Pynchon defines Thanatoids?

[Gavin Findlay]

Hi all

I have been a fan of TRP for years but only recently discovered the  
wikis and this list. The Vineland wiki contains some thoughts on who  
or what the Thanatoids really are, and such discussion I have seen  
focusses their context in Vineland with respect to The Tube and the  
60s. None of the discussion seems very certain or conclusive. I think  
TRP himself has since provided us the answer. I am nearly finished  
Against The Day and discovered this on page 922 of the Jonathan Cape  
hardback edition:  "...but our dead never stopped belonging to us,  
they haunt us every day, don't you see, and we got to stay true, they  
wouldn't forgive us if we wandered off the trail".

It all makes sense now.

tonebuddha

PS and yes, ATD is blowing my tiny little mind