Vineland

 VINELAND

Thomas Pynchon

Books for Bigots

Thomas Pynchon has traveled to northern Californai to inhabit the land of the pot growing community, the hippie residue, the various sorts of non-conforming Californians plus the federal government in the form of Brock Vond and his federal troops in the war on weed - marijana back then. 

Vietnam, not far behind, and the residue of the vast number of those who protested, marched and did large amounts of illegal substances during and after are now running for cover or working for the feds.  The cultural life appears to be the local pubs with local bands playing oldies always with the threat of the feds showing up to burn down the current crop of marijuana growing in the hills.  And, of course, setting up Zoyd for an arrest which concluded with an understanding that Frenesi's daughter, Prairie, would not be a part of Frenesi's life so as not to interfere with her relationship with Brock.  This was apparently ok with Frenesi.

It was interesting to see that pot growing was definitely a community endeavor.  When the threat of federal terrorism became apparent, the entire community became involved in saving as much of the product as could be saved, not much different from any farming community's effort in saving their source of income from disaster - a loss to the entire community.

Clearly, the author had a view of the DEA that was not the best.  Led by Brock Vond, it was unclear whether Vond was actually working for the DEA or was using the DEA to fulfill his desires both amorous and financial.  His main goal appears to be in bedding Frenesi Gates, the wife or ex-wife of Zoyd Wheeler and the mother of Prairie Wheeler both of whom she abandoned to work for the feds and to be bedded by Brock Vond.  

There is much in this book that would not be well-received by  the traditional Bigot.  Protesting, ingesting illegal substances, casual intercourse, a life-style of just getting by, all would be of concern to the normal rule-following Bigot.  The traditional, church-going, god-fearing American family does not appear here nor would they be welcome. 

Pynchon does throw in an interesting bunch of people, the Thanatoids for example - those addicted to and which require continued  television viewing as the necessary element of their existence.  They have to have it and spend their time watching whatever appears there.  Remember this was before CNN and Fox - - more like Leave It to Beaver or Gilligen's Island.

The Leave It to Beaver and Gilligen's Island would fit right in with the life of a Bigot but when portrayed as an anomaly and as a group of people who have simply bailed out altogether and spend their time watching inane TV, not so much.  Righteousness takes few forms, but always includes being busy doing God's work and maintaining  the proper family and community life of the obedient.  The Thanatoids have bailed out, hence not acceptable. 

Of course, through all the trauma and plot twists comes a woman by the call letters of DL who is a master tai kwondo/karate person who has the ability to kill you slowly with a certain, very lethal, movement to the body not clearly delineated.  DL and Frenesi were once pals in the movement before Frenesi became the employee, lover, and companion of Brock.  DL, with her superhuman tae kwan do powers has taken up with Prairie and Tahishe, a Japanese guy who has a somewhat mystical part in the book.  If the book has a heroine, DL is it.

Altogether one would find VINELAND a good read, keeps you interested, and ends well for all except for maybe Brock.  Bigots though, not so much.

Richard E H Phelps II

Mingo