beginner

[MATT FOLSOM FOR PRESIDENT 2032]

I am just getting ready to dive into gravitys rainbow for my first 
time and am wondering if there is any companion book or some other way 
of preparing myself for this monumental task ahead.  I am an 
undergrad at a university and have access to alot of library 
resources...any good stories to compliment my attempt or anything 
like that would be helpful...matt