Hello, all

[Daniel Harper]

I've been reading this list for a few weeks now, but never really got the 
chance to add to the conversation. I work in a bookstore, and discovered 
Pynchon when ATD was released -- the store lets me check out books as if from 
a library, and I decided to give it a try. A hundred or so pages in, and I 
was hooked -- I bought the book, and finished it about six weeks ago. Now I'm 
going through all of Pynchon's other works. I've read COL49, and am currently 
working my way through Vineland. (After ATD I wanted to try his shorter 
works.)

Sometimes it's the most obvious thing that blindsides you, especially with 
Pynchon. I'm most of the way finished with Vineland, and read this:

"Hector knew the classic chill, the extra receptors up and humming, gathering 
in the signs, channels suddenly shutting down, traffic scrambled and jammed, 
phone trouble, faces in lobbies warning you that you don't know them. Could 
it be that some silly-ass national-emergency exercise was  finally coming 
true? As if the Tube were suddenly to stop showing pictures and instead 
announce, "From now on, I'm watching you." (p 340, Penguin mass-market 
paperback)

...And suddenly I stop and go, "Oh, right, the book takes place in _1984_...." 
An obvious reference, that subtly changes the entire tenor of the book, that 
I just entirely missed until that moment. I'll go stick my nose in the corner 
for awhile now. <laughs>
-- 
No reference to the present day is intended or should be inferred.
--Daniel Harper