We're different- Re: In The Zone (getting M&D poster)

[Dale L. Larson]

> Most people haven't heard of much less read TRP. The majority of the
> minority that have heard of him, haven't read him and reference him as
> another literary name-to-be-dropped icon, along with other such names, the
> works of whom they may have read- one, part of, or none at all.

This is a really wierd phenomenon that I don't yet understand.  I admit in
the Preface to Lineland that before Jules approached me, I didn't know who
the hell TRP was.  (Of course, I've since become interested in reading
Pynchon, but have only make it through COL49 so far.) The name sounded
vaugely familiar, but I just couldn't place it.  I can't think of any other
authors who can have a 200,000 copy first print run for whom this could
possibly be the case -- I at least know they're an author, even if I 
haven't read them.

I thought at first maybe it was just a wierd hole in my brain.  I've 
since talked to plenty of people who are well read and generally aware 
who have the same hole -- they just don't know about Pynchon's work.

What's with this?

dale