Hey /sci. Greetings from /lit. Have any of you guys ever read pic related? If so, how advanced/thorough/complex was the physics/math/chemistry/other science related shit in the book? As a STEM noob, I found that I could recognize some references, but not much. I guess I mostly wanted to see if more science-y people are as impressed by Pynchon's knowledge of science as regular literary English grads who just read novels.
>>7786303
Yes I've read it. The thing is, while it does certainly touch on several scientific topics, it's usually in service of some poetic metaphor and as such is not as deeply technical as it seems.
>>7786334
>is not as deeply technical as it seems.
This.
I found that having a mathematics background let me appreciate certain puns like Gregory Hilbert-Spaese or shit like that. Not much else. He doesn't have deep scientific insights to offer, he just draws on technical imagery for metaphors and whatnot.
>>7786303
I love this book and have read it many times. but it's literature. no complicated math. if you know Pynchon, the math is in there usually to make a pun. I remember a sex scene where slothrop is kissing katje on her osculating curves or something like that. same with chemistry.
it's a very funny book and just good conspiracy style sci fi. very clever and original fantastical characters with strange skills and it takes lots of turns. occasionally has some inspired metaphysical moments.
