Books

Thomas Pynchon (The Crying of Lot 49, Gravity’s Rainbow) known for his dense and complex prose enters unfamiliar territory in his latest novel. A detective novel set at the tail end of the psychedelic 60s, Pynchon’s new work has been described by Penguin Press as “part noir, part psychedelic romp, all Pynchon”. Sounds like a winning combination. Private eye Doc Sportello becomes embroiled in attempts to thwart a plot to kidnap a billionaire property developer, who also happens to be his ex-girlfriend’s new lover. Pynchon peoples his new work with a myriad of colorful characters, from a tenor sax player working undercover to a murderous loan shark, along with the usual dose of players, hustlers and broads.