The Unified Field Theory of Late Pynchon, first draft

[Mark Kohut]

Pynchon received a lot of money---rumors abide--- for Against the Day, which did not earn out, as they say in publishing. 

His publisher wanted AtD-- remember "most accessible"--to sell and sell, maybe even bestsell. (I saw copies at a NEWSTAND at the Port Authority of NYC. They are not sold to such outlets unless there is a belief in a wide audience beyond bookstores). Remember when Amazon had reduced the price of the HC to $7 to try to sell off their overbuy?

Both major American wholesalers returned LOTS of copies of AtD.

I cringe at the word "greed" because I so respect the man's integrity, but I'm sure lots cringe at my words.  







--- On Wed, 7/22/09, Carvill, John <john.carvill at sap.com> wrote:

> From: Carvill, John <john.carvill at sap.com>
> Subject: RE: The Unified Field Theory of Late Pynchon, first draft
> To: "David Kipen" <kipend at arts.gov>, pynchon-l at waste.org
> Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2009, 10:41 AM
> Heh. What I think, or rather, what is
> hope is: this can't be Pynchon's
> last book. Now, that ATD, it did feel like it could be his
> last book,
> and it even felt like Pynchon felt like it was his last
> book, 'specially
> at the end, with all that 'full fuckin circle' stuff [props
> to Tore Rye
> Andersen for first pointing out the appropriateness of that
> phrase]. So
> although we'd have been sad if we got no more Pynchon
> novels, it
> wouldn't've been any big surprise if ATD was his last
> triumphant trumpet
> blast. But IV, well, I love it, but it feels as David says,
> like a
> palate cleanser. So here's to greed, greed is good.
> Ruggles! Bring on
> the main course, we're ready for the surprise roast....
> 
> 
> 
> 
>