Slow Learner: Early Stories [Paperback]

Thomas Pynchon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 1985

Thomas Pynchon's literary career was launched not with the release of his widely acclaimed first novel, "V., " but with the publication in literary magazines of the five stories collected here. In his introduction to "Slow Learner" the author reviews his early work with disarming candor and recalls the American cultural landscape of the early post-Beat era in which the stories were written. "Time" magazine described this introductory essay as "Pynchon's first public gesture toward autobiography."

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Published in 1984, this contains five of the author's early stories?written between 1958 and 1964?along with an introduction.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

All five of the pieces ... have unusual narrative vigor and inventiveness. Each establishes its own special mood ... and each contains its moments of Pynchonesque comedy.... -- The New York Times Book Review, Christopher Lehmann-Haupt

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Back Bay Books; First Edition edition (April 30, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316724432
• ISBN-13: 978-0316724432
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #170,016 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thomas Pynchon was born in 1937. His books include The Crying of Lot 49, Gravity's Rainbow, Vineland, and Mason & Dixon.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A pathology of the young Pynchon, with a delightful intro, April 2, 2001

By 

"pierce_inverarity" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Slow Learner: Early Stories (Paperback)

After reading Pynchon's excellent, self-deprecating introduction to these stories, it is difficult to read the stories without searching for, and finding, elements of writerly clumsiness and naivete. The effect is similar to that of reading James Joyce's "Stephen Hero": the realization that even great writers were human in their youth.

I think of the preface to this book as the main body of the text, and the stories as figures and appendices elaborating on what Pynchon means when he criticizes his former self. I would not recommend this book for the intrinsic literary value of the stories -- they're not all that great, especially when compared with the Pynchon we more readily know. But as an essay about how not to write short stories, with some illustrations provided, or as a bit of Pynchon autobiography, Slow Learner is magnificent.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Fascinating Introduction, July 11, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Slow Learner: Early Stories (Paperback)

For those who find Thomas Pynchon frighteningly intimidating (and who doesn't?), a perusal of these stories will quickly bring The Man down a few notches where you can be certain that he once (once, long ago) was human.

The stories, presented chronologically, are also a testimonial to an astounding learning curve, a man who in very little time learned from his mistakes. And there are mistakes: at times you may find yourself chuckling at the young Pynchon's overwriting or callow viewpoints. Yet these are still the works of a budding genius (my favourite, bar none!) and there glimpses aplenty.

But don't buy the book for the stories alone! No no no! The candid introduction by Pynchon is the real gem here and, for all those Pynchonites, worth the price of admission.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pleasing, and Unlike Pynchon, October 30, 2004

By 

James Igoe (NY, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Slow Learner: Early Stories (Paperback)

I've read The Crying of Lot 49, as well as material about Pynchon, so expected a tough read, but found this collection of short stories surprisingly light, although the final story was excellent, thoughtful, and moving. As for the introduction, mentioned by someone as the worth of this book, he is nearly right, as it was an absolute pleasure to read, both light and witty; it wa so good that at times I simultaneously laughed and cried.