I agree- Pynchon is one of this countries greatest literary minds, living or dead, seen or unseen.

There are similarities between these two authors and their style. Especially aspects of their prose. While they may be on the same plane, Pynchon rises much further above it. Towers above. Kind of like comparing a sapling and a giant oak. And I believe Neal would agree. I should have said Neal was flattered by the comparison in response to my question. Neal's rather intense. Apparently, he has abandoned (to a large extent) rewriting his novels, he's doing it on one pass. Amazing, really.

I did have some opinions about the geologic aspects of the end of "Cryptonomicon", but I'll not ruin it for you.

Thomas Pynchon is reported to have written "Gravities Rainbow" in long-hand on graph paper in a sparsely furnished studio apartment. I read "Gravities Rainbow" in college. Blew my mind. I've re-read parts of it, especially Rocket Limericks and the Story of Byron the Bulb (a classic!) The most brilliant aspect of "Gravities Rainbow" is the way the structure of the book itself reflects the entropy of systems.

"Vineland" is one of my favorites: I've enjoyed it several times times. Ole DL, Vato & Blood, Zoyd going through the window, 24fps, Thanatoids...so very good! It's a tie with "Mason & Dixon", which has a similar list of amazing characters and situations. But here they are many times the founding fathers! Some of the scenes with B. Franklin had me on the floor laughing. "V" didn't grab me much, except for that famous page and a half sentence. "Crying of Lot 49" is good, but not great. I like his early short stories, too.

jms (biblioholic)