Pynchon Pals 14: In which the Pynchon Pals, in their arrogance, thought they could talk through more of the book in three hours (Gravity’s Rainbow Episodes 1.1-1.7)
Well, we’ve arrived at The Big One. Or, The First Big One, anyways. Join us -- again or for the first time -- as we puzzle out plots, diagram arcane organizational structures, and go long on bananas.
Next time, Gravity’s Rainbow Episodes 1.8-1.13, or pp. 48-94 in the U.S. Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition.
Support the show and get access to monthly bonus episodes at patreon.com/pynchonpals and follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social.
Show Notes:
“Banana Breakfast,” by Tom Pynchon’s Liquor Cabinet
“There Will Be Bananas,” by NPR’s Throughline podcast
“Vintage Original Chiquita Banana 1940's Commercial Ads Complete Series!,” via YouTube
“Bananas Don’t Taste Like They Used To. Here’s Why,” by Brandon Summers-Miller via Epicurious
The Morrison shelter and other Battle of Britain era protections via the Royal Air Force Museum
“Some Things that ‘Happen’ (More or Less) in Gravity’s Rainbow,” by Michael Davitt Bell. The simplest and most useful quick reference for the goings on in Gravity’s Rainbow we’ve found so far. Spoiler warning, obviously, for things we and maybe you haven’t read yet—and, less obviously, for references to things that will be (but aren’t yet) important.
Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, racism, misogyny.
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Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.
Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).
Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland.