Slow Learner: Introduction & The Small Rain
Explicit content warning
03/14/25 • 66 min
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: [email protected]
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mappingthezone.bsky.social
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pynchonpod
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mappingthezonepodcast/
Show art by Brad Wetzel: @bradspersecond (on IG and Reddit) bradspersecond.com
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: [email protected]
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mappingthezone.bsky.social
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pynchonpod
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mappingthezonepodcast/
Show art by Brad Wetzel: @bradspersecond (on IG and Reddit) bradspersecond.com
Previous Episode
Bonus Episode - Talkin' It Up with Johan Harstad
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, thanks so much for listening!
Email: [email protected]
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mappingthezone.bsky.social
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pynchonpod
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mappingthezonepodcast/
Show art by Brad Wetzel: @bradspersecond (on IG and Reddit) bradspersecond.com
Next Episode
Bonus Episode - David Foster Wallace (w/ Johan Harstad)
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: [email protected]
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mappingthezone.bsky.social
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pynchonpod
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mappingthezonepodcast/
Show art by Brad Wetzel: @bradspersecond (on IG and Reddit) bradspersecond.com
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