Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast

Nov 01 2024 75 ep. 116 mins 57

Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast artwork

Each episode, we take a deep-dive into the book we are focusing on—we explore the references, characters, plot, and everything in between from a non-scholarly point of view. We are just four fans who love these books and can talk about them endlessly.

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Introduction

Mar 09 2023 29 mins

If you like what we're doing and want to support the show, please consider making a donation on Ko-Fi. Funds we receive will be used to upgrade equipment, pay hosting fees, and help make the show better.https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezoneIn this inaugural episode of Mapping the Zone, our hosts introduce themselves and discuss a few topics to provide some insight into who they are and

Bonus Episode: Yellow Back Radio Broke-Down by Ishmael Reed

Nov 01 2024 53 mins

Come one, come all, gather to hear of the tale of the Loop Garoo Kid and his travails through the Western wasteland as depicted within the covers of Ishmael Reed's second novel, Yellow Back Radio Broke-Down! Listen as our correspondent, Will, rants and raves about the depths to be found just at the surface of this gem of a book, let alone whatever great hoard of philosophies and fu

Bonus Episode: Kefahuchi Tract trilogy by M. John Harrison

Oct 18 2024 37 mins

This week on Mapping the Zone, Luke leads us through a discussion of M. John Harrison's Kefahuchi Tract trilogy. The trilogy is comprised of the novels Light, Nova Swing, and Empty Space: A Haunting.If you like what we're doing and want to support the show, please consider making a donation on Ko-Fi. Funds we receive will be used to upgrade equipment, pay hosting fees, and help mak

Bonus Episode: The Pale King by David Foster Wallace

Oct 04 2024 56 mins

In the newest installment of Kate's bonus episodes, she has turned away from her ordinary method of covering new voices in fiction written by women to talking about one of the authors she almost never stops mentioning on the main program. Yet she has chosen not to cover his primary work, but the less popular, technically unfinished novel that very few people read. Why does she do t

Bonus Episode: The Red Handler by Johan Harstad (translated by David Smith)

Sep 20 2024 28 mins

In this week's bonus episode, Cody discusses the metafictional, post-noir detective novel The Red Handler—simultaneously a love letter to and hilarious deconstruction of the hardboiled stories of the 30's and 40's. It's a highly entertaining and brilliantly written novel that anyone who loves hardboiled/noir novels is sure to enjoy.Grab a copy here: https://www.openletterbooks.or

Bleeding Edge: Wrap-up with @Byron's Glowing Filament

Aug 23 2024 110 mins

We've finished another Pynchon book and convene once more to talk about Bleeding Edge; this time in its entirety. We're joined by Andrew, better known as Byron's Glowing Filament on Twitter and the creator of the Gravity's Rainbow Analysis substack (link below).We’re taking a (well-earned) break and will be back some time in November to start Against the Day.In the meantime, we�

Bleeding Edge: Chapters 40-41

Aug 16 2024 170 mins

We apologize in advance for some audio issues which presented themselves after we had finished recording. We've done our best to clean them up and make everything sound as good as possible.Information on the guest for our Bleeding Edge wrap-up episode, as well as our next book and schedule changes for the show going forward are at the end of the discussion.If you like what we're do

Bleeding Edge: Chapters 37-39

Aug 09 2024 169 mins

If you like what we're doing and want to support the show, please consider making a donation on Ko-Fi. Funds we receive will be used to upgrade equipment, pay hosting fees, and help make the show better.https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezoneIf you enjoyed our discussion, please check out the following media that relates to these chapters:As always, thanks so much for listening!Email: ⁠

Bleeding Edge: Chapters 34-36

Aug 02 2024 162 mins

If you like what we're doing and want to support the show, please consider making a donation on Ko-Fi. Funds we receive will be used to upgrade equipment, pay hosting fees, and help make the show better.https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezoneThe article mentioned by Luke: “Hallowe’en? Over Already?” https://x.com/Ethelmer77/status/963687634483793920?lang=enIf you enjoyed our discuss

Bleeding Edge: Chapters 31-33

Jul 26 2024 149 mins

If you like what we're doing and want to support the show, please consider making a donation on Ko-Fi. Funds we receive will be used to upgrade equipment, pay hosting fees, and help make the show better.https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezoneIf you enjoyed our discussion, please check out the following media that relates to these chapters:Music: Mitch Hedberg - Mitch All Together, The But