since TRP-re-lated book recommendations are happening: WE

[Mark Kohut]

Not very Inherent Vice-related, although I may know
one nice bit....and I have posted some bits from it
as they seem to illumine some early TRP ...BUT

WE, by E. Zamyatin......................(which implies, mentions a THEM)

First, if you have not read it, it is superb and I recommend it.

Second, there are few books I've read that are so LIKE TRP's work 
in many ways...a novel of embodied ideas, not ideas ala Magic Mountain way...and then symbolic/emblematic associations....re colors, notions,
major distinctions: nature, not-nature; present/past....undsoweiter.

If I can make the time to get some examples and suggestions down correctly,
i'll post some obs and thoughts in the fulness of time...
(Most relevant for L49, GR and AtD (which contains everything).