Thomas Pynchon, a
mysterious, publicity-shy author, was born in New
York and graduated from Cornell University in 1958,
where he may have
been influenced by Vladimir Nabokov. His innovative fantasies hint to
Nabokov in their translating of signs, games, symbols and the use of
ingenious wordplay.Pynchon achieves a
mastery over language
which allows him to transform his signature paranoia quite seamlessly
into a form of linguistic poetry . This mastery serves as a sort of a
foundation for his works. A vast plot remains unknown to at least some
of the characters, who have to sort through the chaos and decipher it
into very meaningful world. This assignment, which is also the
classical task of every artist, is also thrown at the reader, who has
to follow along and pick out clues and meanings. The theme of paranoia
fills the space-time continuum, for Pynchon resorts to simple metaphors
of entropy, the gradual settling of the universe. He is in touch with
popular culture, science and detective fiction, and they are evident in
every one of his works.Book titled V is about two opposites:
Benny Profane, a looser who engages in pointless wanderings and various
odd enterprises, and Herbert Stencil, the successful intellectual, who
seeks a
mysterious woman spy, whom he calls Venus, Virgin, and Void.The
Crying of Lot 49, a short story, deals with a secret system in the U.
S. Postal Service. Gravity Rainbow takes place during World War II in
London under the rocket barrage, and narrates a farcically token search
for Nazis and other covert characters. The theme of violence, comedy
and flair for innovation reader makes readers feel for the 1960’s so
timely portrayed by Pynchon.