The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon (1966). Another reread, this is the story of one Mrs. Oedipa Maas, who when appointed executor of a deceased former lover, stumbles into the middle of a seemingly omnipresent secret conspiracy involving an underground alternative postal system. Usually recommended as the first book for Pynchon beginners (never mind that, I dove right in with Gravity's Rainbow), Lot 49 is a slim and entertaining read, but also satisfyingly dense. In usual Pynchon form, there are plenty of silly character names and real or imaginary historical references reaching through the centuries. This has certainly been an influential (and not necessarily in literature) novel, from the screenwriters of Buckaroo Banzai to the creators of an encrypted computer messaging system. Good fun, without the commitment that his heavier tomes require. Don't ever antagonize the horn.
Posted by M.Ace at 04:46 PM, June 07, 2005.This has so-far been the only Pynchon I've read. I remember enjoying it and then trying Gravitiy's Rainbow...I didn't make it too far.
Posted by Dean at 08:59 AM, June 11, 2005.Sissy.
GR is not an easy read, but it's not THAT difficult. Perhaps make another attempt someday, with a bit of advance preparation:
http://www.themodernword.com/pynchon/pynchon_grintro.html
http://www.themodernword.com/pynchon/pynchon_grsumm.html