Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast

Oedipa's journey takes a bizarre turn as she uncovers the shadowy reach of Pierce's empire. A bar in L.A. introduces her to the Peter Penguid Society, revealing intricate connections between politics and paranoia. Accompanied by Metzger and The Paranoids, she later ventures to a mysterious play, The Courier's Tragedy, igniting her obsession with hidden meanings. Oedipa's lively exchanges with the dismissive director highlight her struggle for understanding amidst a world steeped in confusion and symbolism.

A sketchy motel, a weird teenage motel manager and his mop-top bandmates, an untrustworthy child-actor turned lawyer, a can of hairspray chaotically flying around, and the early stages of paranoia settling in are all packed in this chapter into more layers than Oedipa ends up wearing during her game of strip-Botticelli. Join us in our discussion of Chapter 2 of The Crying of Lot 49.CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains a discussion about sexual assault in the context of its occurrence in the chapter.If you like what we're doing and want to support the show, please consider making a donation on Ko-Fi. Funds we receive will be used to upgrade equipment, pay hosting fees, and help make the show better.https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezoneAs always, thanks so much for listening!Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mappingthezone.bsky.socialTwitter: https://twitter.com/pynchonpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mappingthezonepodcast/Show art by Brad Wetzel: @bradspersecond (on IG and Reddit) bradspersecond.com

In Chapter 1, Oedipa Maas has returned from a tupperware party and is made aware of a potentially life-changing arrangement. We get to know a bit about Oedipa, her husband Wendell (aka "Mucho"), her recently deceased ex-boyfriend Pierce Inverarity (who is responsible for the arrangement Oedipa has become aware of), her lawyer, Roseman (who has a love/hate relationship with fictional television attorney Perry Mason), and Oedipa's sketchy-at-best therapist, Dr. Hilarius.Join us in our discussion of The Crying of Lot 49, Thomas Pynchon's 1966 novel about paranoia, the counter-culture movement of the 60's, conspiracies, underground mail networks, and Beatle-esque rock music.If you like what we're doing and want to support the show, please consider making a donation on Ko-Fi. Funds we receive will be used to upgrade equipment, pay hosting fees, and help make the show better.https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezoneAs always, thanks so much for listening!Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mappingthezone.bsky.socialTwitter: https://twitter.com/pynchonpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mappingthezonepodcast/Show art by Brad Wetzel: @bradspersecond (on IG and Reddit) bradspersecond.com

In this inaugural episode of Mapping the Zone, our hosts introduce themselves and discuss a few topics to provide some insight into who they are and what they love about the subject of this podcast, Thomas Pynchon. Also discussed is what listeners can expect of the show going forward and which of Pynchon's books they will discuss first.If you like what we're doing and want to support the show, please consider making a donation on Ko-Fi. Funds we receive will be used to upgrade equipment, pay hosting fees, and help make the show better.https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezoneAs always, thanks so much for listening!Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mappingthezone.bsky.socialTwitter: https://twitter.com/pynchonpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mappingthezonepodcast/Show art by Brad Wetzel: @bradspersecond (on IG and Reddit) bradspersecond.com