TyroneSlothrop,aGIinLondonin1944,hasabigproblem.Wheneverhegetsanerection,aBlitzbombhits.Slothropgetsexcited,andthen(asThomasPynchonputsitinhissinister,insinuatinglysibilantopeningsentence),"ascreamingcomesacrossthesky,"heraldinganangelofdeath,aV-2rocket.Thenovel'stitle,Gravity'sRainbow,referstotherocket'svaporarc,acrueldarkparodyofwhatGodsentNoahtosymbolizehispromisenevertodestroyhumanityagain.SoonTyroneisontherunfromlegionsofbizarreenemiesthroughthephantasmagorichorrorsofGermany.gravity'sRainbow,however,dosen'tfollowsuchastandardplot;onemusthavefaiththateachmanicepisodeisconnectedwiththegreatplottoblowuptheworldwiththeultimaterocket.Thereisnotonestory,butaproliferationofcharacters(PiratePrentice,TeddyBloat,TantivyMucker-Maffick,SaureBummer,andmore)andeventsthattantalizethereaderwithsuggestionsofvastpatternsonlyjustpastourcomprehension.Gravity'sRainbowisablizzardofreferencestoscience,history,highculture,andthelowestofjokes.