Against the Day

[Joseph Tracy]

Yes I certainly think that's valid, and in my mind there is  also a distinct Christian strain to the Chums before his arrival. Look at their names and other things they say. They are kind of a Knights of the Round Table goes Tom Swift from the age of dirigibles. 
 As I've noted before I see Pynchon creating a fundamentally 3 tiered universe in which the chums are in the mythical category. There is an idea in this transformative encounter of pure mythic fiction (the chums) meets the plausible character of  C Counterfly, more an older seedier cousin to Huck Finn. These meetings between realms are important -  for example when Kit meets Tesla from the real world, or passes through the arch in the steppes and glimpses another universe, or Miles of the chums, who serves as a kind of seer/prophet for the Chums and is one of the most compassionate characters in Pynchon's novels, sees the full reality if WW1. 
What I am saying  with the vets reference is that these meetings between worlds take place within us and in our social and political experience, and for Pynchon is  a powerful way of looking at history. 

On Feb 10, 2012, at 1:00 PM, Mark Kohut wrote:

> Our so richly resonant writer shimmers with lots--maybe all--- these meanings----
> but this read I am seeing his groundedness against the windiness, airiness ---the
> bloviating 'idealism' aka the Columbian Exposition..................the 'idealism" of
> patriotic American windbags.....
>  
> His Againstness is presented (at least) as against 'heavenly' concerns.............
>  
> He is a dicey-enough Dad/Son 'entrepreneurial' scam artist in that great American tradition, it seems.
> 
> From: Joseph Tracy <brook7 at sover.net>
> To: P-list List <pynchon-l at waste.org> 
> Sent: Friday, February 10, 2012 11:51 AM
> Subject: Re: Against the Day
> 
> That's what I thought of. Flying against, and what is his opposition along with Darby? Mostly to the no questions subservience to the prevailing heirarchy the guides the Chums when he arrives. There is something here reminiscent to Vets against war or similar opposition that starts off signing on to a be heroes in boys adventure stories.
> On Feb 9, 2012, at 11:01 AM, David Morris wrote:
> 
> > How about "Against Flying?"  Seems more apt in a book title "Against the Day.
> > 
> > Also, remember that group in GR call the "Counterforce?"
> > 
> > David Morris
> > 
> > On Thu, Feb 9, 2012 at 6:36 AM, Chris Birks <traditionalgb at gmail.com> wrote:
> >> Counterfly = Barfly?
> 
> 
>