M&D/GR intersection (minor M&D spoiler)

[davemarc]

(private) 
> From: Brian D. McCary <bdm at storz.com>
> 
> Interesting observation.  Since the character and the object are both
> real, it would have been easy to stick it into the earlier work. 
However,
> that would mean Pynchon was already interested in the background material
> for M&D before finishing GR.  I know that someone posted info (or maybe
> I read in a review) to the effect that he signed a contract in the early
> eighties for two books, one about the MD line.  Does anyone know of any
> sources indicating he was working on this book in the seventies?
> 
Since Jimmy's already provided you with the date of the Newsweek item, I'll
just mention that the review might be the one from New City
(www.newcitynet.com).  (To avoid being horribly disingenuous, I'll admit
that I wrote the review.)

davemarc