anti Rushdie on Pynchon

[Paul Kedrosky]

On 22 Oct 96 at 11:59, MASCARO at humnet.ucla.edu wrote:

> Well, I guess this list is just perfect for such toss-off opinions, so here"s
> mine:  I think J. Rice is off the mark.  I side with the anti-Rushdies and
> think that that Fatwa is responsible for Rushdie's notoriety.  His fiction is
> flaccid, his review of VINELAND was nothing short of stupid, and that smug
> arrogant tone--go away!

There's no arguing that the Ayatollah's fatwah raised Rushdie's profile in the
popular press, but are you sure not being a wee bit dismissive? His fiction is
"flaccid"? Good lord. Where does that leave Eco, Gaddis, and Gass? Something
worse than flaccid, I expect.

And by the way, it was his review of "Foucault's Pendulum" that was being
alternately celebrated and vilified, not his review of "Vineland." He liked
the latter, loathed the former. Or were you introducing a new sour note to this
bile-fest? 

Paul
pkedrosk at sms.ivey.uwo.ca