New Thomas Pynchon novel confirmed

This morning, Carolyn Kellogg reported on web rumors about a new novel by Thomas Pynchon. Now, Penguin Press, Pynchon's publisher, confirms that there is, indeed, a new novel by the reclusive author, to be published in August 2009.

As for the other rumored details -- that it's a noir novel of about 400 pages, set in the world of 1960s psychedelia -- Penguin is remaining silent ... for the time being.

But stay tuned: The rumor mill continues to grind.

-- David L. Ulin

Comments

[Thomas McGonigle]

Here is a better rumor that can be confirmed. Dalkey Archive according to an email from Julian Rios will be publishing two books of his in English translation: NUEVOS SOMBREROS PARA ALICIA and CASA ULISES--- readers might remember Rios's LARVA as the only book to ever really challenge Finnegans Wake

[Thomas McGonigle]

Here is a better rumor that can be confirmed. Dalkey Archive according to an email from Julian Rios will be publishing two books of his in English translation: NUEVOS SOMBREROS PARA ALICIA and CASA ULISES--- readers might remember Rios's LARVA as the only book to ever really challenge Finnegans Wake

[Shaun Mason]

He is known to write multiple books at once, so it is conceivable that he was working on this at the same time as Against the Day. Pynchon sometimes punctuates the the publication of a large work with a shorter one, such as Crying of Lot 49 after V., Vineland between Gravity's Rainbow and Mason & Dixon, Although there was no book between that one and Against the Day. Mason & Dixon had elements that lent credulity to the rumor that he had actually started writing it immediately after Gravity's Rainbow in the mid-70s, he even wrote a false ending into it, which might have suggested two drafts that he merged. He remains our most prodigious novelist, and now with Wallace gone, there aren't many behind him. Maybe Richard Powers.

[Shaun Mason]

I remember back in 1987 there was a British magazine called Time Out that ran a story about a new Pynchon novel that was apochryphal, but came out on April 1st, so it was excused. The imaginary book was titled Rocket's Red Glare. I remember reading that article and getting very excited at the time, only to find out it was an April Fool's joke.

[Mike from Sweden]

Maybe he's timing it with his Nobel prize for highel sales.