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PODCAST

Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast

Thomas Pynchon books discussed here!

Each episode, we take a deep-dive into the book we are focusing on—we explore the references, characters, plot, and everything in between from a non-scholarly point of view. We are just four fans who love these books and can talk about them endlessly.

arts books

All Episodes

128:37

Shadow Ticket (for real this time)

Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast ·

2025/10/31

Quit your scratching and bleeding and put down the rosary, the cure of all your anxieties has arrived! At long last, the Mapping the Zone Review of Shadow Ticket, Spoilerful Edition, has been released, and it's packed with more hot takes and thrilling twists than any diehard fans of the storied Spoiler-free episode could have imagined. The hype is NOT TOO HIGH!If you like what we're doing and want to support the show, please consider making a donation on Ko-Fi. Funds we receive will be used to

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68:27

Shadow Ticket: Spoiler Free review

Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast ·

2025/10/25

It's finally here and we got to read it! Shadow Ticket, the newest (and perhaps final) novel by Thomas Pynchon is out in the wild and we are here with a spoiler-free review for those who may not have had a chance to read it as of yet.We will have a longer, more in-depth review episode out on 31 October 2025, so stay tuned for that if you wanted a more nuanced discussion of our thoughts on the novel.If you like what we're doing and want to support the show, please consider making a donation on Ko-Fi

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160:00

Against the Day: Chapter 21

Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast ·

2025/10/17

Wid'ya lookit that! It's been a hundred pages since our paths last crossed the Chums' of Chance, and here they are, in Venice. That ain't the only coincidence at hand, no, far too many'a them... Something's wrong. Still, hoping to keep with the patriotic aeronauts, and the history presented, our crew resorts to conspiratorial means of tracking the plot. Those mirrors 'n lenses had better help with that map, eh?If you like what we're doing and want to support the show, please consider making a

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109:21

Bonus Episode - One Battle After Another

Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast ·

2025/10/03

Once in a lifetime, a moment comes around, and one has with the latest film from auteur director Paul Thomas Anderson! We take that moment to assess the film on its own merit, but not without respect to the weight of its primary credited influence, Vineland. Is Sean Penn the next Christian Bale? Just how Pynchonian has PTA gotten lately? Will anyone even need to read the old crank again, with adaptations like these? Answers to these questions, and more, await the listeners of our definitive, and

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128:29

Against the Day: Chapter 20

Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast ·

2025/09/19

A spot of smoky rooms and heavy drapes suits us as finely as they do Lew, and somehow the more obscure the corner of history referred to by the couple-three iconoclasts he meets, the more our hosts find to discuss. There's plenty of room left in the shadows, as these dialogues reveal their purposes unorthodox even by the TWIT's standard! From the cricket...arenas...of Australia to bathtubs of Condy's fluid, it's no wonder we take a few missteps (e.g. Raimi) from the line of firm tracks this chapter

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209:06

Against the Day: Chapter 19

Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast ·

2025/09/05

With how things have gotten so real these past few eps, it's time to see what Lew's been up to in cheery old Inglund! These chaps, Nigel and Nuisance or whatbeit, who've already brung him across the world just have not said quite enough about this infinite tetrangle! Even the demonstrably stable Grand Cohen's powerful rhetoric can not convince our thoroughly skeptic troupe of the TWIT's wisdom. And just so, what more fitting a background to divine the sources of the oncoming strife upon the

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116:48

Against the Day: Chapter 18

Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast ·

2025/08/22

This week we wander through Jeshimon and track Reef as he rescues his father's harried remains from the just yet supernatural decay they'd have suffered in the desecrate airs of the town. Though Webb may rest his children and Mayva shall not and like them we wrestle with grief and legacy in our discussion.Those distressed by the forestalling of our chapter 19 discussion are recommended to contemplate the tetractys for fifteen minutes each morning and come back in two weeks.If you like what we're

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121:22

Against the Day: Chapters 16-17

Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast ·

2025/07/18

Checking in on the Traverse household, things are looking ... somber. As happy as the hosts are to all be present and accountable, the mood is somewhat dampened by the final ties breaking between Lake and her father, and where that leads Webb. Thankfully, the romantic backdrop of Nochecita cushions things a bit, even if Frank and Reef's glimpse at peace is cut short. It's not all a loss, though! We do, at least, meet a few new friends along the way to Jeshimon.If you like what we're doing and want

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196:20

Against the Day: Chapters 14-15

Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast ·

2025/07/04

The Harvard-Yale game brings us by vector analysis to rearrive upon the scraggly isthmus of Long Island. The tales of Vibes are much rehearsed, wooing Kit between Dittany eyelashes and forms seen lonesome in the hallways. The fall of an earnest worker marks the end of Fleet's refrain, but lines up well to the west with Lew on a quest. What clashes here, in mines and minds? Kieselguhr soaked in nitro, wrapped in newsprint and 'cyclomite'! But White City's loss is our gain, as the suspect PI bolts,

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136:16

Against the Day: Chapters 12-13

Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast ·

2025/06/20

As with the Chums from the center of the Earth, we return from temporary distraction, and yea, what hath time wrought? What did this planet itself cradle slumbering beneath its frozen extremities? What idols have we found ourselves prostrate before, as the thirsting tongues of flame awaken nerves deadened by that chill? May the scourge pass you by, ye who behold... the latest episode of Mapping the Zone!If you like what we're doing and want to support the show, please consider making a donation on

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213:31

Against the Day: Chapter. 11

Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast ·

2025/06/06

We are thrilled to finally return to Against the Day and we are finally covering Part II - Icelandic Spar! We had planned on covering Chapters 11 and 12 in this episode, however we quickly realized that there was just too much in Chapter 11 to be able to condense it and Chapter 12 into one episode.As always, thanks so much for listening!Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mappingthezone.bsky.socialTwitter: https://twitter.com/pynchonpodInstagram:

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127:58

Bonus Episode - Alex Pheby

Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast ·

2025/05/23

If you've listened to this show for any amount of time, you've probably heard Cody mention the Cities of the Weft trilogy by Alex Pheby, a phenomenal dark fantasy series that explores a number of fascinating themes and concepts all set in a tremendously built world, with a brilliant cast of characters. We were lucky to be joined by Alex Pheby to discuss his work, that before the Cities of the Weft trilogy. and those books, as well.We are back to our regularly scheduled programming in two weeks,

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128:46

Bonus Episode: David Foster Wallace (w/ Johan Harstad)

Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast ·

2025/05/09

We're back (kind of) with a bonus episode covering David Foster Wallace—his life, his work, and why you should (or shouldn't) read his work. Joining us in this conversation is our friend and fellow DFW enthusiast, Johan Harstad.We'll be back in a couple of weeks to get back into Against the Day, so stay tuned weirdos!As always, thanks so much for listening!Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mappingthezone.bsky.socialTwitter: https://twitter.com/pynchonpodInstagram:

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66:38

Slow Learner: Introduction & The Small Rain

Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast ·

2025/03/14

We're going to be covering the short stories in Slow Learner after each section of Against the Day, as we are going through that. This episode we discuss The Small Rain, Pynchon's first published short story. What we liked, what we didn't like, and how Pynchon has grown as a writer are all topics of conversation and we hope you'll enjoy listening to our ramblings. We'll return to Against the Day in the next episode.As always, thanks so much for listening!Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠Bluesky:

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80:47

Bonus Episode: Talkin' It Up with Johan Harstad

Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast ·

2025/02/28

After discussing Part One of Against the Day, we spent some time talking with our guest, Johan Harstad, about whatever came to mind—the music of Hüsker Dü, David Foster Wallace, the films of Ingmar Bergman, and so much else.We'll be back in two weeks to discuss The Small Rain, the first short story from Pynchon's Slow Learner collection before diving back into Against the Day.Please check out Johan's work wherever you buy books and follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lacktr/As always,

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88:28

Against the Day: Part One - The Light Over the Ranges...

Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast ·

2025/02/21

We've reached the end of The Light Over the Ranges, the first part of Against the Day! We were incredibly lucky to be joined by Johan Harstad, Norwegian author of Buzz Aldrin, What Happened To You In All the Confusion?, The Red Handler and, most recently, Under the Paving Stones, The Beach! We discuss our thoughts with everything that has happened in the story so far, the goofy, fun-natured boy-adventurers known as The Chums of Chance, the historical accuracy of Franz Ferdinand, some controversy

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146:30

Against the Day: Chapter 10

Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast ·

2025/02/07

Woo-hee! finally, we cover some real ground. Back on the Inconvenience, the Chums are bickering and splitting within themselves, while here on land our own crew are becoming "frazzled" in their own way. It seems such polarization can only be expected as we reach the end of Part One, but stay tuned through this analysis for the announcement of our thrilling conclusory episode of The Light Over the Ranges.If you like what we're doing and want to support the show, please consider making a donation on

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97:36

Bonus Episode: David Lynch

Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast ·

2025/01/18

With the recent passing of one of our favorite filmmakers, David Lynch, Kate and Cody sit down to talk about the impact of his work on our lives.If you aren't familiar with his body of work, the discussion covers his entire filmography without spoiling any major plot points. He was a truly unique artist and one who will be dearly missed by the both of us.As always, thanks so much for listening!Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mappingthezone.bsky.socialTwitter:

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125:50

Against the Day: Chapter 9

Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast ·

2025/01/17

This week in Mapping the Zone: Movement appears stalled. Not only do we remain with the Traverse household, but the only motion to be found is that of the mind. Kit begins to fathom the depth of Vectorism through the primal texts of electicity, and who is to find his talents but Nikola Tesla? It turns out, the understudy-in-perpetuity to Vibe, Foley Walker. The Earth may be striving to destroy our schedule, but the intrepids of this show shall not rest until we've ridden lightning through its

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205:34

Against the Day: Chapter 8

Mapping the Zone: A Thomas Pynchon discussion podcast ·

2025/01/03

Having made our way to the Rockies, now is the time to dismiss doubts as to what purposes Webb might intend. Not much travel along traditional coordinates in this conversation, instead we meet the waterheads of the Traverse clan and contemplate the molds in which the bonds between workers and those rascals who despise all shapes of mandate were set. Just try and keep your hat on, heavier things have been seen blown away in these mountains.Next episode: Pages 97-118 (End of Part One)If you like what

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