Pynchon excerpt from new novel

[Paul Mackin]

On Aug 3, 2006, at 9:04 PM, jbor at bigpond.com wrote:

> Holy Toledo, badman. I think you're on to something.
>
> best


Thanks. That Pynchon is clever. He thinks outside the box.

P.
>
> On 04/08/2006, Paul wrote:
>
>>> when you google uncompahgre  kenosha you get a whole shit load of  
>>> hits.
>>>
>>> the plateau and the  pass are in the  same general vicinity
>>>
>>> http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=Uncompahgre 
>>> +kenosha&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
>
>
>> 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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