SLSL Intro, "almost, but not quite me..."

[Mutualcode at aol.com]

In a message dated 11/3/02 11:49:26 PM, vze422fs at verizon.net writes:

<< I'm curious as to whether Pynchon decided to mass market his earlier 
stories
for profit or was that the decision of his publishers. Contractual
obligations? I jumped on SL as soon as it came out because I knew that it
had an intro by TRP. I wanted to know about an evolving Pynchon in order to
understand better the books that I loved so much. The short stories are
clearly and obviously flawed as we will discuss as we review them all. I
don't think ol' Tom is assuming a persona here as much as he is trying to
apologize for a useful back catalogue. Since he is not to my knowledge
participating in this debate, speculate to yourself about his intentions,
ironic or not. I'll take him at his word, and go from there.>>

But that's really the issue, isn't it? Who's word? Can any of us
really claim familiarity with the author? Do any of us really know
who "he" is? And yet the familiar tone of the narrator- as if to
aknowledge your admitted fascination and curiosity about "his"
evolving personality with a style suggesting "he's" been here all
the time, just phone "him" up and he'll meet you at your local,
hoist a few, and quench your need to know.

Well, apparently, it didn't work for Mailer. Why should we
expect any better? So, we're left to deal with the absence
any way we can, and that, I think, is one of Pynchon's more
interesting qualities. Unlike the "personae" the Intro Narrator
references as infuences- and they are to a large extent
"personae" (those I'm familiar with). They have aired much of
their well seasoned laundry in public, competeing, if you will,
with their own fictional characters. They all have personas,
Tom does not. He has allowed the works and characters to
speak for themselves, freed them, if you will, or freed us
to make of them what we will, without having to worry about
"Tom's" personal problems.

respectfully