..Not in the least bit Pynchonic -- space

[Michael Bailey]

Richard Fiero wrote:
>  A point in 2-space can be represented
> as (a,b). A point in 5-space can be represented as (a,b,c,d,e). What is the
> big deal?

no big deal.  I have no emotional investment in this thread.  But I do
find it interesting.

My point is fairly obvious: it struck me as worth mentioning that I do
find a sheet of paper to be a pretty good simulacrum of a plane
surface.

However, I can't reach in my desk drawer and pull out something that
non-verbally reminds me of 5-space.  As far as I know, anyway...


Now in the abstract sense, I think it's fairly true to say that you
could define a 5-space such as "Pynchon's merits" - so that humor,
historical references, intricate plotting, pleasing sentences and
mathematical references could constitute the 5 dimensions, and
particular passages could be characterized by a location within that
co-ordinate system.

Also pretty sure that effort wouldn't win any math prizes - but
technically it would be a 5 dimensional space, wouldn't it?