Magical in Pynchon: Starting with V.?

[Robin Landseadel]

I'm the one one who dragged the Telegenic Vineland into the mix. It's  
magical realism
reads just like magical realism. I'm crazy for the magical aspects of  
Pynchon's writing.

I'd say that if you're looking for the witchcraft in Pynchon, check  
out Geli Tripping in
Gravity's Rainbow*. She's into A. E. Waite, big-time, not to mention  
the usual herbs
and rituals. "The Courier's Tragedy" in in The Crying of Lot 49  
encrypts the tragic tale
of Girodano Bruno. And Against the Day throws everything into the  
mix---I maintain that
Niholas Nookshaft, Grand Cohen of the London chapter of the T.W.I.T.  
[True Worshipers
of the Ineffable Tetractys] is a parody version of Aleister Crowley,  
and his London
chapter of Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.)

As for Mason & Dixon, it goes deep into the history of the alchemical/ 
scientific divide.
So deep that I'll need to give it way more attention than I have  
already---but check out
Hepsie [pg. 25] anyway, she's my kind of gal.

V., I really don't know all that well, don't like reading it, sorry. I  
get the distinct feeling
that it takes a bit of time for Tommy Boy to warm up to the subject.

*Gravity's Rainbow is really deep as regards magical traditions.


On Dec 3, 2008, at 10:21 AM, Ian Whitney wrote:

> What moments in V. are magical?  I include Eigenvalue's talking teeth
> which Profane and Stencil steal from the dentist.  Veronica the rat  
> and
> the rest of the rat congregation that is found in the sewers of New  
> York.
> How about the spirit in Xaghriet Mewijja, I don't recall her name?  
> What else?
>
> Should I start with Vineland?  Is that the topic du jour?
>