"fascistic disposition" paragraph

[jbor]

>> You read "those among us" as Americans, now; I read it as people, in all
>> times and places. When Pynchon writes, three pages later on, "recall that in
>> the present-day United States", that's the first time that he narrows the
>> scope of his commentary.

on 24/5/03 11:32 AM, Terrance wrote:

> Not sure what you mean here. Doesn't he narrow the scope when he begins
> talking about how the novel was received and read by US readers when it
> was first introduced to American readers during the McCarthy period?

Yes, he switches focus for a minute there, and the novel's publication and
reception in America is something he picks up on again later with the
reference to Orwell standing firm against the wishes of the American Book of
the Month club. But this early reference, though it does address the book's
arrival in the U.S., is situated firmly in the the late '40s and early '50s.
The "present-day United States" is overtly introduced into the Foreword by
Pynchon on p. xiii.

I find interesting the sentence you quoted which reads: "This did not keep
the book from being marketed in the United States as a sort of anticommunist
tract." It reminds me of Pynchon's own complaint in the _SL_ intro, that
_Lot 49_ was "marketed as a 'novel'" (p. 22). The latter is a bit of a dig
at his agent and/or publisher I guess. Pynchon's point about _Lot 49_ seems
to be that it was just a "story", one he's not particularly happy with at
that! I think it's a hoot.

best

ps. I like this new "devil's advocate" mantle you've adopted. It becomes
you, and it's a real boon to discussion and civility hereabouts. I'll add my
vote of thanks to all those on the list who make reasonable discussion of
Pynchon's works possible and enjoyable, and to those who have been
personable and generous correspondents off-list as well. ... Brickbats to
the rest, few and feckless though they be.