Thomas Pynchon Wiki - User contributions [en]

A

2006-11-22T04:31:57Z

Mdbackes@pacbell.net:

'''absquatulate''' 
8; run away; usually includes taking something or somebody along; 343;

'''Ace, Mr.''' 
415; visitor from the future (Trespasser); 555;

'''''Achphanomen''''' 
616;

'''Adam of Bremen''' 
128; (also: Adam Bremensis) One of the most important German medieval chroniclers. He lived and worked in the second half of the 11th century. He is most famous for his chronicle ''Gesta Hammaburgensis Ecclesiae Pontificum'' (''Deeds of Bishops of the Hamburg Church''); [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_of_Bremen Wikipedia entry]

'''Adams, Maude (1872-1953)''' 
338; American stage actress, most noted for her signature role, Peter Pan; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maude_Adams Wikipedia entry]

'''Addle, Ed''' 
60; regular at Oil Well Saloon;

'''aeronaut''': the pilot of a balloon or airship; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World%27s_Columbian_Exposition Chicago World's Fair, 1893] and [http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MA96/WCE/title.html more here]

'''Aether''' 
55; 58; 132-133; 140; 306; 320; "sounds like light" 426; 458; 557; 565-66; 595; aka ''Akasa'', 613; 620;

'''aigrette''' 
456; Aigrette (from the French for egret, or lesser white heron), the tufted crest, or head-plumes of the egret, used for adorning a woman's head-dress, the term being also given to any similar ornament, in gems, &c. An aigrette is also worn by certain ranks of officers in the French army. By analogy the word is used in various sciences for feathery excrescences of like appearance, as for the tufts on the heads of insects, the feathery down of the dandelion, the luminous rays at the end of electrified bodies, or the luminous rays seen in solar eclipses, diverging from, the moon's edge. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aigrette Wikipedia entry]

'''Akashi, Baron''' 
294; "roving military attaché

'''''akousmata''''' 
232; Greek: "things heard"; holds a much more secretive connotation like ‘signs’, or even perhaps ‘passwords’. These were explained as a set of rules of conduct used by the Pythagoreans. A few examples as given by Aristotle’s testimonies, like “abstain from beans as being due either to the fact that they resemble the genitals in shape, or because they resemble the gates of Hades." Also noted in this passage was “not to touch a white cock” and “not to touch any sacred fish” probably due to the earlier discussion on sacrifice.

'''alchemy''' 
76-77; Alchemy refers to both an early form of the investigation of nature and an early philosophical and spiritual discipline, both combining elements of chemistry, metallurgy, physics, medicine, astrology, semiotics, mysticism, spiritualism, and art; and photography, 80; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alchemy Wikipedia entry]

'''Algernon''' 
369; Ruperta's driver (?)

'''Algie''' 
672; "flaneur of Ruperta's acquaintance"; a flaneur is a detached pedestrian observer of a metropolis, a 'gentleman stroller of city streets', first identified by Charles Baudelaire; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fl%C3%A2neur Wikipedia entry]

'''"All Pimps Look Alike to Me"''' 
48; an 1896 barroom ditty that was "cleaned up" to become "All Coons Look Alike to Me" and recorded by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Collins Arthur Collins] in 1899 and considered by some to be the First Rock 'n' Roll Record. [[All_Pimps_Look_Alike_to_Me|Read the whole story...]]

'''Alphonsito''' 
310; [[ATD-D#drop|Jimmy Drop's]] lieutenant

'''A.M.E.''' 
702; Alternate Means of Egress

'''America''' 
219; "innocent, all but oppressively wholesome"; and shame, 567; American light, 580; "delivered yourselves into the hands of capitalists and Christers" 643;

'''Amsterdam''' 
107; Indian Ocean island; M''egaera'' shipwrecked, 108;

[[image:anamorphoscope.jpg|thumb|Anamorphoscope|right]]'''anamorphoscope''' 
249; a curved mirror or other optical device for giving a correct image of a picture or the like distorted by anamorphosis; paramorphic, 249;

'''Anarchism''' 
6; "the inexorable rising tide of World Anarchism..."; 37; 43; 49-51; 60; 66; 87; 175 (as terrorists); 179; bomb factory in London, 235; 370; Barcelona in 1890s, 372;

'''Anarcho-syndicalists''' 
14; Anarcho-syndicalism is a branch of anarchism which focuses on the labor movement. ''Syndicalisme'' is a French word meaning "trade unionism" – hence, the "syndicalism" qualification. Anarcho-syndicalists view labor unions as a potential force for revolutionary social change, replacing capitalism and the State with a new society democratically self-managed by workers. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarcho-syndicalism Wikipedia entry]

'''Anemometer''' 
6; An instrument for measuring wind speed; Robinson anemometer, 6 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anemometer Wikipedia entry]

'''Angels''' 
42; "Avenging Angels" 271; creatures, 277; H. Vanderjuice, 322; 332; birds, 336; 379; 389; 446; 531; in Venice, 575; "too bright to look at directly" 616; of deep shit, 619; 632; 642; Gentleman Bomber, as "messenger" 692; wings, 699;

'''Anglo-Russian Entente''' 
631; the 1907 diplomatic accord between England and Russia to respect the integrity and independence of Persia.

'''Anharmonic Pencil''' 
455; a "pencil" in this context refers to a figure formed by a set of straight lines or light rays meeting at a point, a figure that is not harmonic, i.e., not a multiple of its component parts; 532; 593;

'''Anti-Stone''' 
78;

'''Apostles' Creed''' 
58; The Apostles' Creed (circa 700 AD) (Latin: Symbolum Apostolorum), sometimes titled Symbol of the Apostles, is an early statement of Christian belief, a creed or "symbol." [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostles'_Creed Wikipedia entry]

'''Arbuckles''' 
638; superior brand of coffee

'''Archer, Mr.''' 
467;

'''argentaurum''' 
375;

[[Image:arkansas-toothpick1.jpg|thumb|Arkansas Toothpick, made by Harvey McBurnette - 9.5" blade|left]]'''Arkansas Toothpick''' 
31; The Arkansas Toothpick is essentially a heavy dagger with a pointed, straight 12-20 inch blade. The "toothpick" is balanced and weighted for throwing and can also be used for thrusting and slashing. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas_toothpick Wikipedia entry]

'''arnophilia''' 
211;

'''Arriaga, Camilo''' 
381; ''potosino''; a leader of Mexican anarchist group founded by Enrico and Ricardo Flores Magon in 1882; on August 30, 1900, he published the manifesto ''Invitación al Partido Liberal'' in San Luis Potosi. This document sparked a movement leading to formation of the ''Partido Liberal Mexicano'' (PLM) five years later, and was Ricardo Flores Magón's main vehicle for organizing the anti-Diaz struggle and for spreading the ideals of anarchism throughout Mexico; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchism_in_Mexico Wikipedia - Anarchism in Mexico]

'''Arvin''' 
264; in the Nonpareil;

'''aryq''' 
441; The Russian Turcologists Malov and Tenishev mention a Western Yugur word ''Aryq'', meaning Chinese or muslim Turk. This is a loanword from Tibetan, ''A-rig'', the name of a country of nomadic herdsmen situated to the west of Amdo. It originally may have referred to the local Tibetan population. But Pynchon's use suggests it is a drink. Hmmm.

'''ässalamu äläykum''' 
441; As-Salāmu `Alaykum (السلام عليكم) is an Arabic language greeting used in both Muslim and Christian cultures. It means "Peace be upon you." It is also transliterated as Assalamu 'Alaikum or As-salaamu Alaikum. The traditional response is "wa `Alaykum As-Salām", meaning "and peace on you". [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/As-Salamu_Alaykum Wikipedia entry]

'''Astarte-Bad''' 
714; in Vienna, with lurid mosaics of pre-biblical orgies; Astarte is a pre-biblical goddess of fertility, sexuality and war; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astarte Wikipedia entry]

'''"at silly point"''' 
222; "silly point" is a position in the game of cricket, played close to the batsman

'''Aubergine, Madame''' 
gives Reef Traverse dancing lessons in Denver;

[[Image:Audumla.jpg|thumb|Audhumla -
N. A. Abilgaard, 1790|right]]'''Audumla''' 
142; The primeval cow. Audumla (Audhumla) was born from rime at Ginnungagap. The primeval giant Ymir (Aurgelmir) lived on the milk that flow from the cow's teats. Audumla also provided nourishment to Ymir's six-headed son. Audumla received nourishment through licking the salty rime-stones. Audumla licked the stone until it was shaped into a man. This stone became Buri, grandfather of the Aesir gods: Odin, Vili and Ve.

'''Aughrim''' 
231; The Battle of Aughrim was the decisive battle of the Williamite War in Ireland. It was fought between the Jacobites and the forces of William III on 12 July 1691, near the village of Aughrim in County Galway; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Aughrim Wikipedia entry]

'''August, Ernst''' 
230; Crown Prince Ernst August II of Hanover, 3rd Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale, (Ernst August Wilhelm Adolf Georg Friedrich) (21 September 1845-14 November 1923), was the eldest child and only son of King George V of Hanover and his wife, Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg. Ernst August had the misfortune of being deprived of the thrones of Hanover upon its annexation by Prussia in 1866 and later the Duchy of Brunswick in 1884. Although he was the senior male-line great grandson of King George III, the Duke of Cumberland was deprived of his British peerages and honours for having sided with Germany in World War I; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_August_of_Hanover%2C_3rd_Duke_of_Cumberland]

'''Automorphic Dispensation''' 
453;

'''Avery''' 
193;

'''Aychrome, Police Inspector Vance''' 
605; at Chunxton Crescent;

'''Azeff, Monsieur Yevno''' 
720; Yevno Azef (also spelled Azev) was a double agent in a big way, working for both Russia's turn-of-the-century revolutionaries and the Czar's Okhrana. He was convicted of attempting to assassinate Tsar Nicholas II and was executed in 1911. He was also a founder of the Social Revolutionary Party.

'''Aziz, Abdel''' 
520; "young sultan" in Morocco

'''Aztecs''' 
394; "foundation story of the eagle and the serpent"

'''Aztlàn''' 
214; "ghosts of..."; 277;

{{ATD_Alpha_Nav}}

A

2006-11-22T04:21:17Z

Mdbackes@pacbell.net: source: Yale Law website www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/angrusen.htm

'''absquatulate''' 
8; run away; usually includes taking something or somebody along; 343;

'''Ace, Mr.''' 
415; visitor from the future (Trespasser); 555;

'''''Achphanomen''''' 
616;

'''Adam of Bremen''' 
128; (also: Adam Bremensis) One of the most important German medieval chroniclers. He lived and worked in the second half of the 11th century. He is most famous for his chronicle ''Gesta Hammaburgensis Ecclesiae Pontificum'' (''Deeds of Bishops of the Hamburg Church''); [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_of_Bremen Wikipedia entry]

'''Adams, Maude (1872-1953)''' 
338; American stage actress, most noted for her signature role, Peter Pan; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maude_Adams Wikipedia entry]

'''Addle, Ed''' 
60; regular at Oil Well Saloon;

'''aeronaut''': the pilot of a balloon or airship; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World%27s_Columbian_Exposition Chicago World's Fair, 1893] and [http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MA96/WCE/title.html more here]

'''Aether''' 
55; 58; 132-133; 140; 306; 320; "sounds like light" 426; 458; 557; 565-66; 595; aka ''Akasa'', 613; 620;

'''aigrette''' 
456; Aigrette (from the French for egret, or lesser white heron), the tufted crest, or head-plumes of the egret, used for adorning a woman's head-dress, the term being also given to any similar ornament, in gems, &c. An aigrette is also worn by certain ranks of officers in the French army. By analogy the word is used in various sciences for feathery excrescences of like appearance, as for the tufts on the heads of insects, the feathery down of the dandelion, the luminous rays at the end of electrified bodies, or the luminous rays seen in solar eclipses, diverging from, the moon's edge. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aigrette Wikipedia entry]

'''Akashi, Baron''' 
294; "roving military attaché

'''''akousmata''''' 
232; Greek: "things heard"; holds a much more secretive connotation like ‘signs’, or even perhaps ‘passwords’. These were explained as a set of rules of conduct used by the Pythagoreans. A few examples as given by Aristotle’s testimonies, like “abstain from beans as being due either to the fact that they resemble the genitals in shape, or because they resemble the gates of Hades." Also noted in this passage was “not to touch a white cock” and “not to touch any sacred fish” probably due to the earlier discussion on sacrifice.

'''alchemy''' 
76-77; Alchemy refers to both an early form of the investigation of nature and an early philosophical and spiritual discipline, both combining elements of chemistry, metallurgy, physics, medicine, astrology, semiotics, mysticism, spiritualism, and art; and photography, 80; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alchemy Wikipedia entry]

'''Algernon''' 
369; Ruperta's driver (?)

'''Algie''' 
672; "flaneur of Ruperta's acquaintance"; a flaneur is a detached pedestrian observer of a metropolis, a 'gentleman stroller of city streets', first identified by Charles Baudelaire; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fl%C3%A2neur Wikipedia entry]

'''"All Pimps Look Alike to Me"''' 
48; an 1896 barroom ditty that was "cleaned up" to become "All Coons Look Alike to Me" and recorded by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Collins Arthur Collins] in 1899 and considered by some to be the First Rock 'n' Roll Record. [[All_Pimps_Look_Alike_to_Me|Read the whole story...]]

'''Alphonsito''' 
310; [[ATD-D#drop|Jimmy Drop's]] lieutenant

'''A.M.E.''' 
702; Alternate Means of Egress

'''America''' 
219; "innocent, all but oppressively wholesome"; and shame, 567; American light, 580; "delivered yourselves into the hands of capitalists and Christers" 643;

'''Amsterdam''' 
107; Indian Ocean island; M''egaera'' shipwrecked, 108;

[[image:anamorphoscope.jpg|thumb|Anamorphoscope|right]]'''anamorphoscope''' 
249; a curved mirror or other optical device for giving a correct image of a picture or the like distorted by anamorphosis; paramorphic, 249;

'''Anarchism''' 
6; "the inexorable rising tide of World Anarchism..."; 37; 43; 49-51; 60; 66; 87; 175 (as terrorists); 179; bomb factory in London, 235; 370; Barcelona in 1890s, 372;

'''Anarcho-syndicalists''' 
14; Anarcho-syndicalism is a branch of anarchism which focuses on the labor movement. ''Syndicalisme'' is a French word meaning "trade unionism" – hence, the "syndicalism" qualification. Anarcho-syndicalists view labor unions as a potential force for revolutionary social change, replacing capitalism and the State with a new society democratically self-managed by workers. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarcho-syndicalism Wikipedia entry]

'''Anemometer''' 
6; An instrument for measuring wind speed; Robinson anemometer, 6 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anemometer Wikipedia entry]

'''Angels''' 
42; "Avenging Angels" 271; creatures, 277; H. Vanderjuice, 322; 332; birds, 336; 379; 389; 446; 531; in Venice, 575; "too bright to look at directly" 616; of deep shit, 619; 632; 642; Gentleman Bomber, as "messenger" 692; wings, 699;

'''Anglo-Russian Entente''' 
631; the 1907 diplomatic accord between England and Russia to respect the integrity and independence of Persia.

'''Anharmonic Pencil''' 
455; a "pencil" in this context refers to a figure formed by a set of straight lines or light rays meeting at a point, a figure that is not harmonic, i.e., not a multiple of its component parts; 532; 593;

'''Anti-Stone''' 
78;

'''Apostles' Creed''' 
58; The Apostles' Creed (circa 700 AD) (Latin: Symbolum Apostolorum), sometimes titled Symbol of the Apostles, is an early statement of Christian belief, a creed or "symbol." [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostles'_Creed Wikipedia entry]

'''Arbuckles''' 
638; superior brand of coffee

'''Archer, Mr.''' 
467;

'''argentaurum''' 
375;

[[Image:arkansas-toothpick1.jpg|thumb|Arkansas Toothpick, made by Harvey McBurnette - 9.5" blade|left]]'''Arkansas Toothpick''' 
31; The Arkansas Toothpick is essentially a heavy dagger with a pointed, straight 12-20 inch blade. The "toothpick" is balanced and weighted for throwing and can also be used for thrusting and slashing. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas_toothpick Wikipedia entry]

'''arnophilia''' 
211;

'''Arriaga, Camilo''' 
381; ''potosino''; a leader of Mexican anarchist group founded by Enrico and Ricardo Flores Magon in 1882; on August 30, 1900, he published the manifesto ''Invitación al Partido Liberal'' in San Luis Potosi. This document sparked a movement leading to formation of the ''Partido Liberal Mexicano'' (PLM) five years later, and was Ricardo Flores Magón's main vehicle for organizing the anti-Diaz struggle and for spreading the ideals of anarchism throughout Mexico; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchism_in_Mexico Wikipedia - Anarchism in Mexico]

'''Arvin''' 
264; in the Nonpareil;

'''aryq''' 
441; The Russian Turcologists Malov and Tenishev mention a Western Yugur word ''Aryq'', meaning Chinese or muslim Turk. This is a loanword from Tibetan, ''A-rig'', the name of a country of nomadic herdsmen situated to the west of Amdo. It originally may have referred to the local Tibetan population. But Pynchon's use suggests it is a drink. Hmmm.

'''ässalamu äläykum''' 
441; As-Salāmu `Alaykum (السلام عليكم) is an Arabic language greeting used in both Muslim and Christian cultures. It means "Peace be upon you." It is also transliterated as Assalamu 'Alaikum or As-salaamu Alaikum. The traditional response is "wa `Alaykum As-Salām", meaning "and peace on you". [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/As-Salamu_Alaykum Wikipedia entry]

'''Astarte-Bad''' 
714; in Vienna, with lurid mosaics of pre-biblical orgies; Astarte is a pre-biblical goddess of fertility, sexuality and war; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astarte Wikipedia entry]

'''"at silly point"''' 
222; "silly point" is a position in the game of cricket, played close to the batsman

'''Aubergine, Madame''' 
gives Reef Traverse dancing lessons in Denver;

[[Image:Audumla.jpg|thumb|Audhumla -
N. A. Abilgaard, 1790|right]]'''Audumla''' 
142; The primeval cow. Audumla (Audhumla) was born from rime at Ginnungagap. The primeval giant Ymir (Aurgelmir) lived on the milk that flow from the cow's teats. Audumla also provided nourishment to Ymir's six-headed son. Audumla received nourishment through licking the salty rime-stones. Audumla licked the stone until it was shaped into a man. This stone became Buri, grandfather of the Aesir gods: Odin, Vili and Ve.

'''Aughrim''' 
231; The Battle of Aughrim was the decisive battle of the Williamite War in Ireland. It was fought between the Jacobites and the forces of William III on 12 July 1691, near the village of Aughrim in County Galway; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Aughrim Wikipedia entry]

'''August, Ernst''' 
230; Duke of Cumberland

'''Automorphic Dispensation''' 
453;

'''Avery''' 
193;

'''Aychrome, Police Inspector Vance''' 
605; at Chunxton Crescent;

'''Azeff, Monsieur Yevno''' 
720; Yevno Azef (also spelled Azev) was a double agent in a big way, working for both Russia's turn-of-the-century revolutionaries and the Czar's Okhrana. He was convicted of attempting to assassinate Tsar Nicholas II and was executed in 1911. He was also a founder of the Social Revolutionary Party.

'''Aziz, Abdel''' 
520; "young sultan" in Morocco

'''Aztecs''' 
394; "foundation story of the eagle and the serpent"

'''Aztlàn''' 
214; "ghosts of..."; 277;

{{ATD_Alpha_Nav}}

Against the Day

2006-11-22T04:14:07Z

Mdbackes@pacbell.net: Corrected the spelling of Thelonious

"It's always night, or we wouldn't need light." - [http://en.wikipedia.org/Thelonious_Monk Thelonious Sphere Monk] (1917-1982)

[[image:airship2.jpg|thumb|Airship|right]]Spanning the period between the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World%27s_Columbian_Exposition Chicago World's Fair of 1893] and the years just after World War I, this novel moves from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cripple_Creek_miners'_strike_of_1894 labor troubles in Colorado] to turn-of-the-century New York, to London and Gottingen, Venice and Vienna, the Balkans, Central Asia, Siberia at the time of the mysterious [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunguska_event Tunguska Event], Mexico during the Revolution, postwar Paris, silent-era Hollywood, and one or two places not strictly speaking on the map at all.
With a worldwide disaster looming just a few years ahead, it is a time of unrestrained corporate greed, false religiosity, moronic fecklessness, and evil intent in high places. No reference to the present day is intended or should be inferred.

The sizable cast of characters includes anarchists, balloonists, gamblers, corporate tycoons, drug enthusiasts, innocents and decadents, mathematicians, mad scientists, shamans, psychics, and stage magicians, spies, detectives, adventuresses, and hired guns. There are cameo appearances by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikola_Tesla Nikola Tesla], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bela_Lugosi Bela Lugosi], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groucho_Marx Groucho Marx].

As an era of certainty comes crashing down around their ears and an unpredictable future commences, these folks are mostly just trying to pursue their lives. Sometimes they manage to catch up; sometimes it's their lives that pursue them.

Meanwhile, the author is up to his usual business. Characters stop what they're doing to sing what are for the most part stupid songs. Strange sexual practices take place. Obscure languages are spoken, not always idiomatically. Contrary-to-the-fact occurrences occur. If it is not the world, it is what the world might be with a minor adjustment or two. According to some, this is one of the main purposes of fiction.

Let the reader decide, let the reader beware. Good luck.

-- [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Pynchon Thomas Pynchon]

{{ATD_Alpha_Nav}}