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A review by explodinghead
Bleeding Edge by Thomas Pynchon
4.0
I very much enjoyed BLEEDING EDGE. It's strong, and it's packed with good ideas. Pynchon, who loves to play around in period settings, sets this book in a post-dotcom crash, pre-9/11 lull that very much resembles The Zone from GRAVITY'S RAINBOW. Paranoia. Intrigue. Shady characters. The works. The setting provides an interesting perspective, as the audience knows more about upcoming events, whether it be acts of terrorism, advances in technology, or changes in the political landscape, than the characters within the story.
The protagonist Maxine Tarnow was a lot of fun to spend time with -- a private eye, forensic accountant who is not afraid of using sex as a tool of the trade, but loyal and devoted mother. The dialog is crisp, and Pynchon's prose is, as always, highly volatile. It should be noted that his is a bit toned down compared to GRAVITY'S RAINBOW or THE CRYING OF LOT 49, but that ain't a bad thing. There's a sure-handed confidence that Pynchon works with that is both comfortable and beautiful.
If you've enjoyed any of Pynchon's previous work, I'd recommend this one. Even, if you're new to the author, I'd still recommend BLEEDING EDGE for readers looking for a smart, funny twist on the typically flaccid whodunnit narrative.
The protagonist Maxine Tarnow was a lot of fun to spend time with -- a private eye, forensic accountant who is not afraid of using sex as a tool of the trade, but loyal and devoted mother. The dialog is crisp, and Pynchon's prose is, as always, highly volatile. It should be noted that his is a bit toned down compared to GRAVITY'S RAINBOW or THE CRYING OF LOT 49, but that ain't a bad thing. There's a sure-handed confidence that Pynchon works with that is both comfortable and beautiful.
If you've enjoyed any of Pynchon's previous work, I'd recommend this one. Even, if you're new to the author, I'd still recommend BLEEDING EDGE for readers looking for a smart, funny twist on the typically flaccid whodunnit narrative.