Part noir, part psychedelic romp, all Thomas Pynchon-
private eye Doc Sportello surfaces, occasionally, out of a
marijuana haze to watch the end of an era. In this lively
yarn, Thomas Pynchon, working in an unaccustomed genre
that is at once exciting and accessible, provides a
classic illustration of the principle that if you can
remember the sixties, you weren't there. It's been a while
since Doc Sportello has seen his ex-girlfriend. Suddenly
she shows up with a story about a plot to kidnap a
billionaire land developer whom she just happens to be in
love with. It's the tail end of the psychedelic sixties in
L.A., and Doc knows that "love" is another of those words
going around at the moment, like "trip" or "groovy,"
except that this one usually leads to trouble. Undeniably
one of the most influential writers at work today, Pynchon
has penned another unforgettable book.