Slow Learner: Early Stories Tag: With an introduction by the author (Paperback)

by Thomas Pynchon (Author) "OUTSIDE, the company area broiled slowly under the sun..." (more)
Key Phrases: helmet liner, Sir Alastair, New York, Des Grieux (more...)

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 (April 30, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316724432
• ISBN-13: 978-0316724432
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #91,283 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 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" (silicon valley) - See all my reviews

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.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Fascinating Introduction, July 12, 1998

By A Customer

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.

5 of 6 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)

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.