Infinite Jest Summery week 6: pp. 321-398
This week’s summer-y, taken verbatim from Infinite Summer, and not edited one jot or tittle even though I’m pretty sure I could make it better but I’m reading the e-version this week, which I don’t care for:
Page 321 — 8 NOVEMBER / YEAR OF THE DEPEND ADULT UNDERGARMENT INTERDEPENDENCE DAY / GAUDEAMUS IGTUR: The E.T.A. students play Eschaton, The Atavistic Global-Nuclear-Conflict Gameâ„¢.
Page 343 — 8 NOVEMBER / YEAR OF THE DEPEND ADULT UNDERGARMENT INTERDEPENDENCE DAY / GAUDEAMUS IGTUR: An exhaustive description of the Boston AA chapter and a meeting in which several speakers relate unthinkable horrors.
Chapters Read:
Page 343 — 8 NOVEMBER / YEAR OF THE DEPEND ADULT UNDERGARMENT INTERDEPENDENCE DAY / GAUDEAMUS IGTUR: Mario’s semi-fictional film “The ONANTiad”, which documents (a) the rise of Johnny Gentle from Famous Crooner to head of the Clean U.S. Party and then President of the (then) United States; (b) the establishment of the Organization of North American Nations; (c) the creation and subsequent expatriation of the Great Con(cav|vex)ity; and (d) the origins of subsidized time.
Page 394: Lyle dispenses advice to students down in the weight room, including “don’t underestimate objects”.
Page 395: Descriptions of the James Incandeza films The Medusa vs. the Odalisque and THE JOKE.
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The Incandenzas
James Orin Incandenza: Filmmaker, founder of the Enfield Tennis Academy, committed suicide by putting his head in a microwave over. Nicknames include Himself, The Mad Stork, and The Sad Stork.
Avril Incandenza (née Mondragon): Jame’s Widow, heavily involved in the running of E.T.A., affiliated with the Militant Grammarians. Nickname: The Moms.
Hal Incandenza: The youngest of the three Incandenza children. One of the novel’s protagonists.
Mario Incandenza: The middle child. Born with deformities; also a filmmaker (like his father).
Orin Incandenza: The elder Incandenza. A punter for the Arizona Cardinals, serial womanizer, and cockroach killer.
Charles Tavis: The head of E.T.A. since James Incandenza’s death. Avril’s half- or adoptive brother.
The Enfield Tennis Academy
Michael Pemulis: Hal’s best friend; prankster, drug dealer, undisputed Eschaton champion, and not destine for The Show.
John “No Relation” Wayne: The top-ranked player at ETA. John Wayne was discovered by James Incandenza during interviews of men named John Wayne for a film.
Other Prominent E.T.A. Students: Ortho “The Darkness” Stice, Jim Troelsch, Trevor (“The Axhandle”) Axford, Ann Kittenplan, Ted Schacht, LaMont Chu, U.S.S. Millicent Kent (tried to seduce Mario!).
Lyle: Sweat-licking guru who lives in the E.T.A. weight room and dispenses advice.
The Ennet House Drug and Alcohol Recovery House
Don Gately: Former thief and Demerol addict, now counselor in residence at the Ennet House.
Joelle Van Dyne (a.k.a “Madame Psychosis and P.G.O.A.T, The Prettiest Girl of All Time”): Radio talkshow host; former lover to Orin, starred in many of James Incandenza films; wears a veil.
Kate Gompert: A cannabinoid addict who suffers from extreme unipolar depression.
Pat Montesian: The Ennet House manager.
Ken Erdedy: A cannabinoid addict.
Bruce Green: Ex-husband of Mildred Bonk-Green.
Tiny Ewell A lawyer with dwarfism who is obsessed with tattoos.
Other Prominent Ennet House residents: Randy Lenz, Geoffrey Day, Emil Minty.
Others
Hugh Steeply (a.k.a. Helen Steeply): Agent for the Office of Unspecified Services; currently in disguise as a female reporter profiling Orin.
Remy Marathe: Member of the Wheelchair Assassins (separatists) and quadruple-agent who secretly talks to Hugh Steeply.
Poor Tony Krause (P.T. Krause): Almost killed by Drano-spiked heroin, accidentally steals a woman’s artificial heart, has a seizure while in withdrawal.