IVIV reception: Pynchon -- Heard But Still Not Seen

[Doug Millison]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/shortstack/2009/08/pynchon_--_heard_but_still_not.html

By Stephen Lowman

"$27.95? Really? That used to be, like, three weeks of groceries, man.  
What year is this again?"

It's 2009 and the line comes from a promotional video created by  
Penguin Books to stir up excitement for Thomas Pynchon's latest novel,  
"Inherent Vice," set in 1960s L.A and available to purchase for, yes,  
$27.95.

Not that anticipation needed to be aroused. A new Pynchon work renews  
hopes of a sighting. Pynchon has done about all he could to nudge J.D.  
Salinger aside as the world's most reclusive author. For decades fans  
have been given little beyond rumors and wild speculation as to his  
whereabouts and personal life.

But that voice on trailer -- could it have been...?

The author's has been heard before. He voiced a cartoon version of  
himself (with a paper bag over his head) in a 2004 episode of The  
Simpsons.

Internet sleuths dug up the old episode and compared the voice to the  
one in the book trailer. Voilà!

After an initial "no comment," Penguin has confirmed that the voice  
narrating the trailer in stoner drawl is indeed the publicity-shy  
author himself.

So could a dust-jacket photo of Pynchon be in the offing for his next  
release? Don't hold your breath, man.

By Steven E. Levingston |  August 25, 2009; 5:30 AM ET