The best novel ever written by an ex-CIA operative (unless Pynchon is ex-CIA, which he might be).— Elvis Buñuelo (@Mr_Considerate) September 22, 2023
― xyzzzz__, Friday, 22 September 2023 13:42 (seven months ago) link
If he was, it surely only served to sharpen his criticism of historical and contemporary US foreign policy
― imago, Friday, 22 September 2023 13:46 (seven months ago) link
DeLillo has more big spook energy.
― Piedie Gimbel, Friday, 22 September 2023 14:13 (seven months ago) link
Libra presumably an expose rather than a speculation
― imago, Friday, 22 September 2023 14:15 (seven months ago) link
whenever this thread is revived I worry that he's dead. how old is he by now anyway?
― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Friday, 22 September 2023 16:17 (seven months ago) link
86 I think
― out-of-print LaserDisc edition (sleeve), Friday, 22 September 2023 16:18 (seven months ago) link
there's a signed edition of Mason and Dixon on Ebay for $24k.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/274765041981?hash=item3ff945d13d:g:B7oAAOSwQWBdfQkd&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4NQNcS8Q0SfQmzO0180rdkEA3JX4lSWkw5TA7yzzANIQk8pUsHcXQs8FzKvlDWMLPHJePYglAPUC093VvGVN68JYxmebKgweiZ8Nbcw5r5XNmSffetYZxis45gH8G%2FfrPxRsxto3SCtzlSp1kA%2FFtpyf5Q0241JFXIjigK74en2DIdcCmj2hJ0zoRKRw6G%2Fvc7pfVR3LWO0QInO5m7tckigFGMBRoe2cUdDELt0miJWdXDFcNtpPjIsrD5S4PqlPUjKYygYfT%2B1sHP0efqct3wR4Yr3Y5amrbKlkoeg3pOqf%7Ctkp%3ABlBMUOq9tu3XYg
― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Friday, 22 September 2023 21:41 (seven months ago) link
I’ve seen signed Salinger and Pynchon titles go for between $10k and $30k. You can see some more on Abebooks
― beamish13, Friday, 22 September 2023 21:49 (seven months ago) link
He's actually been dead since 1974. The books written by "Thomas Pynchon" after that point have actually been written by Irwin Corey.
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Friday, 22 September 2023 21:51 (seven months ago) link
i've held on to a signed Infinite Jest first edition in the hope that it would hit those heights but alas they seem to go for around 4k; he's dead but he wasn't exactly a recluse. If I don't get a job at some point I'll probably have to let it go.
― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Friday, 22 September 2023 21:52 (seven months ago) link
i found a hilarious reddit thread from a european investigator who followed old men all over new york wondering if they were pynchon. he may or may not have snapped a picture of the back of him going into the building they confirmed as a residence of pynchon's wife. I just like to imagine old guys in NY getting accosted by a swede asking "are you thomas pynchon?" and their bewildered eyes
― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Friday, 22 September 2023 21:55 (seven months ago) link
that's amazing
― what you say is true but by no means (lukas), Friday, 22 September 2023 22:03 (seven months ago) link
I vaguely know Elvis Buñuelo and I read *Mating* at his behest. Amazing novel.
― I would prefer not to. (Chinaski), Friday, 22 September 2023 22:34 (seven months ago) link
xxxpost best novel by an ex-CIA agent: might be those by pen names ov Paul Linebarger, though I haven't yet read any (though omg the shorter fiction)
― dow, Friday, 22 September 2023 23:10 (seven months ago) link
re: Linebarger, the short fiction is amazing and stands up today. if anything only more prescient on e.g. animal liberation. nonfictionwise, Psychological Warfare is sitting on my desk but I haven't cracked it yet.
best by ex-CIA probably deserves its own thread. Frank Herbert seems obvious but afaict he genuinely was not affiliated.
― poster of sparks (rogermexico.), Thursday, 5 October 2023 19:25 (six months ago) link
Don't forget Harry Mathews
― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Thursday, 5 October 2023 21:07 (six months ago) link