TRP's next book?

[John Boylan]

  TRP signed in '78 a book contract for 2 novels, one inspired by the
Japanese-made Mothra monster flics, the other having something to do
with the Mason-Dixon line. The Mothra material was folded (none too
gracefully) into Vineland, the Mason-Dixon one has seen at least one
deadline ('90) come and go.
  A few years ago, 4 celebrated writers had decades-awaited novels in
the works. After 30 yrs, Harold Brodkey came out with THE RUNAWAY SOUL--
a big disappointment. This year, after 28 yrs, William Gass published
THE TUNNEL, a minor disappointment -- 665 beautifully written pages,
but doesn't quite gel as a novel.
  Which leaves Guillermo Cabrere Infante, the Cuban expatriate, and
Pynchon sitting out there with still unfinished "masterworks". Feeling
the pressure, I wonder?


                                                     --John Boylan