Characterization: Zoid and Prairie

We’re back and crashing into Vineland like it was a plate-glass (or maybe safety glass) window! In this episode, we spend some time talking about the work as a whole and its place in Pynchon’s oeuvre—often maligned as “weak” (false) or “Pynchon-lite” (gross), the book has garnered something of a reputation among fans. Coming along almost two decades after Gravity’s Rainbow, Vineland certainly—albeit unfairly—had quite high expectations placed upon it. So, how do we feel about it? Why would I tell you that in the show notes? Listen and find out!

This episode opens with a general discussion on the book in general and our history with it. Our discussion of Chapters 1-2 begins at 45:38.

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Articles mentioned in this episode:

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00111619.1990.9933800

https://newramblerreview.com/book-reviews/fiction-literature/pynchon-s-pop-fiction

As always, thanks so much for listening!

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Show art by Brad Wetzel: @bradspersecond (on IG and Reddit) bradspersecond.com