Comments on: Untitled Thomas Pynchon http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/07/20/untitled-thomas-pynchon/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:04:16 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Thomas Pynchon: Internet Marketer? | Bookish Us http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/07/20/untitled-thomas-pynchon/comment-page-1/#comment-92158 Thomas Pynchon: Internet Marketer? | Bookish Us Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:19:48 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/07/20/untitled-thomas-pynchon/#comment-92158 [...] this whole thing strikes you as slightly familiar—you’re right.  Back in 2006, a detailed summary of Pynchon’s previous novel, Against the Day, was posted on [...] [...] this whole thing strikes you as slightly familiar—you’re right.  Back in 2006, a detailed summary of Pynchon’s previous novel, Against the Day, was posted on [...]

]]> By: Inherent Vice | Cosmic Variance | Discover Magazine http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/07/20/untitled-thomas-pynchon/comment-page-1/#comment-90426 Inherent Vice | Cosmic Variance | Discover Magazine Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:52:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/07/20/untitled-thomas-pynchon/#comment-90426 [...] with the book — it sounds great, and I’m looking forward to reading it. Only because we previously enthused back on this very blog when Pynchon’s last book, Against the Day, came out — and I [...] [...] with the book — it sounds great, and I’m looking forward to reading it. Only because we previously enthused back on this very blog when Pynchon’s last book, Against the Day, came out — and I [...]

]]> By: Not Even Wrong » Blog Archive » Media and Other News http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/07/20/untitled-thomas-pynchon/comment-page-1/#comment-18919 Not Even Wrong » Blog Archive » Media and Other News Sat, 25 Nov 2006 21:17:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/07/20/untitled-thomas-pynchon/#comment-18919 [...] On the way in here I stopped at a bookstore and took a look at the new Thomas Pynchon novel Against the Day. Over at Cosmic Variance, Mark Trodden and Sean Carroll are Pynchon fans and have postings about this. I was quite fond of Vineland and enjoyed some of Pynchon’s earlier books, but he lost me with Mason and Dixon, and this new one doesn’t look promising. From flipping through it, one important topic seems to be quaternions and their relation to 4d space-time geometry, and a group of characters are called the Quaternioneers. I almost bought the book, thinking that it was my duty as a chronicler of the nexus of math, physics and popular culture to read the thing. But when I picked it up, its sheer heft caused an immediate feeling of discouragement, so I put it back down and will wait for reports from others. [...] [...] On the way in here I stopped at a bookstore and took a look at the new Thomas Pynchon novel Against the Day. Over at Cosmic Variance, Mark Trodden and Sean Carroll are Pynchon fans and have postings about this. I was quite fond of Vineland and enjoyed some of Pynchon’s earlier books, but he lost me with Mason and Dixon, and this new one doesn’t look promising. From flipping through it, one important topic seems to be quaternions and their relation to 4d space-time geometry, and a group of characters are called the Quaternioneers. I almost bought the book, thinking that it was my duty as a chronicler of the nexus of math, physics and popular culture to read the thing. But when I picked it up, its sheer heft caused an immediate feeling of discouragement, so I put it back down and will wait for reports from others. [...]

]]> By: Cosmic Variance http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/07/20/untitled-thomas-pynchon/comment-page-1/#comment-18921 Cosmic Variance Tue, 21 Nov 2006 04:20:40 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/07/20/untitled-thomas-pynchon/#comment-18921 <strong>The Perfect Literary Storm</strong> Broadly speaking I have two great literary loves. Sure I enjoy plenty of grand historical fiction, and certainly I won’t argue the objective worth of any literary giant with you. But when I’m browsing in a bookstore, or sitting at home in ... The Perfect Literary Storm

Broadly speaking I have two great literary loves. Sure I enjoy plenty of grand historical fiction, and certainly I won’t argue the objective worth of any literary giant with you. But when I’m browsing in a bookstore, or sitting at home in …

]]> By: James Duckworth http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/07/20/untitled-thomas-pynchon/comment-page-1/#comment-18920 James Duckworth Fri, 04 Aug 2006 09:43:21 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/07/20/untitled-thomas-pynchon/#comment-18920 I'm just glad he is back with a formidable sounding posthorn of a book! December should be fun reading time! Roll on Pynchonalia, I say! James I’m just glad he is back with a formidable sounding posthorn of a book! December should be fun reading time! Roll on Pynchonalia, I say! James

]]> By: Matt Austern http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/07/20/untitled-thomas-pynchon/comment-page-1/#comment-18918 Matt Austern Mon, 24 Jul 2006 04:04:03 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/07/20/untitled-thomas-pynchon/#comment-18918 Dear me, a mention of <em>Mason and Dixon</em> on a physics blog that doesn't mention the name of the boatswain? It's a vile pun, but I'm fond of it anyway. Dear me, a mention of Mason and Dixon on a physics blog that doesn’t mention the name of the boatswain? It’s a vile pun, but I’m fond of it anyway.

]]> By: seebee http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/07/20/untitled-thomas-pynchon/comment-page-1/#comment-18912 seebee Sun, 23 Jul 2006 06:06:18 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/07/20/untitled-thomas-pynchon/#comment-18912 According to the wikipedia article on Pynchon, the new books is entitled <em>Against the Day</em>. The source is of course questionable, but better than nothing, no? According to the wikipedia article on Pynchon, the new books is entitled Against the Day. The source is of course questionable, but better than nothing, no?

]]> By: enthusiasm » Blog Archive » The New Thomas Pynchon (further) http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/07/20/untitled-thomas-pynchon/comment-page-1/#comment-18922 enthusiasm » Blog Archive » The New Thomas Pynchon (further) Sat, 22 Jul 2006 15:46:54 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/07/20/untitled-thomas-pynchon/#comment-18922 [...] Also via Kottke, I checked out a post called The String Theory Backlash on a blog called Cosmic Variance. I like to keep an eye on debates about string theory because I have a homegrown cosmological hypothesis (with which I will not detain you here) which borrows a concept or two from string theory, and I’m waiting for someone to come along and shoot a hole in it. Anyway, I had this page sitting in a browser tab for several hours before I noticed that the previous post title was Untitled Thomas Pynchon, which speculates along much the same lines I did a few posts back, and points to a Slate article which does more or less likewise. Also, the CV post boasts a handful of comments, which of course is a handful more than mine has so far attracted. There’s more discussion in the Amazon Customer Discussion page for the book-to-be - nine hundred and ninety two pages! Wheee!) and of course there’s much threadage on pynchon-l, which I must admit I haven’t yet waded through. Pynchon-l has been all over the story since the 10th. Looks like they had a round of “get over the book blurb already” about a week ago… [...] [...] Also via Kottke, I checked out a post called The String Theory Backlash on a blog called Cosmic Variance. I like to keep an eye on debates about string theory because I have a homegrown cosmological hypothesis (with which I will not detain you here) which borrows a concept or two from string theory, and I’m waiting for someone to come along and shoot a hole in it. Anyway, I had this page sitting in a browser tab for several hours before I noticed that the previous post title was Untitled Thomas Pynchon, which speculates along much the same lines I did a few posts back, and points to a Slate article which does more or less likewise. Also, the CV post boasts a handful of comments, which of course is a handful more than mine has so far attracted. There’s more discussion in the Amazon Customer Discussion page for the book-to-be – nine hundred and ninety two pages! Wheee!) and of course there’s much threadage on pynchon-l, which I must admit I haven’t yet waded through. Pynchon-l has been all over the story since the 10th. Looks like they had a round of “get over the book blurb already” about a week ago… [...]

]]> By: NoJoy http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/07/20/untitled-thomas-pynchon/comment-page-1/#comment-18913 NoJoy Fri, 21 Jul 2006 14:39:22 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/07/20/untitled-thomas-pynchon/#comment-18913 I've only made it a quarter of the way through GR, with a concordance. When I started reading Pynchon, someone recommended the following order: The Crying of Lot 49, V, then Gravity's Rainbow (this recommendation was before Vineland and M&D). I haven't read Vineland yet, but I would insert M&D after V, with the caveat that if you don't like V, you should read M&D anyway, as it's completely amazing. While I'm giving out unsolicited literary advice... If you like M&D, I also recommend Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle and The Illuminatus! Trilogy, by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson. I’ve only made it a quarter of the way through GR, with a concordance. When I started reading Pynchon, someone recommended the following order: The Crying of Lot 49, V, then Gravity’s Rainbow (this recommendation was before Vineland and M&D). I haven’t read Vineland yet, but I would insert M&D after V, with the caveat that if you don’t like V, you should read M&D anyway, as it’s completely amazing.

While I’m giving out unsolicited literary advice… If you like M&D, I also recommend Neal Stephenson’s Baroque Cycle and The Illuminatus! Trilogy, by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson.

]]> By: Allyson http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/07/20/untitled-thomas-pynchon/comment-page-1/#comment-18915 Allyson Fri, 21 Jul 2006 02:21:40 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/07/20/untitled-thomas-pynchon/#comment-18915 Did you forget the part about Ayn Rand's Fountainhead changing people's lives? Or was that just in my college's pretentious crap pile? Did you forget the part about Ayn Rand’s Fountainhead changing people’s lives? Or was that just in my college’s pretentious crap pile?

]]>