Line in Vineland on "Unspeakable"

[Mark Kohut]

>From an online slang dictionary:


At its core, Unspeakable is a catch-all term for anything that is too
disturbing <https://www.fastslang.com/disturbing> or controversial to be
discussed in polite society <https://www.fastslang.com/in-polite-society>.
This can include everything from extreme acts of violence and depravity to
taboo <https://www.fastslang.com/taboo> sexual practices and illegal
activities. The very nature of Unspeakable means that it is
<https://www.fastslang.com/that-it-is> difficult to define with any degree
of specificity <https://www.fastslang.com/specificity>, as it encompasses
such a wide range of topics and behaviors.



On Wed, Jan 21, 2026 at 3:17 PM Mark Kohut <mark.kohut at gmail.com> wrote:

> I agree too for what it’s worth but with overtones.
> “Return of the repressed” is one I mentioned.
>
> On Wed, Jan 21, 2026 at 3:13 PM Mike Weaver via Pynchon-l <
> pynchon-l at waste.org> wrote:
>
>> Hi Mack,
>> Given DL and Takeshi's no sex deal, your surmise rings true, unspeakable
>> because evasive action is the only way for them to keep going, to talk
>> about the issue would likely erode the deal. I wouldn't call it a joke,
>> more a skit, just a good humoured take on a tension in their relationship.
>>
>> No need to over intellectualise it - it's just a couple of kids trying
>> to get by.
>>
>> cheers
>> Mike
>>
>> On 20/01/2026 17:04, mack devon wrote:
>> > Page 174 I've been stuck on for a little while. The book normally stays
>> > pretty literal with its depictions, oftentimes getting a bit tricky with
>> > what to take as metaphor or not. This is my 2nd read-through, I must not
>> > have thought too much of this my first time around. Anyways, around
>> early
>> > page 174, after the Thanatoid introduction and DL & Takeshi explore
>> > their village, a paragraph pops up that I'm still confused with.
>> >
>> > With a little context:
>> >
>> > *"Yep, one foolish mistake, now I'm payin' it off for the rest of my
>> life."*
>> >
>> > *"Only for the rest of mine, angel!" as up out of a calm and sunny ocean
>> > the killer sub Unspeakable briefly poked its periscope, eyeballed their
>> > vessel, ascertained that it was not the Love Boat, and withdrew. But
>> they
>> > were learning, together, slowly, how to take evasive action, and at the
>> > moment it was down through an austere maze of Shade Creek alleyways and
>> > vacant lots for an extended breakfast and another day's business.*
>> >
>> >
>> > Now, I've got a couple guesses as to this Unspeakable passage, as I'm
>> > almost certain it's not meant to be taken literally (unless in
>> reference to
>> > the men after Takeshi currently spying...but that's way off it seems.)
>> > There's a very likely chance this is not in reference to an actual
>> Killer
>> > Sub on the prowl.
>> >
>> >
>> > 1. Could this be a classic Pynchon erection joke meant to reference
>> > Takeshi's lust towards DL being unfulfilled due to her lack of desire &
>> her
>> > contract? The Unspeakable being The Unspeakable Erection, poking out,
>> and
>> > withdrawing when not encountering a Love Boat. I feel like there might
>> be
>> > some old-school slang for Unspeakable/unmentionable wrt a penis, but I'm
>> > too young to know. (This is the most likely option to me.)
>> >
>> > 2. Could this be just a strange reference to Thanatoids spying on the
>> duo,
>> > noticing that they aren't in love, but rather that they're truly
>> partners?
>> > (Very unlikely, just made up to not have to 100% align myself with
>> Erection
>> > Theory.)
>> >
>> >
>> > This is my first post here, I wanted to discuss this topic as I haven't
>> > seen these lines discussed anywhere, I hope I formatted this well
>> enough.
>> > --
>> > Pynchon-L: https://waste.org/mailman/listinfo/pynchon-l
>> --
>> Pynchon-L: https://waste.org/mailman/listinfo/pynchon-l
>>
>