Byron’s Glowing Filament
@oedipaskvass.bsky.social
HS English teacher. Lover of books and film. Advocate for re-education through Gravity's Rainbow. ☭
https://gravitysrainbow.substack.com
https://gravitysrainbow.substack.com
Beginning a minor project which could (COULD, not will) result in a mini series for premium subs on the Pynchon-stack.
Pre-Socratic philosophy to start.
Pre-Socratic philosophy to start.
November 1, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Beginning a minor project which could (COULD, not will) result in a mini series for premium subs on the Pynchon-stack.
Pre-Socratic philosophy to start.
Pre-Socratic philosophy to start.
Unconfirmed, but… a potential new Pynchon?
October 14, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Unconfirmed, but… a potential new Pynchon?
October’s premium subscriber post will be a ‘vibes based’ essay on Shadow Ticket. By that I mean, I don’t think I really understand all of Pynchon’s layers yet, so instead of analysis, I’m going to compare it to what he said in his other works and what is going on in our world.
October 12, 2025 at 12:21 AM
October’s premium subscriber post will be a ‘vibes based’ essay on Shadow Ticket. By that I mean, I don’t think I really understand all of Pynchon’s layers yet, so instead of analysis, I’m going to compare it to what he said in his other works and what is going on in our world.
It is done. And it was amazing. As opposed to Gravity’s Rainbow which showed the ostensible ‘downfall’ and subsequent naturalization of fascism, this shows its rise. It’s a great lead in to the ideas of that novel. Are there flaws?Yes. But who cares. It’s phenomenal.
October 12, 2025 at 12:04 AM
It is done. And it was amazing. As opposed to Gravity’s Rainbow which showed the ostensible ‘downfall’ and subsequent naturalization of fascism, this shows its rise. It’s a great lead in to the ideas of that novel. Are there flaws?Yes. But who cares. It’s phenomenal.
Almost halfway through Vollmann’s “The Royal Family” and it’s already looking to be the best novel I’ve read all year, and potentially one of the best I’ve ever read.
August 16, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Almost halfway through Vollmann’s “The Royal Family” and it’s already looking to be the best novel I’ve read all year, and potentially one of the best I’ve ever read.
Need a little break from my Vollmann project. So I’m gonna knock out a few short works since I need to free space on my TBR shelves.
Up Next: The Name of the World by Denis Johnson
Up Next: The Name of the World by Denis Johnson
August 3, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Need a little break from my Vollmann project. So I’m gonna knock out a few short works since I need to free space on my TBR shelves.
Up Next: The Name of the World by Denis Johnson
Up Next: The Name of the World by Denis Johnson
Thoughts on Pynchon and the LA Riots.
June 9, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Thoughts on Pynchon and the LA Riots.
Rewatched this and yes it’s still one of my all time favorites. The final scene with Giamatti (and the scene with his barber) is one of the most powerful scenes of all time.
April 27, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Rewatched this and yes it’s still one of my all time favorites. The final scene with Giamatti (and the scene with his barber) is one of the most powerful scenes of all time.
Up Next in Fiction, and as a continuation of my chronological Vollmann read through: Fathers and Crows.
Wasn’t a huge fan of his first Seven Dreams book, so I’m hoping this one is better.
Wasn’t a huge fan of his first Seven Dreams book, so I’m hoping this one is better.
March 18, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Up Next in Fiction, and as a continuation of my chronological Vollmann read through: Fathers and Crows.
Wasn’t a huge fan of his first Seven Dreams book, so I’m hoping this one is better.
Wasn’t a huge fan of his first Seven Dreams book, so I’m hoping this one is better.
Up Next: Book of Numbers by Joshua Cohen.
Heard wonderful things about this one. Was going to read Witz first, but that one is a bit more daunting…
Heard wonderful things about this one. Was going to read Witz first, but that one is a bit more daunting…
February 13, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Up Next: Book of Numbers by Joshua Cohen.
Heard wonderful things about this one. Was going to read Witz first, but that one is a bit more daunting…
Heard wonderful things about this one. Was going to read Witz first, but that one is a bit more daunting…
Tis done. All 3 volumes complete. Began these around November 2023. Can’t say I loved every minute of it. Volume 2 was hell. Vol 3 was half hell. (I adored vol 1 though). But nonetheless, absolutely vital and important works.
January 29, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Tis done. All 3 volumes complete. Began these around November 2023. Can’t say I loved every minute of it. Volume 2 was hell. Vol 3 was half hell. (I adored vol 1 though). But nonetheless, absolutely vital and important works.
Hello! My analysis of Part 4, Chapter 11 is up! The Tchitcherine and Enzian meet.
gravitysrainbow.substack.com/p/part-4-cha...
gravitysrainbow.substack.com/p/part-4-cha...
January 19, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Hello! My analysis of Part 4, Chapter 11 is up! The Tchitcherine and Enzian meet.
gravitysrainbow.substack.com/p/part-4-cha...
gravitysrainbow.substack.com/p/part-4-cha...
I don’t have words because if I think of them I will start crying at work.
But for me, Lynch’s film has been as influential to me as Pynchon’s literature. There is almost no comparison.
RIP to my favorite director of all time.
But for me, Lynch’s film has been as influential to me as Pynchon’s literature. There is almost no comparison.
RIP to my favorite director of all time.
January 16, 2025 at 7:50 PM
I don’t have words because if I think of them I will start crying at work.
But for me, Lynch’s film has been as influential to me as Pynchon’s literature. There is almost no comparison.
RIP to my favorite director of all time.
But for me, Lynch’s film has been as influential to me as Pynchon’s literature. There is almost no comparison.
RIP to my favorite director of all time.
Up next: Tripticks
The last Ann Quin novel I have yet to read.
The last Ann Quin novel I have yet to read.
January 15, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Up next: Tripticks
The last Ann Quin novel I have yet to read.
The last Ann Quin novel I have yet to read.
AHHH. Is the only word to express how I feel. It's a pained tear-laden scream too.
It's my third read and, like my third read of Gravity's Rainbow, is the one that truly opened up the novel for me. It rose high in the rankings this time. A masterpiece.
Time to begin the analysis.
It's my third read and, like my third read of Gravity's Rainbow, is the one that truly opened up the novel for me. It rose high in the rankings this time. A masterpiece.
Time to begin the analysis.
January 15, 2025 at 5:16 PM
AHHH. Is the only word to express how I feel. It's a pained tear-laden scream too.
It's my third read and, like my third read of Gravity's Rainbow, is the one that truly opened up the novel for me. It rose high in the rankings this time. A masterpiece.
Time to begin the analysis.
It's my third read and, like my third read of Gravity's Rainbow, is the one that truly opened up the novel for me. It rose high in the rankings this time. A masterpiece.
Time to begin the analysis.
Hello! My analysis of Part 4, Chapter 10 is up! The Schwarzkommando make their way toward the Heath.
gravitysrainbow.substack.com/p/part-4-cha...
gravitysrainbow.substack.com/p/part-4-cha...
January 12, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Hello! My analysis of Part 4, Chapter 10 is up! The Schwarzkommando make their way toward the Heath.
gravitysrainbow.substack.com/p/part-4-cha...
gravitysrainbow.substack.com/p/part-4-cha...
Hello! My analysis of Part 4, Chapter 9 is up! Geli's search for Tchitcherine, the birth of the world, and Blicero's words to Gottfried.
gravitysrainbow.substack.com/p/part-4-cha...
gravitysrainbow.substack.com/p/part-4-cha...
January 4, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Hello! My analysis of Part 4, Chapter 9 is up! Geli's search for Tchitcherine, the birth of the world, and Blicero's words to Gottfried.
gravitysrainbow.substack.com/p/part-4-cha...
gravitysrainbow.substack.com/p/part-4-cha...
Hello! My analysis of Part 4, Chapter 8 is up! The Gross Suckling Conference and the disgusting alliterative revolution.
gravitysrainbow.substack.com/p/part-4-cha...
gravitysrainbow.substack.com/p/part-4-cha...
December 28, 2024 at 2:33 PM
Hello! My analysis of Part 4, Chapter 8 is up! The Gross Suckling Conference and the disgusting alliterative revolution.
gravitysrainbow.substack.com/p/part-4-cha...
gravitysrainbow.substack.com/p/part-4-cha...
4 books this year
Best new read: Passages
Best reread: Gravity’s Rainbow
Worst read: Simple Passion
One I’d recommend to anyone: Rebecca
Best new read: Passages
Best reread: Gravity’s Rainbow
Worst read: Simple Passion
One I’d recommend to anyone: Rebecca
December 27, 2024 at 2:56 AM
4 books this year
Best new read: Passages
Best reread: Gravity’s Rainbow
Worst read: Simple Passion
One I’d recommend to anyone: Rebecca
Best new read: Passages
Best reread: Gravity’s Rainbow
Worst read: Simple Passion
One I’d recommend to anyone: Rebecca
Mason & Dixon’s class commentary is as good as it gets.
December 26, 2024 at 4:35 AM
Mason & Dixon’s class commentary is as good as it gets.
Hello! My analysis of Part 4, Chapter 7 is up! Tchitcherine interrogated by the 'CIA' and his discussion of Marxism.
gravitysrainbow.substack.com/p/part-4-cha...
gravitysrainbow.substack.com/p/part-4-cha...
December 21, 2024 at 2:59 PM
Hello! My analysis of Part 4, Chapter 7 is up! Tchitcherine interrogated by the 'CIA' and his discussion of Marxism.
gravitysrainbow.substack.com/p/part-4-cha...
gravitysrainbow.substack.com/p/part-4-cha...
Hello! My analysis of the last of three posts of Gravity’s Rainbow, Part 4, Chapter 6 is up! Slothrop's fragmented mind in the Raketen-Stadt (3/3).
gravitysrainbow.substack.com/p/part-4-cha...
gravitysrainbow.substack.com/p/part-4-cha...
December 14, 2024 at 2:11 PM
Hello! My analysis of the last of three posts of Gravity’s Rainbow, Part 4, Chapter 6 is up! Slothrop's fragmented mind in the Raketen-Stadt (3/3).
gravitysrainbow.substack.com/p/part-4-cha...
gravitysrainbow.substack.com/p/part-4-cha...
Sense and Sensibility is excellent. Have read it a few times but this is the first time watching. I feel like Jane Austen novels really shine when put to film.
December 12, 2024 at 4:30 AM
Sense and Sensibility is excellent. Have read it a few times but this is the first time watching. I feel like Jane Austen novels really shine when put to film.
Hello! My analysis of the second of three posts of Gravity’s Rainbow, Part 4, Chapter 6 is up! Slothrop's fragmented mind in the Raketen-Stadt (2/3).
December 8, 2024 at 5:42 AM
Hello! My analysis of the second of three posts of Gravity’s Rainbow, Part 4, Chapter 6 is up! Slothrop's fragmented mind in the Raketen-Stadt (2/3).