circuit boards, sand frigates, elegies, actors, lawyers and bone hunters

[Joseph Tracy]

On May 12, 2009, at 10:10 AM, kelber at mindspring.com wrote:

> I don't know.  I can't think of any specific descriptions of  
> technology in ATD that are as riveting as the ones in V, COL49 and,  
> to some extent, GR (think of Gottfried at the end of the book).  
> Think of Profane and Rachel sleeping together, which Pynchon  
> describes as rotating 90 degrees, as if they were part of a  
> machine. In the earlier books, Pynchon is exploring the love/hate  
> relationship between humans and technology.  The outcome of the  
> struggle is uncertain.    In ATD, no matter how frightful the  
> technology, humans are separate from it; they use it but aren't ONE  
> with it.  Humanity has won.  Can anyone come think of an example  
> from ATD, where humans are physically subsumed by technology (not  
> just killed or blown up by it)?
>
> Laura
>

As far as subsumed, what about the sub-desertine  craft the HMSF  
Saksaul. Where the front line troops of the empire are looking under  
the desert for oIl or Shambhala whichever comes first, if there is  
any difference.
Also what about the despair of the time ravelers who know the future,  
can travel in time but can think of no place better to go than the  
scene of the crime.

As far a s riveting technology I thought the photographic process ,  
the various uses of spar, and the Tesla techno-dreams-come-true were  
as good as it gets.

I did seem to like ATD much more than a lot of p-listers, and  
disagree with the idea that the characters are less developed.

I actually am having a harder time with the re read of CoL 49, though  
the funny parts do seem funnier this time. I am also trying to  
understand, relate to, get some satisfying reading of the Duino  
Elegies, which I don't understand, I  feel like they relate to CoL  
49  in important ways that I also don't understand.

I am enjoying everyone's comments on CoL 49.