Thomas Pynchon By Kari Fowler

My Name is Thomas Pynchon Thomas Ruggles Pynchon Jr. born May 8, 1937 One of three Children Oyster Bay High School- “Student of the Year” Began writing short fictional pieces and newspaper articles in high school At sixteen he graduated with plans to study engineering physics at Cornell University

What Happens Next? Dropped Cornell to serve in U.S Navy 1957- Pursues English degree “The Small Rain” Fun fact: Growing up he was reportedly spotted attending lectures given by Nabokov

Mr. Pynchon’s Early Career Life In 1962 was employed as a technical writer in Boeing, Seattle Inspired by his background in physics and technical journalism, he started writing Gravity’s Rainbow (published in 1973) Novel is about the end of WWII, dispatch of V-2 rockets, and the search to uncover the details of the secret device called the "Schwarzgerät“ (Pulitzer Prize Winner)

The Crying Lot of 49 Published in 1966 Postmodern Fiction Book is about Women, Oedipa Maas, and a conflict between two mail distributing companies

Pynchon’s Work Pynchon’s themes consist of racism, imperialism, religion and culture Best known for his short stories and the following works: The Crying Lot of 49, Gravity’s Rainbow, Vineland, Mason & Dixon, and Against the Day Thomas Pynchon= 1984 Foreword by George Orwell

Don’t look at me! Thomas Pynchon Fun Facts Hates media Rarely is spotted in public First appearance one The Simpsons, portraying himself Avoided contact with journalists for more than forty years. Mystery Man????

Any Questions?