Misdirected reply--but worthwhile

[John M. Krafft]

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From:	MIAVX2::JMKRAFFT     "John M. Krafft"  7-MAR-1992 10:34:04.60
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Subj:	Re: Pynchon and Gibson again (was <none>)

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From: morrijo at jacobs.CS.ORST.EDU (John Morris)
Subject:Re: Pynchon and Gibson again (was <none>)
Date: 5 Mar 92 02:28:43 GMT
Message-ID:<morrijo.699762523 at jacobs>

<lots of stuff about Pynchon and Gibson deleted>
I just read an interview that Gibson gave a while back in a book called
_Stroming_the_Reality_Studio_ in which Gibson says that he read Pynchon,
and thought lots of SF writers were probably influenced by _Gravity's_
Rainbow_ (including himself).
Can anyone tell me if it's worth my time to read Pynchon, and which book
to start with? I'd appreciate any email with advice.
Thanks, John


You will no doubt be flooded with **Yes, Read Pynchon** responses,
but I'll chime in with the chorus. As a former English Major I en-
joyed literature and was even excited by some of it in H.S. and
college, but never passionate. In July, 1973, while working as a
construction laborer for school money, a friend & I got to talking
and he mentioned this review about some guy "who they say is as good
as James Joyce." To some lit folks, that's like saying "there's this
kid in the park who shoots better than Jordan." I read the review,
and bought Gravity's Rainbow, read as much as I could every evening &
the entire weekend. I was devastated. Here was an author who had the
voice I was looking for: serious and comic, terrible and triumphant,
all in this one massive book. It had science, technology, drama,
poetry, silly songs, weird names, and spoke in the strong
anti-authoritarian voice that has become part of my politics ever
since. (BTW, in my opinion, Gravity's Rainbow is probably one of
the most powerful political tracts in the English language).
No book has affected me more, before or since.

Where to start? There are those that would tell you to get wet
slowly with "The Crying of Lot 49," and there is merit in that
approach, but why not dive right in and read Gravity's Rainbow?
If you enjoy it, you will find yourself drawn to "V." and to
"The Crying of Lot 49" and finally "Vineland." There are also the
short stories (anthologized in "Slow Learner"), plus numerous critical
works that are sometimes just as fun to read as the books
themselves.

Enjoy.
Tom Stanton