SLSL Intro "It is only fair to warn ..."

[Tim Strzechowski]

I agree that the self-criticisms may be apt, but that's not to discount the
possibility of Pynchon's wrapping those self-criticisms in the shroud of a
persona, a seemingly self-effacing and near-apologetic "voice" that helps to
convey a certain tone.

> The argument below is quite a flimsy one, considering that after this
> introduction to his "Introduction" Pynchon then elaborates on the specific
> "tiresome passages" and "problems" which he perceives in each one of the
> early stories, now that he has reread them, in some detail. On the whole,
as
> MalignD has already said, Pynchon's self-criticisms here are pretty apt,
and
> they are presented with obvious sincerity and candour.
>

I suppose one question that results from this is: what does any author hope
to achieve by

a)  reassessing his literary output and pointing out its deficiencies?

b) conveying that reassessment in a self-effacing "voice"?

Whether or not Pynchon deliberately chose to create a "persona" through
which he could offer his reassessments, the fact that he employs a
self-effacing tone and points out his deficiencies has a particular effect
on the reader. He undoubtedly knows this. Hence, I find his tone in this
Introduction most interesting, and wonder why he used it so.

Tim S.