On September 26, 2025, last year’s Best Picture Oscar winner, One Battle After Another, a loose adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s novel Vineland, hit wide release in theaters. And then 11 days later, on October 7, Pynchon published what might be his final novel, Shadow Ticket.

Not a bad year for an 88-year-old writer.

This hour, a look at the (maybe) reclusive Pynchon and the novels and stories he’s published, from Gravity’s Rainbow to Mason & Dixon and more.

Plus: a look at the two Paul Thomas Anderson movies that Pynchon’s work has inspired, Inherent Vice and One Battle After Another.

GUESTS:

David Cowart: Distinguished professor emeritus of English language and literature at the University of South Carolina and the author of a number of books, including Thomas Pynchon: The Art of Allusion and Thomas Pynchon and the Dark Passages of History
Ana Gavrilovska: A writer; you can find her work in Current Affairs, Uncut Magazine, Maggot Brain, and her Substack, Sick Sad Motherslug
Leonardo Goi: A journalist and film critic
Brian Slattery: A writer and musician

Music featured (in order):

Don Giovanni, K. 527: Overture – W.A. Mozart as performed by Claudio Abbado and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe
The most referenced piece of music in Pynchon’s catalogue.
Gravity’s Angel – Laurie Anderson
The Royal Scam – Steely Dan
Mentioned in Bleeding Edge.
Run Straight Down – Warren Zevon
Zevon attributed this song to overdosing on Pynchon — the opening words are just carcinogenic chemicals.
Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) – Bonzo Dog Band
Pynchon put out his own playlist for Inherent Vice. This was on it.
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised – Gil Scott-Heron

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Colin McEnroe and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show.

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