A private eye didn't drop acid for years in this town without picking up some kind of extrasensory chops, and truth was, since crossing the doorsill of this place, Doc couldn't help noticing what you'd call an atmosphere. Instead of a ritual handshake or even a smile, everybody he got introduced to greeted him with the same formula -- "Where are you at, man?" suggesting a high level of discomfort, even fear, about anybody who couldn't be dropped in a bag right away and labeled.This seemed to be happening more and more lately, out in Greater Los Angeles, among gatherings of carefree youth and happy dopers, where Doc had begun to notice older men, there and not there, rigid, unsmiling, that he knew he'd seen before, not the faces necessarily but a defiant posture, an unwillingness to blur out, like everybody else at the psychedelic events of those days, beyond official envelopes of skin. Like the operatives who'd dragged away Coy Harlingen the other night at that rally at the Century Plaza. Doc knew these people, he'd seen enough of them in the course of business. They went out to collect cash debts, they broke rib cages, they got people fired, they kept an unforgiving eye on anything that might become a threat. If everything in this dream of prerevolution was in fact doomed to end and the faithless money-driven world to reassert its control over all the lives it felt entitled to touch, fondle, and molest, it would be agents like these, dutiful and silent, out doing the shitwork, who'd make it happen.Was it possible, that at every gathering -- concert, peace rally, love-in, be-in, and freak-in, here, up north, back East, wherever -- those dark crews had been busy all along, reclaiming the music, the resistance to power, the sexual desire from epic to everyday, all they could sweep up, for the ancient forces of greed and fear? What an awesome book. Pynchon is awesome. His distinct sense of humor and great writing style permeates this story. The story is fun and smooth and a satirical take on late 60s early 70s culture and counter-culture. It is also probably one of the better books to be your first of Pynchon, as it has a straight forward plot and is an easier read. This is also one of the reasons it is nowhere near as good as V.Inherent Vice follows PI "Doc" Sportello as he tries to unwind a bunch of craziness. Perpetually stoned, one event or character leads him to another. It seems like he isn't even trying, but the book subtly reveals the fact he is actually very smart, and very good at what he does. There is action, constant intrigue, manipulation, twists and turns, and paranoia.This book reminds me a lot of Pulp by Bukowski. They both follow PIs and use some supernaturalishness. I really don't know how to describe it. Bukowski has some demon/angel type characters, while Pynchon uses acid trips and general drug hallucinations. Someone who wasn't a math major may be better at comparing and contrasting novels, but I couldn't help thinking back to Pulp repeatedly.
What do You think about Vicio Propio (2009)?
Story was slim and predictable with a lot of unnecessary imagery of the clouded 60s.
—Lorrie
Pynchon can really do anything. Very great read and very excited for the movie.
—Scribles123
Weird and funny and somehow still really stuck in my craw (in the good way).
—Sonshu
