114 episodes

Thomas Pynchon's novels are as wonderful as they are difficult. Our show, done in seasons, addresses one book at a time in a panel-discussion format. While we aren't experts, we do try very hard to understand and analyze as much as we can. We also occasionally have guests, songs, and you never know...perhaps Mr. Pynchon himself.

Pynchon in Public Podcast Bo Butler

    • Arts
    • 4.6 • 89 Ratings

Thomas Pynchon's novels are as wonderful as they are difficult. Our show, done in seasons, addresses one book at a time in a panel-discussion format. While we aren't experts, we do try very hard to understand and analyze as much as we can. We also occasionally have guests, songs, and you never know...perhaps Mr. Pynchon himself.

    113: These Things Do Not Happen Overnight

    113: These Things Do Not Happen Overnight

    After a daringly audacious and narrow escape from the Land Down Under (see PIPCast and the Dastardly Didgeridoo), the team heads back to the relative safety of northern latitudes to finish our discussion of chapter 9 of Thomas Pynchon’s first novel, V.

    • 1 hr 23 min
    112: Sometimes You Hate Your Brother

    112: Sometimes You Hate Your Brother

    Recently returned from a far-off cultural expedition (see PIPCast and The Tasty Treats of Timbuktu), we settle in to finish our discussion of part 2 of chapter 9 of Thomas Pynchon’s first novel, V. We continue into part 3 just a bit as well.

    Shownotes below:

    Regarding Germany’s apology to the nation of Namibia for the genocide of hundreds of thousands of native peoples in the early 20th century: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-57279008.

    NPR’s story of the Phoebus Cartel, which we scooped them on years ago: https://www.npr.org/2019/03/27/707188193/the-phoebus-cartel.

     

     

    • 1 hr 20 min
    111: Quite Possibly, at Worst, Profoundly Evil

    111: Quite Possibly, at Worst, Profoundly Evil

    Returning from a summons into other-dimensional realms (see PIPcast and the Lugubrious Lawsuit), we begin a look at part 2 of chapter 9 in Thomas Pynchon’s first novel, V.



    Check out this site for a decent write-up of the D’Annunzio/Fiume story: https://www.historytoday.com/miscellanies/fiume-escapade

    • 2 hr 5 min
    110: This Apex that Doesn't Exist

    110: This Apex that Doesn't Exist

    Back from a recent brouhaha at Brew-Ha-Ha Brewreies out in Boise (see PIPCast and the Hoppy Hilarity), our hopped-up crew talks though the first section of chapter 9 in Thomas Pynchon’s first novel, V. Shownotes with links below.



    This is a map of Africa after it was divided up in the 1884 Conference of Berlin. 

    If you’re interesting in hearing one of the so-called “click languages” found in Namibia, check out this video.

    Aug mentions an article called “Smoking Dope with Thomas Pynchon.” As of this posting, it’s available at the Pynchon Wiki.

    • 1 hr 7 min
    109: And Then You Hear a Twig Snap...

    109: And Then You Hear a Twig Snap...

    Back from their fantastic adventures abroad (as told in The Pynchon In Public Podcast Meet the Huldufòlk), our intrepid team covers the chapter 8 of Thomas Pynchon’s first novel, V. Follow the links below for more information, reading, and/or rabbit holes.

    Before you do that though, Aug has recently published an amazingly good book about his misadventure in search for a mythological bar in Berlin. You can find it here on Amazon. He’s also written an excellent article about the music scene in 1980s Berlin over at The Quietus.



    Alan mentions that the Rusty Spoon, Profane and the Crew’s hangout, is based on the White Horse Tavern in Manhattan.

    You can read the article “Paranoid Style in American Politics,” by Richard Hofstadter here at Harpers.

    Aug mentions the article “Smoking Dope with Thomas Pynchon.” The folks at the Pynchon wiki have it available.

    • 1 hr 38 min
    108: Maybe the Kazoos Will Save Us

    108: Maybe the Kazoos Will Save Us

    In which we look at the final three sections of chapter seven in Thomas Pynchon’s first novel, V.



    Bo begins with a New York Times article by Ruth Bader Ginsburg. You can read it here.

    Aug mentions an interest piece on Pynchon in the Boston Review.

    Bo mentions another piece about Pynchon.

    Lastly, Aug mentions the book Stranger Than We Can Imagine, by John Higgs.

    • 1 hr 42 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
89 Ratings

89 Ratings

junt ,

A Podcast of Characters

In a world of constant vanishing points into the endless new newness what was that I lost my train of thought and bought a new holy electric need machine, PIP cast is...sac-religious. Bring on Mason and Dixon.

pillowbookgirl ,

What happened … ?

This show disappeared after the June 2021 pod episode. Just blinked out. No coda, no nothing. Someone tell me what the heck happened to these guys?

fartdogg ,

Essential companion to Pynchon

My only complaint is sometimes I wish it were longer! Either that or it covered an even smaller selection of chapters. Pynchon is so dense it can feel like window shopping the highlights, but I think it’s a massive undertaking providing summaries as they do especially while keeping spoilers low. Maybe a good idea would be doing a “second read” series where you can look at each section in the context if the larger work, and even Pynchon’s larger oeuvre as he often revisits characters, themes, etc.

Top Podcasts In Arts

Add to Cart with Kulap Vilaysack & SuChin Pak
Lemonada Media
Fresh Air
NPR
The Moth
The Moth
99% Invisible
Roman Mars
Minnie Questions with Minnie Driver
iHeartPodcasts
Fashion People
Audacy | Puck