Barth, Pynchon, heirs etc.

[James Kyllo]

I'd say "You Bright and Risen Angels" if only because it's his first (and 
the first I read, and very good.. and taking it down from the shelf now, I 
see why I bought it in the first place - from the Publishers Weekly quote on 
the back "..a comic-surrealistic assault upon reason that should appeal to 
those who enjoy Thomas Pynchon"). Another approach for the Pynchonist would 
be through "The Ice Shirt" & "Fathers & Crows" which share concerns (and at 
one point source material) with "Mason & Dixon". Not sure what you mean 
about "what to aim for", as for why - well, for me anyway, it's as literate 
and compelling as almost anything I've read bar Pynchon and Gaddis.
 Paul - I have yet to read "Europe Central", and he certainly isn't 
consistent, but I'd happily recommend the three above and "The Royal Family"
 all the best
 James
   On Sep 20, 2005, at 3:16 PM, Dave Monroe wrote:

> Of everyone periodically mentioned along these lines,
> it's Vollman I'm least familiar with. I don't recall
> him even coming much in the critical apparatus or
> whatever, unlike Barth or Barthelme or DeLillo or ...
> anyway, any recommendations ion where to start? Where
> to aim for? And why? Let me know. Thanks!

I don't know much about Vollman but I'd definitely advise
against Europe Central.

Vollman is encyclopedic all right I guess. But the knowledge
feels like it was assembled by computer rather than by a human
author. He's more a researcher than a writer, was my general
feeling. Pynchon is both a researcher and a writer.

I know James is generally sound and i hope I'm not doing Vollman
an injustice with just the experience of this one book.

P.
>
> --- James Kyllo <jkyllo at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>> What an odd selection! I'll certainly speak up for
>> Vollman, who is for me the only serious (living)
>> competitor to TRP - his best stuff matches
>> Pynchon's but his quality control is even worse....
>>
>
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