Pynchon's possible response to Playboy Japan

[Doug Millison]

The Playboy Japan interview appears to me to be quite different from the
Tinasky letters.  The Tinasky book does not definitively claim that Pynchon
wrote the letters, but only suggests that he may have done so; since
Pynchon did not claim authorship, while I'm no lawyer it seems it would be
difficult for him to take legal action to protect a copyright interest
(perhaps the lawyers out there could clarify - -I know that under US law as
soon as a person writes anything, she owns the copyright, whether or not a
formal application is made for same; I don't know how this might apply in
the case of writing under an un-acknowledged pseudonym) or to otherwise
suppress publication.  Playboy Japan, on the other hand, has published what
it purports to be an interview with Pynchon, clearly identifying the
material as direct quotes from Pynchon.  Given his past legal actions to
protect his privacy and intellectual property, if he didn't give the
interview, I'd be very surprised if he doesn't take legal steps.  The
situation might get a bit trickier if the Playboy Japan article is the
result of a conversation Pynchon thought was off-the-record, or if he
decides after the fact to distance himself from it.  At any rate, I'm not
putting the onus on Pynchon to prove or disprove anything -- merely
observing that it will be interesting and informative to see what his
response will be, if any.

Re Pynchon's seemingly contradictory remarks about being labeled a recluse
by journalists and saying he doesn't like talking with, I balance that
against the fact that he has talked with journalists in the past.  He is a
complex fellow, after all, I certainly don't expect to be able to explain
his attitude towards the press and publicity in a sentence or two, and I'm
quite happy to let him continue to be confusing and contradictory as each
of us has a right to be.

It's true that Pynchon has said he didn' write the Tinasky letters, and I'm
happy to take him at his word.  Knowing him as a verbal trickster, I'm also
willing to keep an open mind to the possibility that he may be having fun
with his readers. I'll err -- if indeed I am mistaken, and of course that's
possible, since we all make mistakes -- on the side of not making any rigid
judgements in this matter.