Don Foster (was Pynchon fax)

[davemarc]

jbor writes:

> The Japan
> Playboy piece is so inconsequential and has had such little impact that he
> perhaps isn't bothered about it (or isn't even aware of it), or else he
> recognises that in making a public denial he would merely be drawing
> unwarranted attention to it (which is perhaps why he had to put that
Foster
> guy onto the case with the Tinasky hoax.)

I'm not aware that Pynchon put Don Foster on the case. Does anyone have
evidence of that? According to Foster's book Author Unknown: On the Trail of
Anonymous, Foster became interested in the case after receiving inquiries
from reporters and book editors. Foster writes that a call from the
Washington Post finally persuaded him gather and consider the evidence.

Also, "hoax" might not be the best word to describe the Tinasky affair. It
implies an intent to deceive and defraud. I'm not sure any of the major
players in that affair had that intent.

d.