Barth, Pynchon, heirs etc.

[David Casseres]

But not at writing a really compelling sentence.

On 9/18/05, Ben Johnson <bjohnson02 at insightbb.com> wrote:
>
> I would suggest that Neil Stephenson (Cryptonomicon, Baroque trilogy) does
> as well anyone in combining multiple narratives, historical contexts, and
> cosmic irony.  Anyway, nemo est haeres viventis.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Will Layman
> To: jkyllo at gmail.com
> Cc: pynchon-l at waste.org
> Sent: Monday, September 19, 2005 8:50 PM
> Subject: Re: Barth, Pynchon, heirs etc.
>
> James --
>
> I don't think that Rushdie is an odd selection.  MIDNIGHT'S CHILDREN may be
> the only of his books that I would stone rave about, but aside from issues
> of quality it is his methods that I find Pynchonian — a broad historical
> tapestry that intrudes on individuals, comic mayhem alternating with dead
> seriousness, etc.  Zadie Smith is, admittedly, a stretch.  She draws from
> Rushdie, maybe, rather than Pynchon, but maybe I'm just thinking about
> Rushdie because he's speaking in DC soon.
>
> Third rate, I don't think so.  Booker Prize winner and serious cat.  I also
> recommend THE GROUND BENEATH HER FEET, which is as good on rock 'n' roll as
> anything Pynchon has written.
>
> I like Lethem, but he's a worthy air to writer other than Pynchon.  His
> books are pretty traditional human narratives.
>
> -- Will
>
> On 9/19/05 8:03 PM, "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.
>
> Rushdie and Smith, for me, are 3rd rate (ie there are a whole lot of much
> better writers who if not up to the standard of Pynchon are at least  a
> different class to them)
>
> of living writers - I love Saunders, but he's yet to write a novel (rather
> than a short story).  Johnathan Lethem is a better candidate.
>
> best
>
> James
>
>
>
> On 9/19/05, Will Layman <WillLayman at comcast.net> wrote:
>
> That said, who will speak on behalf of:
> William Vollmann?
> Salman Rushdie?
> Zadie Smith?
>
> -- Will
>
>
>
>