P writing on drugs? Re: On The Road (Destination: Starbucks)

[pynchonoid]

I choose not to trust that uncorroborated report, I'm
referring here to the specific reference, the
assertion,  by an untrustworthy reporter, that Pynchon
 is reported to have admitted that he wrote GR stoned
and couldn't remember what he was trying to
accomplish.

I believe this statement was originally published to
cast doubt on Pynchon's ability as a writer (a theme
echoed throughout the book that the untrustworthy
reporter wrote later, in a hilariously upside-down
view of who is and isn't a world-class writer), in a
petty display of personal jealousy.  

Given the mastery that P demonstrates over his
material, this suggestion seems incredible to me, so I
don't believe it.  Obviously, other folks have a
different view, and I do not seek to change anybody's
mind, especially not Morris' "mind" or at least that
shrinking bundle of alcohol-drenched brain cells that
may yet rattle around in his skull.

I do note that Morris is starting it up again (dogging
my posts, for lack of anything original to write on
your part, I suppose), and I predict- you heard it
here first, folks - that Morris' desire to somehow win
an unimportant email pissing contest (which I formally
decline to join) is going to lead him to another lie,
like the whopper he got caught in last week, and he's
going to wind up exposing his stupdity and dishonesty
again.  Don't say I didn't warn him - but I am happy
to facilitate the process that seems to have been
messed up somewhere along the way towards Morris
becoming an emotionally mature adult.  He might start
- just a suggestion - by just leaving my posts alone,
or at least, if he does respond, keeping his responses
civil.  

Please note, "Morris",  my post did not mention you by
name nor did I make any comment about you or your
position on this issue, nor did I comment in response
to any particular past post of yours, yet here you
come again. Pitiful, really.

For the record, in the several times I've read 
Gravity's Rainbow, I have indeed noticed that some of
the characters use or discuss marijuana, LSD, cocaine,
and other psychoactive substances. We've discussed
many of those passages right here on Pynchon-l, if
"Morris" can't quite remember, understandable enough
given the hard time he appears to have just following
an intelligent discussion (not to mention trying to
keep up with the smart guys), he can feel free to
refresh his memory in the archives.

As usual, this response to my post misses the
fundamental point, that writing about drugs doesn't
necessarily mean the novelist is taking drugs while
writing, there is such a thing as learning about
experiences indirectly, from the people who have in
fact had them, and it's also possible that Pynchon
himself may have personal experience with some illegal
substances (he seems to endorse some kind of use of
marijuana, in the Slow Learner intro) that he recalled
when he was writing some parts of GR.  

Nobody else was in the room when Pynchon supposedly
made this statement - that, plus the author's
decades-long quest to insult Pynchon, makes me doubt
the veracity of this report. 

best,
pynchonoid

--- David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com> wrote:

> GR is drenched in pot, LSD, and who knows what else.
>  It's as obvious
> as hell, and doesn't require inside knowledge.  If
> you can't see it,
> or don't want to, fine.  Have it your way.
> 
> David Morris
> 
> On 10/22/06, pynchonoid <pynchonoid at yahoo.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > The legend that Pynchon wrote GR on drugs and
> couldn't remember what he was doing comes from a
> notorious crank with a long-standing personal
> grievance, so I'd say it's time to give up this one,
> too.
> 


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