Pynchon's possible response to Playboy Japan

[jbor]

on 12/1/02 4:06 AM, Doug Millison at millison at online-journalist.com wrote:

> Re Pynchon's seemingly contradictory remarks about being labeled a recluse
> by journalists and saying he doesn't like talking with,

In what way is the remark "contradictory"? It isn't.

> I balance that
> against the fact that he has talked with journalists in the past.

As others have said, this has been a conspicuously rare occurrence, and it
had always been on his own terms. (In fact, I'd be interested to know just
what you are including in this category of "talked with journalists").
Regardless, the fact remains that if he gave an actual interview to a
reporter from Playboy _Japan_ then it's a first. That was all my point was
way back when you half-quoted me on the "forty years of silence" thing in
order to attack my point of view.

> 
> 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.

Basically what you're saying is that as long as you agree with what he has
apparently said (bin Laden is only a symbol ... the NYT is total propaganda
... it's prudent to buy tobacco shares etc) then it's kosher, but when you
don't ("I did not write those letters. This has been a hoax that I've had
nothing to do with. I'm sorry it's gone on as long as it has.") he's being a
"verbal trickster" and it can be discounted? It seems a little odd to me.

best