Exploring the Novels of Thomas Pynchon & more...
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Inherent Vice Wiki
Visit the wiki for Inherent Vice, with page-by-page annotations, a great playlist, index of characters, aggregated reviews, and much more...
Read more about Inherent Vice...
Video Re National Book Award & Gravity's Rainbow
Don't miss this amazing video about Gravity's Rainbow winning the National Book Award, including a recording of Professor Irwin Corey's hilarious acceptance speech.
NEW! Search V., M&D & V.
Search V., Gravity's Rainbow and Mason & Dixon with Google Embedded Book search.
Pynchon News Feed
Read all the latest news and articles regarding Thomas Pynchon as they come across the wire.
Pynchon News Feed »
The Pynchon Wiki
Check out the wikis for all of Thomas Pynchon's novels, an invaluable resource for readers of Pynchon's novels. And if you believe you've got insights to share, register to become an editor.
Lot 49 Mysteries in California
Turns out the entire text of The Crying of Lot 49 is being broadcast in semaphore from the top of Adobe's Almaden Towers headquarters. San Jose Semaphore, by artist Ben Rubin, is a permanent public artwork commissioned by Adobe Systems Incorporated in collaboration with the City of San Jose's Office of Cultural Affair's Public Art Program. The code was recently cracked by two Silicon Valley tech workers, Mark Snesrud and Bob Mayo.
Jonathan Rosenbaum on Reading Pynchon
If you haven't read Jonathan Rosenbaum's excellent and insightful essay on Vineland,"Pynchon's Prayer," originally published in 1990 in the Chicago Reader, now's your opportunity. It's available on his blog.
Pynchon's Surprise Party
San Francisco writer Michael Corrigan wrote a lovely article about him and his pals throwing a surprise party for Pynchon at a local bar.
The Endangered Literary "Recluse"
Excellent article about the concept of the "reclusive" literary figure, comparing the styles of Pynchon and Salinger - The Globe and Mail
Pynchon Narrates Promo Video for Inherent Vice
OK. First, be aware that this site operates independently of Thomas Pynchon (PIN-chawn) and is thus, yes, unauthorized. The site has been under since about 1996, and there's always some hammering going on somewhere. Feel free to report any weak stairs, wobbly railings, or exposed nails.
The meat of this website is the indices to Thomas Pynchon's first three "big" novels — V. (1963), Gravity's Rainbow (1973) and Mason & Dixon (1997). These "Web guides" have been of great help to readers of Thomas Pynchon through the years, and will no doubt continue to be. Contributions are always welcome. If you're reading Pynchon for the first time, you may want to take a look at Advice for Newbies, given by a cadre of life-long fans and contributors to this site.
These days, there is also the PynchonWiki, which consists of a suite of seven wikis, one for each of Pynchon's novels, with extensive annotation — and growing all the time. Those interested can also register to become editors of the wikis. More details at PynchonWiki »
Previous News...
Prof. Irwin Corey Interview
He's the guy who in 1974 accepted the National Book Award on behalf of Thomas Pynchon. Read his reminiscences...
Wikis for Gravity's Rainbow, Mason & Dixon, The Crying of Lot 49 and V..
You can now register to be a contributor to any of the five Pynchon wikis: Against the Day, Gravity's Rainbow, Mason & Dixon, The Crying of Lot 49, V. and Vineland. Check 'em out.
Hawaii & Thomas Pynchon
This page begins to explore the Hawaiian references in Pynchon's fiction, particularly in Against the Day, Vineland, and Gravity's Rainbow, as well as in Thomas Pynchon's seventh novel, to be published in August 2009, Inherent Vice.
Against the Day
It's available. Purchase from Amazon US or Amazon UK; and then visit the Pynchon Wiki.
Pictures Showing What Happens On Each Page of Thomas Pynchon's Novel, "Gravity's Rainbow"
Zak Smith's amazing and lovely illustrations of every page of Gravity's Rainbow were published in book form on Nov 28, 2006. You can order it now. Or click for more info...
Against the Day Wiki to be published Nov 21.
As daunting as it may seem, we intend to have available at publication a full-blown wiki guide to Pynchon's new novel, allowing registered editors to amend, comment, pontificate, criticize and interpret this amazing new novel's vast subject matter and incredible array of characters historical, fictional and "otherwise." At launch, the wiki will have a fully indexed alphabetical guide to the characters, events and arcana of the novel.
Brian Wilson & Thomas Pynchon
Hilarious bit about Pynchon and Brian Wilson getting stoned in Brian's tent, from the new Wilson bio Catch A Wave: The Rise, Fall and Redemption of the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson (Peter Ames Carlin, Rodale, 2006)
New album by California band Thrice based on V.
The band Thrice has released their fifth album, entitled "Vheissu," which is the result of the band's singer, Dustin Kensrue, being blown away by Pynchon's first novel V. He had the entire band read the novel from cover to cover before recording the album. Read more...
Pynchon on The Simpsons, Again!
On Sunday, February 20 (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT), the official 16th season premiere of THE SIMPSONS was aired, whereon actor James Caan and writer Thomas Pynchon guest-starred as themselves.
In the January 25, 2004 episode of the Simpsons, Pynchon did his own voice for his character. [ ]. You can also read Erik Ketzan's article at TheModernWord.com.
New: It appears Tom still has his fastball. He's written a 20-page intro to the Plume Edition of 1984 and it's damn good. Read David Kipen's review, Jim Knipfel's review — or just buy the book! 1984 is more timely now than ever as we sink deeper into Newspeak.
