eGad: Pynchon excerpt from new novel

[Ya Sam]

Can somebody get that catalogue and find out if it's real mccoy?


>From: Paul Mackin <paul.mackin at verizon.net>
>To: gaddis-l at yahoogroups.com
>CC: pynchon-l at waste.org
>Subject: Re: eGad: Pynchon excerpt from new novel
>Date: Thu, 03 Aug 2006 17:37:19 -0400
>
>Sounds like it's patterned after the pulp-western writing  style used  in 
>Forbes Parkhill's "the Kenosha Kid."
>
>Colorado locale as well.
>
>
>
>On Aug 3, 2006, at 4:53 PM, Steven Moore wrote:
>
>>The new Penguin Press catalog has an excerpt from Pynchon's  "Against the 
>>Day," which I thought I'd transcribe for you:
>>
>>Back in 1899, not long after the terrible cyclone that year which  
>>devastated the town, Young Willis Turnstone, freshly credentialed  from 
>>the American School of Osteopathy, had set out westward from  Kirksville, 
>>Missouri, with a small grip holding a change of  personal linen, an extra 
>>shirt, a note of encouragement from Dr. A.  T. Still, and an antiquated 
>>Colt in whose use he was far from  practiced, arriving at length in 
>>Colorado, where one day riding  across the Uncompahgre plateau he was set 
>>upon by a small band of  pistoleros. "Hold it right there, Miss, let's 
>>have a look at what's  in that attractive valise o'yours."
>>     "Not much," said Willis.
>>     "Hey, what's this? Packing some iron here! Well, well, never  let it 
>>be said Jimmy Drop and his gang denied a tender soul a fair  shake now, 
>>little lady, you just grab ahold of your great big  pistol and we'll get 
>>to it, shall we." The others had cleared a  space which Willis and Jimmy 
>>now found themselves alone at either  end of, in classic throwdown 
>>posture. "Go on ahead, don't be shy,  I'll give you ten seconds gratis, 
>>'fore I draw. Promise." Too dazed  to share entirely the gang's spirit of 
>>innocent fun, Willis slowly  and inexpertly raised his revolver, trying to 
>>aim it as straight as  a shaking pair of hands would allow. After a fair 
>>count of ten,  true to his word and fast as a snake, Jimmy went for his 
>>own  weapon, had it halfway up to working level before abruptly coming  to 
>>a dead stop, frozen into an ungainly crouch. "Oh, pshaw!" the  badman 
>>screamed, or words to that effect.
>>     "Ay! Jefe, jefe," cried his lieutenant Alfonsito, "tell us it  ain' 
>>your back again."
>>     "Damned idiot, o' course it's my back. Oh mother of all  
>>misfortune--and worst than last time too."
>>     "I can fix that," offered Willis.
>>     "Beg your pardon, what in hell business of any got-damn  
>>pinkinroller'd this be, again?"
>>     "I know how to loosen that up for you. Trust me, I'm an  osteopath."
>>     "It's O.K., we're open-minded, couple boys in the outfit are  
>>evangelicals, just watch where you're putting them lilywhites now-- 
>>yaaagghh--I mean, huh?"
>>     "Feel better?"
>>     "Holy Toledo," straightening up, carefully but pain-free.
>>     "Why, it's a miracle."
>>     "Gracias a Dios!" screamed the dutiful Alfonsito.
>>     "Obliged," Jimmy guessed, sliding his pistol back in its holster.
>>
>>
>>
>>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>>
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