He's too deep for me.

Probably should try it again.

I liked "V", as whacked as it was. Perhaps I could relate, since I was in the Navy at the time.

Really liked "The Crying of Lot 49", which is short and accessible. I liked the build-up of paranoia in the story line; it is probably best appreciated to be read while stoned.

Have not been that enthused to tackle him since that era, although I do seem to buy his later books and put them on the shelf for later reading.

Didn't understand a word, back then; for the first couple of pages, I kept thinking I am in some kind of futuristic fantasy novel and only realized that is is supposed to be quasi-historical fiction some pages on. I didn't get it.

I reread it after I got my Master's degree in history; and having to come to know the Nazis as well as my family, I finally thought that I did get it. After that, I read every Pynchon novel and have become a great fan.

And Pynchon is not always that cryptic, that "out there". Inherent vice, f.e., is quite a normal detective story, as far as Pynchon can be said to write "normal stuff". I also enjoyed Mason+Dixon very, very much.

I can't wait for the new one. Shocked to read that I missed the announcement, I do try to keep up with the authors that I like...

Like Joyce's Ulysses, having a companion guide really helps with obscure references and keeping track of characters. Especially with Pynchon's habit of mentioning a character briefly only the have them be very important a few hundred pages later.

Here's a link with some online guides: http://www.themodernword.com/pynchon/pynchon_gr.html

This Pynchon Wiki was helpful: http://gravitys-rainbow.pynchonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page