IVIV (1) Intro

[Mark Kohut]

I guess a real writer writes. Pynchon is a real writer. He's writing.


--- On Thu, 8/27/09, John Carvill <johncarvill at gmail.com> wrote:

> From: John Carvill <johncarvill at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: IVIV (1) Intro
> To: "Tore Rye Andersen" <torerye at hotmail.com>
> Cc: pynchon-l at waste.org
> Date: Thursday, August 27, 2009, 3:40 AM
> > Tore
> 
> > Yeah, back when AtD was published, it certainly felt
> like his last novel,
> > like a summation of what had gone before. I even went
> out on a limb and
> > made a prophecy to that effect:
> >
> > http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l&month=0611&msg=111748&sort=date
> >
> > - and who looks stupid now? I guess I should hand in
> my prophet credentials.
> > Still, AtD does feel like a summation; like Pynchon's
> last BIG statement.
> > I was mighty surprised when IV followed so closely on
> the heels of AtD,
> > but having read the novel a couple of times, I'm damn
> glad that it did.
> > More, please.
> 
> 
> Well, who could have disagreed with you at the time? The
> sheer size of
> ATD, and how it thematically seemed to, as you pointed out,
> come 'full
> fuickin circle', singling up all lines, etc. sure seemed to
> strongly
> suggest 'The End'.
> 
> The news of IV was very surprising indeed. We can only
> speculate
> whether Pynchon had IV planned (and maybe even written) all
> along, or,
> having git ATD off his chest, he decided to try something
> lighter. Who
> knows? And who knows what other surprises he has in store
> for us?
> 
> If IV is his very last book, then I would still tend to
> think of ATD
> as his real 'last' book. Something like how 'Let it Be' is
> technically
> the Beatles' last album, since its release was delayed,
> whereas 'Abbey
> Road' is regarded as the group's real final statement.
>