The Anonymous and TP

[Kai Frederik Lorentzen]

On 08.02.2011 17:01, Matthew Cissell wrote:

>      Have you ever asked yourself what Pynchon reads or what news catches his
> eye?

No, never ...

> ... shared by Pynchon. If his avoidance of the public light and his Simpson
> appearance gag (only surpassed by having Professor Irwin Corey accept the
> National Book Award prize in TP's place) are not enough to support that, then we
> also have a quote from AD that may be read as warning on the 'Wharholization' of
> a person through the popular media.

Actually I see this "avoidance of the public light" more as a kind of 
marketing trick.
Might have been authentic in his early years when he still was shy. You 
know, the hamster teeth
and everything. But when Pynchon realized how much oh so mysterious 
reputation he was earning
with that hiding, he just stayed with it. I guess it's as simple as 
Michael Naumann once said on the radio: "If Pynchon would have done 
thousands and thousands of public readings like, say, Martin Walser, he 
would have lost too much time which he needed for research, writing and 
--- life". I mean, he gave away his voice (for the IV book trailer), 
those CNN pictures can easily be de-pixeled (plus: his way of walking is 
highly characteristic), the work-place-address of his wife and agent is 
just two mouse clicks away. All in all: You do not even have to hire a 
PI or someone. All you'd need  - in case you're
interested in meeting Thomas Pynchon as a person - is an airplane ticket 
plus some days of your time for the exact localization. He may would try 
to run away from you, though ...

KFL