Episodios

  • 15: In which a real live rocket launches (Gravity’s Rainbow Episodes 1.8-1.13)
    Apr 8 2026

    Discussions of Pavlov bookend interdepartmental conspiracy and pseudo-domesticity. Meanwhile Slothrop, like Benny Profane and Herbert Stencil before him, ventures into the sewer. Makes you miss the alligators!

    Next time—I misspoke in the episode!—Gravity’s Rainbow Episodes 1.14-1.16 (not through 1.17), or pp. 94-139 in the U.S. Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition.

    Support the show and get access to monthly bonus episodes at patreon.com/pynchonpals and follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social.

    Show Notes:

    “Lavarand,” the physical cryptographically secure pseudorandom number generator I couldn’t remember in the episode. It’s lavalamps!

    Related, “Generating Random Numbers With A Fish Tank,” by Tom Nardi via Hackaday.

    Scans of “The Kenosha Kid,” by Forbes Parkhill via Archive.org.

    Our previous episode on “Mondaugen’s Story” in V.

    “How to pay for genocide: Namibian victims of German colonialism want a say,” by Shola Lawal via Al Jazeera.

    “Namibia’s Blue Book of record: Part one,” by Catherine Sofianos via Mail & Guardian.

    “Little Albert study,” entry by Ronna F. Dillon, PhD and Amber D. Dillon via Ebsco

    Ariadne entry via the Encyclopedia Britannica

    Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, racism, misogyny, xenophobia, genocide, animal abuse, pedophilia.

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    Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.

    Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).

    Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland.

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    2 h y 53 m
  • 14: In which the Pynchon Pals, in their arrogance, thought they could talk through more of the book in three hours (Gravity’s Rainbow Episodes 1.1-1.7)
    Mar 25 2026

    Well, we’ve arrived at The Big One. Or, The First Big One, anyways. Join us -- again or for the first time -- as we puzzle out plots, diagram arcane organizational structures, and go long on bananas.

    Next time, Gravity’s Rainbow Episodes 1.8-1.13, or pp. 48-94 in the U.S. Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition.

    Support the show and get access to monthly bonus episodes at patreon.com/pynchonpals and follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social.

    Show Notes:

    “Banana Breakfast,” by Tom Pynchon’s Liquor Cabinet

    “There Will Be Bananas,” by NPR’s Throughline podcast

    “Vintage Original Chiquita Banana 1940's Commercial Ads Complete Series!,” via YouTube

    “Bananas Don’t Taste Like They Used To. Here’s Why,” by Brandon Summers-Miller via Epicurious

    The Morrison shelter and other Battle of Britain era protections via the Royal Air Force Museum

    “Some Things that ‘Happen’ (More or Less) in Gravity’s Rainbow,” by Michael Davitt Bell. The simplest and most useful quick reference for the goings on in Gravity’s Rainbow we’ve found so far. Spoiler warning, obviously, for things we and maybe you haven’t read yet—and, less obviously, for references to things that will be (but aren’t yet) important.

    Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, racism, misogyny.

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    Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.

    Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).

    Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland.

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    3 h y 11 m
  • 13: In which we wonder, what if this book was, like, six times as long? (The Crying of Lot 49 Ch. 6)
    Mar 11 2026

    Angels, dark and light, descend on Southern California, and we bid adieu to Arnold Snarb, I mean, Edna Mosh.

    Next time, Gravity’s Rainbow sections 1.1 through 1.9, or pp. 1-60 in the U.S. Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition.

    Support the show and get access to monthly bonus episodes at patreon.com/pynchonpals and follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social.

    Show Notes:

    “The Simple Art of Murder,” by Raymond Chandler, online e-book via Faded Page.

    Thomas Pyncon’s introduction to Richard Fariña’s Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me, via pynchon.pomona.edu.

    Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, misogyny, suicide, antisemitism, pedophilia.

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    Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.

    Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).

    Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland.

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    2 h y 48 m
  • 12: “In which the Pynchon Pals retell Platonic dialogues and Porky Pig cartoons” (The Crying of Lot 49 Chs. 4-5)
    Feb 25 2026

    The devil is in the details in this episode—or should we say, the demon? We follow Oedipa up north and into the entropic underground. Groovy…

    Next time, The Crying of Lot 49 Ch. 6.

    Support the show and get access to monthly bonus episodes at patreon.com/pynchonpals and follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social.

    Show Notes:

    Spoilers for Twin Peaks Season 2 around 2:31:50 to 2:32:05!

    Thomas Pynchon, in correspondence, on The Crying of Lot 49 as a “potboiler,” via Mel Gussow in the New York Times archive

    “The Crisis of the University Started Long Before Trump,” by Clifford Ando via Compact, on the Bayh–Dole Act and its implications for patents on government funded research

    “Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius,” by Jorge Luis Borges, .pdf via University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

    “Encuentro,” by Remedios Varo (1959) via the National Galleries of Scotland

    The “Batusi” in Batman (1966) via YouTube

    Project OXYGAS (Dolphin Training) via the CIA online reading room

    “The dolphin who loved me: the Nasa-funded project that went wrong,” by Christopher Riley via The Guardian (or, the one about LSD trials on dolphins)

    Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, misogyny, racism, suicide, genocide, antisemitism

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    Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.

    Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).

    Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland.

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    2 h y 50 m
  • 11. In which the Pynchon Pals, unseen, do a little dance (The Crying of Lot 49 Chs. 1-3)
    Feb 11 2026

    Move over Benny, Rachel, Stencil, and Paola, it’s time for a new book! Journeying into the swingin’ 60s, we talk on the phone, watch television, and even go to the theatre. Hey, wait a second, I know that kazoo tune…

    Next time, The Crying of Lot 49 Chs. 4-5.

    Support the show and get access to monthly bonus episodes at patreon.com/pynchonpals and follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social.

    Show Notes:

    “Embroidering the Earth's Mantle,” by Remedios Varo (1961) via Obelisk

    Covers for The Crying of Lot 49 via thomaspynchon.com

    The Carlton from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air via YouTube

    Droodles by Roger Price (1953) via Wikipedia

    Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, misogyny, racism.

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    Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.

    Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).

    Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland.

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    2 h y 46 m
  • 10: In which a ludicrously high budget is needed to produce the V. adaptation of our dreams (V. Q+A)
    Jan 28 2026

    We hope you enjoy listening to this Q+A episode as much as we enjoyed making it! If so, you can now sign up to support the show via the brand new patreon.com/pynchonpals to get access to future Patreon-exclusive bonus episodes featuring Q+A’s, movie discussion, and more.

    Next time, The Crying of Lot 49 Chs. 1-3. (Wow, a whole new book!)

    Show Notes:

    Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, misogyny, racism.

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    Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.

    Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).

    Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland.

    Follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social.

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    2 h y 7 m
  • 09: In which the verdict on V. is, at long last, delivered (V. Epilogue and Wrapup)
    Jan 14 2026

    Sydney Stencil’s in Valletta for one last job, and so are we. Sail on, sailor!

    Next time, V. Q+A. Last chance to send in questions on Bluesky or by email: if you’ve got one, we want to read it!

    Show Notes:

    St. Agatha’s Crypt, Catacombs & Museum, website

    V.: Analysis of Major Characters,” by Victoria Price via EBSCO

    “The Mysterious Manicule,” by Keith Houston via Slate

    Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, misogyny, racism, body dysmorphia, suicide

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    Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.

    Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).

    Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland.

    Follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social.

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    2 h y 19 m
  • 08: In which Thomas Pynchon, like his cousin Taylor Swift, reflects on love (V. Chs. 14-16)
    Dec 31 2025

    Things lurk Behind the Curtain as we bid farewell to Benny and the gang. And time is running out to send in questions for our V. Q+A in the episode after next!

    Next time, V. Epilogue.

    Show Notes:

    Frank C. Stanley performs “Auld Lang Syne,” recorded 1910 on (now public domain) wax cylinder, released by the Indestructible Record Company, UC Santa Barbara Cylinder Audio Archive

    Family Relationship of Taylor Swift, Singer and Songwriter, 9th cousin 2 times removed to Thomas Pynchon, American Novelist, FamousKin.com

    “The Feather Heist,” This American Life, WBEZ Chicago

    Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, incest, misogyny, racism, antisemitism, xenophobia, suicide.

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    Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.

    Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).

    Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland.

    Follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social.

    Más Menos
    2 h y 52 m