The 'Waste' Law | Pynchon's genealogical influences

[David Morris]

On Nov 21, 2007 2:06 PM,  <robinlandseadel at comcast.net> wrote:
>When one of your best friends is blown away

The above statement sure doesn't tend to increase your credibility.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Fari%C3%B1a

"On April 30, 1966, two days after the publication of his book, Fariña
attended a book-signing at a Carmel Valley Village bookstore, the
Thunderbird. Later that day, while at a party to celebrate Mimi's 21st
birthday, Fariña saw a guest with a motorcycle and hitched a ride up
Carmel Valley Road east toward Cachagua. The bike crashed within a
mile or so. According to Pynchon's preface to Been Down..., the police
said the motorcycle must have been traveling at 90 miles per hour,
even though "a prudent speed" would have been 30 miles per hour. He
was thrown from the back of the bike and killed instantly."