Thomas Pynchon Saw American Fascism Coming

The theremin is not powered by physical contact. It is a strange instrument that makes uncanny sounds and only exists because of Soviet-sponsored government research. It may be the most Thomas Pynchonian creation that he didn’t himself imagine, and its minor presence in his 2025 novel Shadow Ticket is a useful symbol for the famously private author’s steadfast fascination with the invisible networks that power contemporary life.