832. Vineland

Vineland
Thomas Pynchon
1990
Around 480 pages

The signs of us being in a slump were apparent for awhile, but I was in denial. One of the worst novels I have ever read is looming ahead, and now we have to deal with yet another Pynchon. 

The story is set in California in 1984. Former hippie Zoyd Wheeler must dive through a window every year to keep receiving mental disability checks. Federal agent Brock Vond forces Zoyd and his 14-year-old daughter Prairie out of their house. They hide from Brock, and from Hector Zuñiga (a drug-enforcement federale from Zoyd's past, who Zoyd suspects is in cahoots with Brock) with old friends of Zoyd's, who recount to the mystified Prairie the story of Brock's motivation for what he has done.

Pynchon novels are always trippy nightmares chocked full of no longer relevant references that go on about 400 pages too long. This one does little to distinguish itself from its other self-satisfied peers. I guess the Star Trek allusions make this unique. Another one you just have power through.

RATING: *----

Interesting Facts:

Received mixed reviews

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