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Literary Criticisms & Interpretations
There exist an almost endless number of criticisms of the novels. Those chosen in this section consist of a few of the more authoritative and comprehensive sources. Comprehensive bibliographies are often presented within these materials which can lead one to further or related information.
Abbas, Niran. Thomas Pynchon : reading from the margins. (Madison, NJ : Fairleigh Dickinson University Press), 2003.
[Davis PS3566.Y55 Z945 2003]
This is a compilation of critiques of Pynchon's major works. It includes discussions the theme of death in The Crying of Lot 49, technology and the decay of the modern in V., and sexual deviance and diversity in Gravity's Rainbow. An interesting comparison of The Crying of lot 49 with The Great Gatspy is presented as well.
Bloom, Harold. Ed. Thomas Pynchon. (New York : Chelsea House Publishers), 2003b.
[Davis PS3566.Y55 Z94 2003b]
Pynchon, Thomas -- Criticism and interpretaton
Bloom's work provides critical evaluations of The Crying of Lot 49, Entropy, V., Vineland, & Mason & Dixon. It also discusses Pynchon's role in post-war American literature and contains a section on his early works. It is basically a more formalized version of the Pynchon Notes serial. The format is much the same, including chapters written by various scholars on one particular aspect of Pynchon's work or on a recurring theme.
Clerc, Charles. Mason & Dixon & Pynchon.
[Davis PS3566.Y55 M3734 2000]
** see below
Grant, J. Kerry. A companion to V.
[Davis PS3566.Y55 V234 2001]
** see below
Grant, J. Kerry. A companion to The Crying of Lot 49.
[Davis PS3566.Y55 C792 1994]
** see below
Weisenburger, Steven. A Gravity's Rainbow companion : sources and contexts for Pynchon's novel. (Athens, GA. : University of Georgia Press), 1988.
[Davis PS3566.Y55 G7395 1988]
** As mentioned earlier, Pynchon's works are known for their enormous casts of characters, the lack of any real timeline on which events occur or to which characters thoughts refer. This makes these "companion" works invaluable to anyone attempting to tackle one of the novels. It should not be assumed from this that the novels are impossible to read without external help such as this. A breakdown of character relationships and events in works such as these simply aids in retention of key plot points and clarifies much of the technical language that Pynchon uses to lessen the absurdity of his often quite far-fetched storylines.
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