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{{trope}}
{{creator}}
[[File:Thomas Pynchon, Navy Sailor.jpg|thumb|300px|A 1955 photo of Thomas Pynchon, from when he was in the US Navy]]
{{quote|Here's your quote: "Thomas Pynchon loved this book, almost as much as he loves cameras!" Hey, over here! Have your picture taken with a reclusive author! Today only, we'll throw in a free autograph! But wait, there's more!|'''Thomas Pynchon''' on [[The Simpsons]]}}
{{quote|Here's your quote: "Thomas Pynchon loved this book, almost as much as he loves cameras!" Hey, over here! Have your picture taken with a reclusive author! Today only, we'll throw in a free autograph! But wait, there's more!
|'''Thomas Pynchon''' on ''[[The Simpsons (animation)|The Simpsons]]''}}


American author and famously [[Reclusive Artist]], probably most well known for his novel ''[[Gravitys Rainbow|Gravity's Rainbow]]''. Pynchon has written the following books:
'''Thomas Ruggles Pynchon, Jr.''' (1937 - ) is an American author and famously [[Reclusive Artist]], probably best known for his novel ''[[Gravity's Rainbow]]''.


⚫
An almost mythic figure. Only three known photographs of Thomas Pynchon exist, dating from the 1950s. He has given no interviews, no signings. His voice has been recorded only for the guest appearance mentioned above and a promotional video for his book ''Inherent Vice''. Speculation about him has been fueled, including suggestions that Pynchon is a pseudonym for [[J. D. Salinger]], as claimed by William Poundstone. It was even suggested at the time that he may have been the Unabomber. Fan folklore is rich and complicated, fed by the tiny bits of information about Pynchon that have come out, through the man himself or otherwise.

⚫
His works are often [[Doorstopper|long]], [[Viewers Are Geniuses|exceedingly complex]] and completely hilarious. Despite constant and often in-depth discussions on imperialism, industrial society, religion, science, mathematics, technology and racism, along with heavy borrowing from both world history and the history of literature, Pynchon's novels are equally interested in so-called 'low-culture,' television, comic books and rock 'n' roll (common to the [[Post Modern|post modernists]]), with the emotional centre of his books usually residing with a 'schlemiel' (leading, predictably, to the comment that most Pynchonian heroes likely couldn't read his books).

⚫
At this point we should probably say a word on the topic of [[Paranoia]]. Paranoia is the fuel Pynchon's novels run on, and is likely his most recognizable thematic obsession. Characters become convinced that their actions are being manipulated (and is usually confirmed, then denied, then confirmed again, leaving the audience in the dark about what exactly to believe), shadowy cabals are hinted at (but almost never confirmed) and the constant, sinking fatalism that our destruction is ensured, sooner or later, but only at Their convenience. Pynchon often explores [[Conspiracy Theories]] as a form of social narrative and folklore, and as a rigid interpretive framework, frequently contrasted with other frameworks (Calvinism and Marxism are common). This shows especially in ''The Crying of Lot 49'', which involves a character trying to make sense of various signs and symbols she sees around her (as well as a band called The Paranoids), and ''Gravity's Rainbow'', in which even the ''narrator himself'' seems to have the novel escape from under him as he struggles to find some way to interpret the events. [[Political Ideologies|Anarchism]] sometimes shows up as well, most notably in ''Against the Day'', although [[Your Mileage May Vary|a case could be made]] that it is present in nearly all of his works due to the strong distrust of hierarchical authority implied by their plots.

{{bibliography}}
* ''V.'' (1963)
* ''V.'' (1963)
* ''[[The Crying of Lot 49 (Literature)|The Crying of Lot 49]]'' (1966)
* ''[[The Crying of Lot 49]]'' (1966)
* ''[[Gravitys Rainbow|Gravity's Rainbow]]'' (1973)
* ''[[Gravity's Rainbow]]'' (1973)
* ''Slow Learner'' (1984), a compilation of early [[Short Story|short stories]].
* ''Slow Learner'' (1984), a compilation of early [[Short Story|short stories]].
* ''Vineland'' (1990)
* ''Vineland'' (1990)
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* ''Inherent Vice'' (2009)
* ''Inherent Vice'' (2009)


{{tropelist}}
⚫
An almost mythic figure. Only three known photographs of him exist, dating from the 1950s. He has given no interviews, no signings. His voice has been recorded only for the guest appearance mentioned above and a promotional video for his book ''Inherent Vice''. Speculation about him has been fueled, including suggestions that Pynchon is a pseudonym for [[JD Salinger|J.D. Salinger]], as claimed by William Poundstone. It was even suggested at the time that he may have been the Unabomber. Fan folklore is rich and complicated, fed by the tiny bits of information about Pynchon that have come out, through the man himself or otherwise.

⚫
His works are often [[Doorstopper|long]], [[Viewers Are Geniuses|exceedingly complex]] and completely hilarious. Despite constant and often in-depth discussions on imperialism, industrial society, religion, science, mathematics, technology and racism, along with heavy borrowing from both world history and the history of literature, Pynchon's novels are equally interested in so-called 'low-culture,' television, comic books and rock 'n' roll (common to the [[Post Modern|post modernists]]), with the emotional centre of his books usually residing with a 'schlemiel' (leading, predictably, to the comment that most Pynchonian heroes likely couldn't read his books).

⚫
At this point we should probably say a word on the topic of [[Paranoia]]. Paranoia is the fuel Pynchon's novels run on, and is likely his most recognizable thematic obsession. Characters become convinced that their actions are being manipulated (and is usually confirmed, then denied, then confirmed again, leaving the audience in the dark about what exactly to believe), shadowy cabals are hinted at (but almost never confirmed) and the constant, sinking fatalism that our destruction is ensured, sooner or later, but only at Their convenience. Pynchon often explores [[Conspiracy Theories]] as a form of social narrative and folklore, and as a rigid interpretive framework, frequently contrasted with other frameworks (Calvinism and Marxism are common). This shows especially in ''The Crying of Lot 49'', which involves a character trying to make sense of various signs and symbols she sees around her (as well as a band called The Paranoids), and ''Gravity's Rainbow'', in which even the ''narrator himself'' seems to have the novel escape from under him as he struggles to find some way to interpret the events. [[Useful Notes/Political Ideologies|Anarchism]] sometimes shows up as well, most notably in ''Against the Day'', although [[Your Mileage May Vary|a case could be made]] that it is present in nearly all of his works due to the strong distrust of hierarchical authority implied by their plots.

----
=== Tropes found in his works include: ===
* [[Author Appeal]]: Pynchon likes mathematics, jazz, drugs and the downtrodden. He dislikes exploitation, fascism, racism and Them.
* [[Author Appeal]]: Pynchon likes mathematics, jazz, drugs and the downtrodden. He dislikes exploitation, fascism, racism and Them.
* [[Awesome McCoolname]]
* [[Awesome McCoolname]]
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* [[Deconstruction]]: often to the point of calling in the [[Deconstructor Fleet]]...and occasionally shooting it out of orbit
* [[Deconstruction]]: often to the point of calling in the [[Deconstructor Fleet]]...and occasionally shooting it out of orbit
* [[Doorstopper]]: The prize going to ''Against the Day'', which runs 1085 pages.
* [[Doorstopper]]: The prize going to ''Against the Day'', which runs 1085 pages.
* [[Fun With Acronyms]]: WAMBAM is just the tip of the iceberg. '''D'''on't '''E'''ver '''A'''ntagonize '''T'''he '''H'''orn, either.
* [[Fun with Acronyms]]: WAMBAM is just the tip of the iceberg. '''D'''on't '''E'''ver '''A'''ntagonize '''T'''he '''H'''orn, either.
* [[Gambit Pileup]]
* [[Gambit Pileup]]
* [[Genre Roulette]]: His books phase in and out of various genres seemingly at random.
* [[Genre Roulette]]: His books phase in and out of various genres seemingly at random.
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* [[Loads and Loads of Characters]]: Often difficult to keep track of, especially when a character might get a low-key intro only to become important several hundred pages afterwards.
* [[Loads and Loads of Characters]]: Often difficult to keep track of, especially when a character might get a low-key intro only to become important several hundred pages afterwards.
* [[Meaningful Name]]: Or possibly not. Pynchon's bizarre names (eg. Mike Fallopian, Dr. Hilarius, Ruperta Chirpingden-Groin) have been the source of many arguments, with little agreement even among academics about what they mean, if anything at all.
* [[Meaningful Name]]: Or possibly not. Pynchon's bizarre names (eg. Mike Fallopian, Dr. Hilarius, Ruperta Chirpingden-Groin) have been the source of many arguments, with little agreement even among academics about what they mean, if anything at all.
** [[Memetic Number]]: 49 itself.
* [[Memetic Number]]: 49 itself.
* [[Mind Screw]]: Pynchon himself has even admitted to being unable to understand parts of ''Gravity's Rainbow'', much of which was written on various drugs.
* [[Mind Screw]]: Pynchon himself has even admitted to being unable to understand parts of ''Gravity's Rainbow'', much of which was written on various drugs.
* [[No Fourth Wall]]
* [[No Fourth Wall]]
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* [[Strawman Political]]
* [[Strawman Political]]
* [[What Do You Mean Its Not Symbolic]]
* [[What Do You Mean Its Not Symbolic]]
* [[What Do You Mean It Wasn't Made On Drugs?]]: Justified...it admittedly usually ''was''.
* [[What Do You Mean It Wasn't Made on Drugs?]]: Justified...it admittedly usually ''was''.


{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Thomas Pynchon]]
[[Category:Thomas Pynchon]]
[[Category:Trope]]

Latest revision as of 17:52, 15 September 2021

/wiki/Thomas Pynchoncreator
A 1955 photo of Thomas Pynchon, from when he was in the US Navy

Here's your quote: "Thomas Pynchon loved this book, almost as much as he loves cameras!" Hey, over here! Have your picture taken with a reclusive author! Today only, we'll throw in a free autograph! But wait, there's more!

—Thomas Pynchon on The Simpsons

Thomas Ruggles Pynchon, Jr. (1937 - ) is an American author and famously Reclusive Artist, probably best known for his novel Gravity's Rainbow.

An almost mythic figure. Only three known photographs of Thomas Pynchon exist, dating from the 1950s. He has given no interviews, no signings. His voice has been recorded only for the guest appearance mentioned above and a promotional video for his book Inherent Vice. Speculation about him has been fueled, including suggestions that Pynchon is a pseudonym for J. D. Salinger, as claimed by William Poundstone. It was even suggested at the time that he may have been the Unabomber. Fan folklore is rich and complicated, fed by the tiny bits of information about Pynchon that have come out, through the man himself or otherwise.

His works are often long, exceedingly complex and completely hilarious. Despite constant and often in-depth discussions on imperialism, industrial society, religion, science, mathematics, technology and racism, along with heavy borrowing from both world history and the history of literature, Pynchon's novels are equally interested in so-called 'low-culture,' television, comic books and rock 'n' roll (common to the post modernists), with the emotional centre of his books usually residing with a 'schlemiel' (leading, predictably, to the comment that most Pynchonian heroes likely couldn't read his books).

At this point we should probably say a word on the topic of Paranoia. Paranoia is the fuel Pynchon's novels run on, and is likely his most recognizable thematic obsession. Characters become convinced that their actions are being manipulated (and is usually confirmed, then denied, then confirmed again, leaving the audience in the dark about what exactly to believe), shadowy cabals are hinted at (but almost never confirmed) and the constant, sinking fatalism that our destruction is ensured, sooner or later, but only at Their convenience. Pynchon often explores Conspiracy Theories as a form of social narrative and folklore, and as a rigid interpretive framework, frequently contrasted with other frameworks (Calvinism and Marxism are common). This shows especially in The Crying of Lot 49, which involves a character trying to make sense of various signs and symbols she sees around her (as well as a band called The Paranoids), and Gravity's Rainbow, in which even the narrator himself seems to have the novel escape from under him as he struggles to find some way to interpret the events. Anarchism sometimes shows up as well, most notably in Against the Day, although a case could be made that it is present in nearly all of his works due to the strong distrust of hierarchical authority implied by their plots.

Works written by Thomas Pynchon include:
Tropes used in Thomas Pynchon include:
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