Atd : page 542---starts on page 524.Big Ass Spoiler

[Anville Azote]

On 12/8/06, robinlandseadel at comcast.net <robinlandseadel at comcast.net> wrote:
> Dear A.A.,
>
> I'm getting the impression that you probably have a better handle on
> upper division math/physics than most

"Upper division"?  But I just met 'er!

>  (I've no handle on that stuff at
> all) and I've a feeling that lots of the math/physics in AtD is the basis
> of personal actions for various characters in the novel.

A reasonable supposition.  Of course, some of the concepts may flow
the other way:  this detail or that of the mathematics comes out
because of who the characters are.  (Kit Traverse studied at Yale and
is a Vectorist, so his "proof" of the Riemann hypothesis is full of
"upside-down triangles" -- nablas -- which Yashmeen the Quaternionist
naturally does not recognize.)  Figuring out which way it goes -- and
identifying the "loose" versus "tight" metaphors, which is a
distinction I really like -- without doubt requires learning the math
and the science, but it also promises a whole lot of fun.

>  Hopefully
> some of these metaphors/analogies that are over my head will be
> explained as we go along. I see all sorts of elements of the story
> having their little convention on pgs. 524-542, but I'm particularly
> intrigued by Kit's actions on 1079-1081, and I have to wonder if these
> scenes in the novel are rooted in mathematics or concepts from physics.
>

Let me stew on those pages a while and come back with a (somewhat)
more informed opinion.

> Of course, throwing the Tuvan/Shambahlan stamp stuff into the
> mix (along with the free-for-all on 978/979) suggests that
> Pynchon has been a hardcore philatelist all along. Re-reading
> COL 49 way the hell too many times has led me to constantly ask
> where the stamps came from without ever really asking myself:
> "Is this man a stamp collector?"
>

He's also a BDSM enthusiast and hardcore hallucinogenic drug user,
naturally.  :-/

> (and now I must break into song):
>
> "Who needs a hobby,
> like tennis, or philately?
> I've got a hobby,
> re-reading "Lady Chatterly"
>

"But now they're trying to take it all away from us
Unless we take a stand
And hand-in-hand we fight for freedom of the press
In other words --
Smut!  I love it!"

-A. A.