Meaning: The quote "A screaming comes across the sky. It has happened before, but there is nothing to compare it to now" is the opening line of the novel "Gravity's Rainbow" by Thomas Pynchon. This enigmatic and haunting line sets the tone for the entire novel and captures the reader's attention with its sense of urgency and mystery.

"A screaming comes across the sky" is a powerful and evocative image that immediately conjures up a sense of fear and chaos. The use of the word "screaming" creates a visceral and unsettling atmosphere, suggesting that something terrible and incomprehensible is about to happen. The phrase "across the sky" implies a widespread and all-encompassing event, adding to the ominous and foreboding nature of the opening line.

The second part of the quote, "It has happened before, but there is nothing to compare it to now," further deepens the sense of unease and uncertainty. This suggests that whatever is occurring has historical precedent, but the current situation is unprecedented and beyond comparison. This creates a feeling of disorientation and confusion, as if the world is about to undergo a profound and irreversible change.

Thomas Pynchon, the author of "Gravity's Rainbow," is renowned for his complex and multi-layered writing style. The novel, published in 1973, is a sprawling and ambitious work that defies easy categorization. Set during World War II and the aftermath, the novel weaves together a wide range of characters and subplots, exploring themes of technology, paranoia, and the nature of power. Pynchon's prose is often dense and challenging, filled with intricate wordplay, historical references, and philosophical musings.

The opening line of "Gravity's Rainbow" serves as a microcosm of Pynchon's larger literary project. It introduces the reader to a world that is both familiar and alien, where the boundaries between reality and fantasy are blurred, and where the past and present collide in unexpected ways. The quote encapsulates the novel's preoccupation with the impact of technology on human experience and the disorienting effects of war and modernity.

The line's enigmatic quality invites interpretation and speculation, drawing the reader into the novel's complex and labyrinthine narrative. It sets the stage for a story that is at once deeply personal and profoundly political, and that grapples with the existential questions of human existence in the face of overwhelming forces beyond our control.

In conclusion, the quote "A screaming comes across the sky. It has happened before, but there is nothing to compare it to now" is a masterful opening line that encapsulates the eerie and disorienting atmosphere of "Gravity's Rainbow" by Thomas Pynchon. It sets the stage for a novel that is both intellectually challenging and emotionally resonant, inviting the reader to embark on a journey that defies easy explanation or categorization. Pynchon's work continues to captivate and confound readers, and this quote stands as a testament to his singular literary vision.