Pynchon Pals

Do we dare go beyond “Beyond the Zero”? Well, first we’ve got to meet a bunch of characters who will surely—surely—be important later. Then, this book heard you liked the occult, so it put a séance in its séance so you can speak to the dead while you speak to the dead. Finally, Roger and Jessica just keep breaking our hearts. Next time, Gravity’s Rainbow Episodes 2.1 and 2.2, or pp. 181-208 in the U.S. Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition. Support the show and get access to monthly bonus episodes at patreon.com/pynchonpals and follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social. For the month of May’s bonus episode, we’ll be watching Hitler's Secret Weapon: The V-2 Rocket at Peenemunde (1977) (link via Archive.org), V2: Nazi Rocket a.k.a. Hitler's Space Rocket (2016) (there seems to be a couple cuts or versions of this one across streaming platforms and maybe international distributors—but here’s a link to one version on YouTube), and “V2 Assembling and Launching” (1947) (link via YouTube).Show Notes:“Hark the Sound,” by William Starr Myers, a.k.a. “Far Above Cayuga's Waters,” a.k.a. “Annie Lisle,” a.k.a. the Yoyodyne “Hymn” via the UNC Library Picasso’s “Las Meninas, or one of 58 anyways, via the Guggenheim Museum“Is Time Real? The Physics Behind the Illusion of Time” with Carlo Rovelli, via Quanta Magazine“Six Degrees of St. Elsewhere,” by Dwayne McDuffie, the origin of the Tommy Westphall Theory, via CBR Thomas Pynchon Name Generator (spoiler alert?)Gwenhidwy’s Drink, via Thomas Pynchon’s Liquor CabinetContent warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, racism, misogyny, xenophobia, genocide, albeism, 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. 

GR just keeps getting V.-ier and V.-ier. Luckily, there’s a funny scene about candy waiting for us on the other end. And hey, it’s our favorite couple Jessica and Roger! Oh dear, they look very sad…Next time, Gravity’s Rainbow Episodes 1.17-1.21, or pp. 139-180 in the U.S. Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition. Support the show and get access to monthly bonus episodes at patreon.com/pynchonpals and follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social. Show Notes:“Kristen Lopez on FREAKS (1932),” via Turner Classic Movies“Tulipmania: A Garden Historian's Perspective,” via University of OxfordContent warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, racism, misogyny, xenophobia, genocide, ableism. ---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. 

Discussions of Pavlov bookend interdepartmental conspiracy and pseudo-domesticity. Meanwhile Slothrop, like Benny Profane and Herbert Stencil before him, ventures into the sewer. Makes you miss the alligators!Next time—I misspoke in the episode!—Gravity’s Rainbow Episodes 1.14-1.16 (not through 1.17), or pp. 94-139 in the U.S. Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition. Support the show and get access to monthly bonus episodes at patreon.com/pynchonpals and follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social. Show Notes:“Lavarand,” the physical cryptographically secure pseudorandom number generator I couldn’t remember in the episode. It’s lavalamps! Related, “Generating Random Numbers With A Fish Tank,” by Tom Nardi via Hackaday.Scans of “The Kenosha Kid,” by Forbes Parkhill via Archive.org. Our previous episode on “Mondaugen’s Story” in V. “How to pay for genocide: Namibian victims of German colonialism want a say,” by Shola Lawal via Al Jazeera. “Namibia’s Blue Book of record: Part one,” by Catherine Sofianos via Mail & Guardian.“Little Albert study,” entry by Ronna F. Dillon, PhD and Amber D. Dillon via EbscoAriadne entry via the Encyclopedia Britannica Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, racism, misogyny, xenophobia, genocide, animal abuse, pedophilia. ---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. 

Well, we’ve arrived at The Big One. Or, The First Big One, anyways. Join us -- again or for the first time -- as we puzzle out plots, diagram arcane organizational structures, and go long on bananas. Next time, Gravity’s Rainbow Episodes 1.8-1.13, or pp. 48-94 in the U.S. Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition. Support the show and get access to monthly bonus episodes at patreon.com/pynchonpals and follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social. Show Notes:“Banana Breakfast,” by Tom Pynchon’s Liquor Cabinet “There Will Be Bananas,” by NPR’s Throughline podcast“Vintage Original Chiquita Banana 1940's Commercial Ads Complete Series!,” via YouTube“Bananas Don’t Taste Like They Used To. Here’s Why,” by Brandon Summers-Miller via EpicuriousThe Morrison shelter and other Battle of Britain era protections via the Royal Air Force Museum“Some Things that ‘Happen’ (More or Less) in Gravity’s Rainbow,” by Michael Davitt Bell. The simplest and most useful quick reference for the goings on in Gravity’s Rainbow we’ve found so far. Spoiler warning, obviously, for things we and maybe you haven’t read yet—and, less obviously, for references to things that will be (but aren’t yet) important.Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, racism, misogyny. ---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. 

Angels, dark and light, descend on Southern California, and we bid adieu to Arnold Snarb, I mean, Edna Mosh. Next time, Gravity’s Rainbow sections 1.1 through 1.9, or pp. 1-60 in the U.S. Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition. Support the show and get access to monthly bonus episodes at patreon.com/pynchonpals and follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social. Show Notes:“The Simple Art of Murder,” by Raymond Chandler, online e-book via Faded Page. Thomas Pyncon’s introduction to Richard Fariña’s Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me, via pynchon.pomona.edu. Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, misogyny, suicide, antisemitism, pedophilia. ---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. 

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