The meaing of mathematics in Against the Day.....

[Robin Landseadel]

On Mar 19, 2010, at 8:20 AM, Ray Easton wrote:

> Robin Landseadel wrote:
>> First off, Joseph's right—maths are a big theme all the way through  
>> "Against the Day," one would have to be DENSE [like Doc, I  
>> guess . . .] not to see that. Thus time travel and multiple  
>> appearances by Tesla and other science fiction/fantasy  
>> paraphernalia associated with these massive, foundational, changes  
>> in math—particularly the rise of 'imaginary numbers'. Again, and I  
>> repeat—I'm sure it was not lost on Pynchon how central Quarterions  
>> are to computer animation and the creation of fully imaginary  
>> visual realms. If "Against the Day" is about anything, it's about  
>> quantum shifts.
>
>
> Please explain to me what the zeta function has to do with any  
> "theme" of AtD.  I'd really like to know.

I'm not a mathematician and I suspect that you are. Of course, forks  
are spilled all over the roads in AtD, some are like Vectors/ 
Quaternions others are [literarily] AC contra DC, still others are  
along the lines of Alchemy v. Science, Animism v. Newtonian Physics v.  
Quantum Physics. . These "forks', as I said before, fill up the book.  
I really don't know much of anything concerning "multiverses" but it's  
clear that Pynchon is pointing to that concept as well. Perhaps you  
have a higher standard for this sort of thing, On the other hand  
perhaps there's something about the comic tone of AtD that sets you  
off. I found a multiplicity of genre voices in AtD. This theme also  
suggested to me another theme related to the concept of the  
Multiverse. Maybe you know a great deal more on these subjects and can  
elucidate us on the subject. Perhaps words won't do, perhaps only  
equations would suffice. Of course, Pynchon is a writer, after all . . .

>> Second—"Gravity's Rainbow" is ONE book by an author who has  
>> supplied up with Seven [six & 1/2?] novels, all with different  
>> themes, time zones, centers of focus, usw . . .
>>
>> Sorry, can't go for this silly "The Only Book That Counts Is  
>> 'Gravity's Rainbow', the rest is Crap" mantra. My door in was "The  
>> Crying of Lot 49,"
>>
>> You folks need to start up a "Gravity's Rainbow" website/forum/blog  
>> and compare dick sizes.
>>
>> "Gravity's Rainbow" is an anomaly. Then again, so are "Mason &  
>> Dixon" and "Against the Day." So are the rest of the books.
>>
>
>
> Who said "the rest is Crap"?  Not me.  I don't find any of the  
> novels "crap" with the exception of AtD.

Saying AtD is "Crap" will suffice for the moment. Amazing how much  
time is spent on blogs and forums in claims of intellectual  
superiority. Perhaps it's built into the nature of the medium?

> You sound like a Pope about to issue an excommunication.

XXX-Communicated!

> And JC wonders why I am being aggressive!

Well, it is a blog, after all . . .