before you know it

[Jake Martin]

>_City of Quartz_ by Mike Davis, a book about L.A. and conspiracies,
>mentions Pynchon briefly in a few places. I think he quotes a passage 
>from
>_Vineland_ about Prairie at the mall.

He does, although it's one of the less convincing moments in a 
spectacular study.  MD knows architecture, isn't so great with a text.  
_City of Quartz_, tho', qualifies on its own merit as a tour de force of 
paranoia, conflicted technophobia, and brilliant social criticism -- 
Pynchonian, even, if you go in for that sort of thing.