VL-IV role reversal in Vineland in a general sort of way

[rich]

Laura:

> I like Vineland for what it is, but it lacks a lot of what I love about Pynchon's work [...]
> It's entertaining and well-written and has lots of great turns of phrase (softoff, for example),
> but it never fascinates or mind-blows.

Tore wrote

I love Vineland with a passion, and I thinks it grows with each
rereading, but I still have to
agree with Laura that it lacks GR's cool settings and its almost
otherworldly density of amazing connections.
__________
I think given the setting of the book, its more pop culture
orientation, one gets that impression but I think VL is alot more
intricate than that. More readers are familiar with the references in
the book but that doesn't make it less richer.
I suspect IV will be similar

rich