re Re: Pynchon's possible response to Playboy Japan

[Doug Millison]

jbor,

If we're going to be friends, I think we ought to try to speak accurately
about what we've said and what we haven't said, don't you think?  I do
believe we owe it to each other to be honest about that -- all we've got
here is our words, after all, and it's such a hassle to have to go back and
re-post actual statements in order to rectify incorrect characterizations
and remind others what we actually wrote in the face of outright revisions.

You said, "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."

I remind you now that I questioned your notion of a 40-year silence, by
pointing to the many ways that Pynchon has not observed same -- just the
facts, ma'm, as Sergent Friday used to say -- and observe that Dave Monroe
did the same.   I'm sorry if you perceived my comments as an attack on you,
I didn't intend them as such -- perhaps your irritation explains your
misstatement of what was actually said.  (I do still wonder why you appear
to think it's OK to use Pynchon's words -- fictional or otherwise -- to
support your political points, but won't admit that same practice, or
malign others when they do it, but I'm just going to consider that one of
the qurks that makes you the fascinating individual you are, and continue
hope you aren't offended if I point out this interesting contradiction.)

I agree with you, if this turns out to be an authentic Pynchon interview,
it is an event.  Until we know for sure, I'm keeping an open mind.   I have
heard, from a source I trust, that Pynchon was very close to granting an
interview with a US journalist around the time of the publication M&D, but
chose not to pursue same.  So, if this Playboy Japan thing isn't it, I
don't think we'll have to wait too long before Pynchon comes out with
something substantial in the way of an interview or otherwise cooperate
with the writing of an article about himself.

I agree with what I think Rich Romeo said awhile back, too -- he said
something like (and please correct me, Rich, if I've got this wrong), many
of the same Pynchon scholars who profess to abhor the notion of being
interested in Pynchon's letters (and, I now add by extension, other
personal comments or interviews, etc.) and wish to focus only in his text,
are quite likely to be all over his letters, notebooks, etc., when and if
they ever become available for study. It's just human nature to be
interested in the life, thoughts, work habits, etc., of the artists who
engage us.

Cordially,
Doug