Pynchon Pals

The devil is in the details in this episode—or should we say, the demon? We follow Oedipa up north and into the entropic underground. Groovy… Next time, The Crying of Lot 49 Ch. 6. Support the show and get access to monthly bonus episodes at patreon.com/pynchonpals and follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social. Show Notes:Spoilers for Twin Peaks Season 2 around 2:31:50 to 2:32:05!Thomas Pynchon, in correspondence, on The Crying of Lot 49 as a “potboiler,” via Mel Gussow in the New York Times archive“The Crisis of the University Started Long Before Trump,” by Clifford Ando via Compact, on the Bayh–Dole Act and its implications for patents on government funded research“Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius,” by Jorge Luis Borges, .pdf via University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign“Encuentro,” by Remedios Varo (1959) via the National Galleries of Scotland The “Batusi” in Batman (1966) via YouTubeProject OXYGAS (Dolphin Training) via the CIA online reading room“The dolphin who loved me: the Nasa-funded project that went wrong,” by Christopher Riley via The Guardian (or, the one about LSD trials on dolphins)Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, misogyny, racism, suicide, genocide, antisemitism---Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland. 

Move over Benny, Rachel, Stencil, and Paola, it’s time for a new book! Journeying into the swingin’ 60s, we talk on the phone, watch television, and even go to the theatre. Hey, wait a second, I know that kazoo tune…Next time, The Crying of Lot 49 Chs. 4-5. Support the show and get access to monthly bonus episodes at patreon.com/pynchonpals and follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social. Show Notes:“Embroidering the Earth's Mantle,” by Remedios Varo (1961) via ObeliskCovers for The Crying of Lot 49 via thomaspynchon.com The Carlton from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air via YouTubeDroodles by Roger Price (1953) via WikipediaContent warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, misogyny, racism.---Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland.

We hope you enjoy listening to this Q+A episode as much as we enjoyed making it! If so, you can now sign up to support the show via the brand new patreon.com/pynchonpals to get access to future Patreon-exclusive bonus episodes featuring Q+A’s, movie discussion, and more.   Next time, The Crying of Lot 49 Chs. 1-3. (Wow, a whole new book!)Show Notes:Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, misogyny, racism.---Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland. Follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social. 

Sydney Stencil’s in Valletta for one last job, and so are we. Sail on, sailor!Next time, V. Q+A. Last chance to send in questions on Bluesky or by email: if you’ve got one, we want to read it!Show Notes:St. Agatha’s Crypt, Catacombs & Museum, website“V.: Analysis of Major Characters,” by Victoria Price via EBSCO “The Mysterious Manicule,” by Keith Houston via Slate Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, misogyny, racism, body dysmorphia, suicide---Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland. Follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social. 

Things lurk Behind the Curtain as we bid farewell to Benny and the gang. And time is running out to send in questions for our V. Q+A in the episode after next!Next time, V. Epilogue.Show Notes:Frank C. Stanley performs “Auld Lang Syne,” recorded 1910 on (now public domain) wax cylinder, released by the Indestructible Record Company, UC Santa Barbara Cylinder Audio ArchiveFamily Relationship of Taylor Swift, Singer and Songwriter, 9th cousin 2 times removed to Thomas Pynchon, American Novelist, FamousKin.com “The Feather Heist,” This American Life, WBEZ ChicagoContent warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, incest, misogyny, racism, antisemitism, xenophobia, suicide.---Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland. Follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social.

Happy Holidays from Pynchon Pals! In this episode, we stick with the Whole Sick Crew through their ups, their downs, their subsequent downs, their—wow, more downs, huh? Next time, V. Chs. 14-16.Show Notes:Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, misogyny, racism, suicide, abortion.---Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland. Follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social. 

In this episode, we flop around with the Whole Sick Crew, then flip over to the metaphysical hellscape of besieged Malta, before finally deconstructing this whole “V” situation, literally. Next time, V. Chs. 12-13.Show Notes:A collection of V. book covers via ThomasPynchon.com"Mystery and Melancholy of a Street," by Giorgio de Chirico   "The Philosopher’s Conquest," by Giorgio de Chirico Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, misogyny, racism, xenophobia.---Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland. Follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social.

In this episode, we yo-yo from bohemian banality to colonialist atrocity. Awful house parties occur amidst both. Next time, V. Chs. 10-11.Show Notes:Archive.org “Report on the natives of South-west Africa and their treatment by Germany,”via the South-West Africa. Administrator’s OfficeAl Jazeera “How to pay for genocide: Namibian victims of German colonialism want a say,” by Shola LawalContent warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, misogyny, racism, xenophobia, genocide.---Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland. Follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social.

In this episode, we get our teeth checked for ego, encounter the Situation, and finally chat for a bit about Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another (spoilers for the film after 2:24:00). Next time, V. Chs. 8-9Show Notes:“Gaucho,” by Steely DanMother Country Radicals: A Family History of the Weather UndergroundContent warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, misogyny, racism, xenophobia, fatphobia.---Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland. Follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social. 

In this episode, we head underground and somehow spend a long time talking about Dr. Seuss books, the musical Grease, and the modern classic (?) John Cena movie Ricky Stanicky.Next time: V. Ch. 7Show Notes:Reddit: The Zug Under The Rug From There's A Wocket In My Pocket is now The Vug Under The Rug.The New York Times: 5 IN QUEENS GUILTY IN SEWER SCANDAL; CASE RAN 202 DAYS; 5 Guilty in Queens Sewer Case; 202-Day Trial Believed Record Clemente and Son Convicted With 3 Borough Employes on Laurelton Project ONE ENGINEER CLEARED 3 Could Be Fined $800,000 Each--Two-Mile Sewer Had to Be ReplacedBrooklyn Public Library: POTW: Steve Brodie Jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge and Lived (Maybe?)Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, animal abuse, pedophilia, misogyny, racism, xenophobia, eugenics, suicide.---Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland. Follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social. 

In this second ever episode, we learn about imperialist territorial disputes, nineteenth century travel guides, and layered Biblical allusions, while making intertextual comparisons to children’s cartoons and reality television. Next time: V. Chs. 5-6Show Notes:Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland. Follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social. Egypt and the Sûdân: Handbook for Travellers by Karl Baedeker (1914) - Scanned and available at Archive.orgContent warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, firearms, facial disfigurement, surgery, pedophilia, misogyny, racism, xenophobia, antisemitism, Islamophobia.

In this inaugural episode, we meet the Whole Sick Crew, who would have a podcast in 2025.Next time: V. Chs. 3-4Show Notes: Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland. Vulture: "On the Thomas Pynchon Trail: From the Long Island of His Boyhood to the ‘Yupper West Side’ of His New Novel" by Boris KachkaContent warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, firearms, misogyny, antisemitism, Islamophobia