V- 2nd, Graspingly

[Mark Kohut]

As I've mentioned, many sections of Heller's Catch-22 were published from 1955 on in literary periodicals. Known as
Catch-18 then, Heller and Pynchon had the same agent.

So, from those published excerpts and/or from being allowed to read more--maybe all--of Catch-22, it may have 
suffused TRP's sensibility. The humor. Certain kinds of jokes. 

I had read Catch-22 at least twice, maybe three times, before I couldn't finish V the first time.

Which is just a long way around to ask: Remember Nately's Whore in Catch-22?. Always ready to jump at one
with a knife?   

Am I the only one who sees Ploy's ass-biting with his sharpened dentures---ungolden fangs?---
at almost anyone who passes as like Nately's whore analogously?