country in 
his concerns?

I see someone preferred Fromm's Afterword to P.s Foreword. One would think 
that anyone who devotes time and effort to the P. list likely enjoys P.'s 
style; otherwise, this forum would surely seem like a waste of time. I'm 
quite surprised that anyone who enjoys P.'s style would prefer Fromm's dry 
presentation. A-and it's not as if Fromm's 1961 perspective includes some 
brilliant revelations that P. missed.

Overall, I think the Foreword is quite good. It's theme and style fit right 
in with P.'s body of work. I do see a couple of choppy segues, where it 
seems as if it may have been hastily edited.

Not that you all care, heh heh.

Steve Maas

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