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Not sure if this is relevant but a miller's thumb is a kind of small
freshwater fish, cottus gobio (Europe), cottus ictalops or gracilus
(US), and called in French chabot de riviere. I don't know what the
German or Russian equivalent is, but maybe there is another
trans-lingual pun here. Also, if we follow the analogy "Tailor's Spasm =
Portnoy's Complaint," Miller would not be the author but rather part of
the title. Anyways I don't see how "Miller" can be "Miller plus Mailer"
--wouldn't Nabokov have changed it a little so it wouldn't be identical
with (Henry) Miller's name?

Mary
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EDITOR's NOTE. Hmm... The "miller's thumb" fish is also called a
"bullhead," I see. I derived the Mailer from Miller by the rhyme with
Tailor (< R. portnoy). I suspect Mark Bennet's reference to Anais Nin
may be good. I don't have "Delta of Venus" at hand but it has, I gather,
some erotic thumb plays in it involving Miller. 1969 NYTimes Best Seller
lists are also relevant since Roth "Portnoy's complaint" was there.

Could some demon researcher look into this for us?

Samuel G. Mounger                                smou@mma.mexico.mo.us
Chairman, English Department            573-581-1773
Missouri Military Academy
204 Grand Avenue
Mexico, MO 65265