02: In which the Pynchon Pals never resolve how to pronounce “Porpentine” (V. Chs. 3-4)

In this second ever episode, we learn about imperialist territorial disputes, nineteenth century travel guides, and layered Biblical allusions, while making intertextual comparisons to children’s cartoons and reality television. 

Next time: V. Chs. 5-6

Show Notes:

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. 

Egypt and the Sûdân: Handbook for Travellers by Karl Baedeker (1914) - Scanned and available at Archive.org

Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, firearms, facial disfigurement, surgery, pedophilia, misogyny, racism, xenophobia, antisemitism, Islamophobia.