Lineland, Mortality and Mercy on the Internet's Pynchon-L@Waste Org Discussion List

by Jules Siegel

Imagine Stuart Gilbert, Gertrude Stein, Hugh Kenner, Edmund Wilson, and a host of lesser lights chatting about the Aeolus chapter of Joyce's Ulysses on the Internet. Siegel attended Cornell with Thomas Pynchon; before he moved to Mexico in the early '70s, he was a successful freelance writer, authoring four books and many magazine articles; most relevantly, a 1977 Playboy article titled "Who Is Thomas Pynchon . . . and Why Did He Take Off with My Wife?" [included in full] Siegel outlines his own history and the Internet's history (for unconnected readers), then explains his discovery that, on the Net, "I am a sub-set of the Thomas Pynchon industry," and gathers dozens of conversations and controversies within that "industry" in which he--and, ultimately, the Siegel ex-wife with whom Pynchon "took off"--participated. So Lineland at once adds facts and commentary to the sparse information about the reclusive Pynchon and demonstrates "virtual community" in action. --Mary Carroll, Booklist

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Stephanie A. Higa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't believe this book is for real. I'd be so embarrassed if this self-indulgent autobiography/Internet flame war were published under my name. However, it was kind of interesting, and I did read all of it even though I only borrowed it for "Who is Thomas Pynchon...and Why is He Taking Off with My Wife?" (lame article by the way, all the interesting portions have been leaked online)

[severyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really want one-and-a-half stars for this.
The good bits are the posts taken straight from pynchon-l.

[Hamish · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pointless egotistical garbage that is only saved from 0 stars because he included the Playboy article. Who the hell decided this book needed to be published?