P-list as an encyclopoedia

[Ya Sam]

A lyrical monologue.

P-list is a complex phenomenon (sorry for being trite, can't help it). One 
can approach it as a vast theatre of operations in an ever-lasting flame-war 
in which many brave sock-puppets died a noble death. It can also be viewed 
as a social club in which casual chatter is interrupted every decade or so 
by the hyperactive and all-embracing literary examination of a new Pynchon 
novel. But I realise more and more that P-list is  a big (not always 
reliable) but nevertheless extremely useful cultural encyclopoedia. You can 
find all sorts of things in the archives, the variety of topics discussed 
and the spectrum of opinions is mind-boggling. Just to give you some 
examples. I was looking for some stuff by Merrill besides his poetry and 
decided to check the archives for any relevant info, and what do you think? 
it was there: 
http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l&month=9507&msg=2116&keywords=Sandover 
reference to his collection Recitative, plus a Pynchon-related excerpt. 
Then, again I recently got interested in the American crime fiction writer 
James Ellroy, and thanks to the archived posts (a little bit flamish though) 
I got a pretty good background on him plus a wide range of opinions. So 
these days I am more inclined to think about the list in these favourable 
terms, don't you hurry to disillusion me!

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