Talk:Against the Day description

Is this really a blurb? Perhaps it would make more sense to call it a 'book description' or something along those lines. Pynchon's books stand out from most other published books by their complete absence of blurbs (i.e. endorsements from other writers), and calling Pynchon's own book description a blurb might confuse matters somewhat. Torerye 01:14, 1 November 2006 (PST)

Yes, I'd have to agree.

I think you make a solid point, and the page name has been changed to "description"...
WikiAdmin 23:22, 2 November 2006 (PST)

Not Pynchon's final novel

You should rewrite your conclusion to this topic, since Pynchon subsequently published Inherent Vice.

Also, there is a logic to the publisher's changes. Since a book jacket is contractually considered "packaging", flap copy is usually written as if it was written by the publisher, and not the author. Of course, this is frequently a lie. The Amazon.com description was attributed to Thomas Pynchon, while the flap copy is unattributed. Most of the editing changes remove those things that tip-off the reader that the copy was written by the novel's author.

Flap copy often contains praise for the work, and it would be "unseemly" for the author to praise his own efforts. For example:
Vineland: "It has been seventeen years since Thomas Pynchon shocked and dazzled readers ..."
Inherent Vice: In this lively yarn, Thomas Pynchon ..."

Perhaps queasiness over praising himself led to Pynchon's "Let the reader decide".