Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast

Thomas Pynchon books discussed here!
  • 4.7 (58)
  • Books

Each episode, we take a deep-dive into the book we are focusing on—we explore the references, characters, plot, and everything in between from a non-scholarly point of view. We are just four fans who love these books and can talk about them endlessly.

  1. 4d ago

    Infinite Jest: "I always end up finding more than I thought I would"

    Another month means another 100ish page section of Infinite Jest! This month features uncomfortable hugs, uncomfortable drugs, Randy Lenz being the absolute worst, Michael Pemulis being close to the absolute worst, and more backstory than you can shake a large wooden spoon ideal for eating granola with at. Next episode: Pages 601 - 698 (ending at “She could barely stand to think about them, even at the best of times, which the present was not.”) If you like what we're doing and want to support the show, please consider making a donation on Ko-Fi. Funds we receive will be used to upgrade equipment, pay hosting fees, and help make the show better. https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezone If you enjoyed our discussion, please check out the following media that relates to these chapters: Books: The Chaos Machine by Max Fisher Film/TV: The Wire (HBO) As always, thanks so much for listening! Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mappingthezone.bsky.social Twitter: https://twitter.com/pynchonpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mappingthezonepodcast/ Merch: mapping-the-zone.myspreadshop.com Show art by Brad Wetzel: @bradspersecond (on IG and Reddit) bradspersecond.com

    Infinite Jest: "I always end up finding more than I thought I would"

  2. 5d ago

    Against the Day: Ch. 36-37

    For the first time, listen to the crew of your fair show abdicate their preferred fine-toothed approach! Is it fair? You be the judge! Are you offended? Tell us! Engage! Engage like your lives depend on it! But worry not, kind audience, for the "Stupendica" and its ports of call are so historically salient to satisfy any apparently-endless craving for contextualization and discussion. Bon appetit! Next episode: Ch. 38-39 (p. 525-557) If you like what we're doing and want to support the show, please consider making a donation on Ko-Fi. Funds we receive will be used to upgrade equipment, pay hosting fees, and help make the show better. https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezone If you enjoyed our discussion, please check out the following media that relates to these chapters: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/salmons-run/id6789264747 As always, thanks so much for listening! Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mappingthezone.bsky.social Twitter: https://twitter.com/pynchonpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mappingthezonepodcast/ Editing/production by Max Show art by Brad Wetzel: @bradspersecond (on IG and Reddit) bradspersecond.com

    Against the Day: Ch. 36-37

  3. Jul 17

    Against the Day: Ch. 34-35

    If you like what we're doing and want to support the show, please consider making a donation on Ko-Fi. Funds we receive will be used to upgrade equipment, pay hosting fees, and help make the show better. https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezone If you enjoyed our discussion, please check out the following media that relates to these chapters: Films/TV: Burn These Books (https://www.youtube.com/@BurnTheseBooks) Music: Brazil (dir. Terry Gilliam, 1985); Dark City (dir. Alex Proyas, 1998) As always, thanks so much for listening! Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mappingthezone.bsky.social Twitter: https://twitter.com/pynchonpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mappingthezonepodcast/ Editing and production by Max (Thanks Max!) Show art by Brad Wetzel: @bradspersecond (on IG and Reddit) bradspersecond.com

    Against the Day: Ch. 34-35

  4. Jul 3

    Against the Day: Ch. 32-33

    After some much-needed psychic rehabilitation, the whole crew is back together, and like Lindsay and the other Chums reuniting, we're diving in deep straight off the bat. Things do get twisted, perhaps even time itself, with a tinker like Merle at Candlebrow up to his elbows in the stuff. Please have your textbooks with you. Next episode: Ch. 34-35 (p. 460-488) If you like what we're doing and want to support the show, please consider making a donation on Ko-Fi. Funds we receive will be used to upgrade equipment, pay hosting fees, and help make the show better. https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezone If you enjoyed our discussion, please check out the following media that relates to these chapters: Films/TV: Burn These Books (https://www.youtube.com/@BurnTheseBooks) Music: Brazil (dir. Terry Gilliam, 1985); Dark City (dir. Alex Proyas, 1998) As always, thanks so much for listening! Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mappingthezone.bsky.social Twitter: https://twitter.com/pynchonpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mappingthezonepodcast/ Edited by: Max (thanks Max!) Show art by Brad Wetzel: @bradspersecond (on IG and Reddit) bradspersecond.com

    Against the Day: Ch. 32-33

  5. Jul 1

    Infinite Jest: Il ne faut plus qu'on pursuive le bonheur

    How is a book this long, still this good, this far in? Gately gets a job, Marathe and Steeply converse and wax philosophical, and a young JOI helps his dad move a mattress. Put your empty glass of peppered tomato juice down somewhere and join us in this latest episode. Next episode: Pages 503-601 (ending at “Orin’s smile wasn’t as cool as he though as he told the seated figure that that was a matter of opinion.”) If you like what we're doing and want to support the show, please consider making a donation on Ko-Fi. Funds we receive will be used to upgrade equipment, pay hosting fees, and help make the show better. https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezone If you enjoyed our discussion, please check out the following media that relates to these chapters: Books: Forget the Alamo, by Bryan Burrough, Chris Tomlinson, and Jason Stanford; David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest: A Reader's Guide, by Stephen J. Burn; A Reader's Companion to Infinite Jest, by Robert Bell and William Dowling; Elegant Complexity: A Study of David Foster Wallce's Infinite Jest, by Greg Carlise Film/TV: Short Cuts (dir. Robert Altman, 1993) As always, thanks so much for listening! Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mappingthezone.bsky.social Twitter: https://twitter.com/pynchonpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mappingthezonepodcast/ Merch: mapping-the-zone.myspreadshop.com Show art by Brad Wetzel: @bradspersecond (on IG and Reddit) bradspersecond.com

    Infinite Jest: Il ne faut plus qu'on pursuive le bonheur

  6. Jun 1

    Infinite Jest: "Like Last Time, Only Moreso"

    Next episode: Pages 410 - 503 (ending at “This was how I first became interested in the possibilities of annulation.”) If you like what we're doing and want to support the show, please consider making a donation on Ko-Fi. Funds we receive will be used to upgrade equipment, pay hosting fees, and help make the show better. https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezone If you enjoyed our discussion, please check out the following media that relates to these chapters: Film/TV: Twin Peaks: The Return (2017; dir. David Lynch) As always, thanks so much for listening! Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mappingthezone.bsky.social Twitter: https://twitter.com/pynchonpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mappingthezonepodcast/ Merch: mapping-the-zone.myspreadshop.com Show art by Brad Wetzel: @bradspersecond (on IG and Reddit)bradspersecond.com

    Infinite Jest: "Like Last Time, Only Moreso"

  7. May 29

    Bonus Episode - Billy Woods "Hiding Places"

    Finally wrapping up our hiatus episodes, Will is back, and he's stirring the pot again. Inside, listeners will find a lyrical brief on billy woods & Kenny Segal's Hiding Places, making this a meaningful step in the evolution of our show, as it lasts longer than the subject matter. The better thing to do may be to just listen to the album. You know you want to.​ If you like what we're doing and want to support the show, please consider making a donation on Ko-Fi. Funds we receive will be used to upgrade equipment, pay hosting fees, and help make the show better. https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezone As always, thanks so much for listening! Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mappingthezone.bsky.social Twitter: https://twitter.com/pynchonpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mappingthezonepodcast/ Merch: mapping-the-zone.myspreadshop.com Show art by Brad Wetzel: @bradspersecond (on IG and Reddit)bradspersecond.com

    Bonus Episode - Billy Woods "Hiding Places"

  8. May 22

    Bonus Episode - The Franchiser by Stanley Elkin

    If you like what we're doing and want to support the show, please consider making a donation on Ko-Fi. Funds we receive will be used to upgrade equipment, pay hosting fees, and help make the show better. https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezone As always, thanks so much for listening! Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mappingthezone.bsky.social Twitter: https://twitter.com/pynchonpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mappingthezonepodcast/ Merch: mapping-the-zone.myspreadshop.com Show art by Brad Wetzel: @bradspersecond (on IG and Reddit) bradspersecond.com

    Bonus Episode - The Franchiser by Stanley Elkin
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Each episode, we take a deep-dive into the book we are focusing on—we explore the references, characters, plot, and everything in between from a non-scholarly point of view. We are just four fans who love these books and can talk about them endlessly.

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