Books

'Bleeding Edge': Thomas Pynchon's New Book?

New Pynchon Book Out This Summer?
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Bleeding Edge by Thomas Pynchon? Maybe, if a tweet by a leading book critic and editor is to be believed.

Pynchon is one of the most mysterious modern-day authors. There are few photographs of him, and his novels are dense yet often brilliant. The Crying of Lot 49 and Gravity's Rainbow are viewed as modern classics.

Now aged 75, his most recent book, Inherent Vice, came out in 2009, and was generally well reviewed, but not seen as being his best work.

The news was tweeted by Ron Charles, Fiction Editor of The Washington Post:

He later said that the news had been confirmed to him by two sources at Penguin.

We've been unable to get any confirmation ourselves at time of writing, but if true, this is exciting news for this year's summer list.

Will you read the new Pynchon?

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Before You Go

Best Books of 2013?
Searching for Zion(01 of39)
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This moving, personal book sees the author traveling to African diasporic communities around the world to uncover different ideas of what homeland means to each of them. Dave Eggers said about this book, "I doubt there will be a more important work of nonfiction this year." Atlantic Monthly PressPublished on January 8th, 2013
The World Until Yesterday(02 of39)
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Author of Guns, Germs and Steel, a new book by Diamond is always going to be a big deal. This one promises to be his most personal yet, based on his years of anthropological field work. Technically it's a 2012 book, but its publication date of the last day of the year makes it a big book for the year ahead.VikingPublished on December 31st, 2012
David Sedaris(03 of39)
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The popular author's books are events in themselves. Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls , apparently a title taken from a real antique book, will doubtless be another bestseller. We can't wait. Little, BrownPublished on April 23, 2013 (credit:Getty Images)
My Brother's Book(04 of39)
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Maurice Sendak's last book is a tribute to his late brother, Jack. HarperCollinsPublished on February 5th, 2013
The World's Strongest Librarian: A Memoir of Tourette's, Faith, Strength, and the Power of Family(05 of39)
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A title like that is always going to win over bookstores and libraries. This one is non fiction and comes from a blog of the same name by a man with Tourette's who has found the strength to overcome his disability.GothamPublished on May 2nd, 2013
The Ocean At The End of the Lane(06 of39)
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This new adult novel by Neil Gaiman is described by him as "an astonishingly personal sort of a novel" about creatures from beyond the world, and, of course, the power of stories. William MorrowPublished on June 18th, 2013
Gulp(07 of39)
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Mary Roach takes a look at our insides, and tells us more than we ever needed to know about how our bodies work, in an entertaining and compulsively quotable manner.WW NortonPublished in April, 2013
Unmastered: A Book on Desire, Most Difficult to Tell(08 of39)
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This book on female sexuality and desire was already published in the UK where it received mixed reviews - some loved its unconventional narrative style, others found it frustrating. All, however, found it a moving and memorable read. FSGPublished on June 4th, 2013
Odds Against Tomorrow(09 of39)
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Nathaniel Rich is a talented author whose new book sounds like an intriguing literary thriller. FSGPublished on April 2nd, 2013
red doc>(10 of39)
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Anne Carson is one of America's most talented experimental writer/poets. This story, the sequel to her breakout work Autobiography of Red, is a tricky read, but an important addition to her growing canon.KnopfPublished on March 5th, 2013
Letters to a Young Scientist(11 of39)
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Edward O. Wilson is the world's leading authority on ants, as well as a leading public intellectual. Now aged 83, this book is a handover of knowledge and advice to the next generation, written in the form of 21 letters. LiverightPublished on April 15th, 2013
Stephen King(12 of39)
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The sequel to The Shining, Dr Sleep, comes out next year. That's all you need to know.Scribner/ Hodder & Stoughton Published on September 24, 2013 (credit:AP)
TransAtlantic(13 of39)
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McCann's latest novel ties together the real-life histories of Frederick Douglass, Alcock and Brown, and Senator George Mitchell. This National Book Award winner is a talented and skillful writer - we're looking forward to learning how he manages to weave these narratives together. Random HousePublished on June 4th, 2013
A Memory of Light(14 of39)
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The 14th and final book in The Wheel of Time saga brings this bestselling series that began in 1990, to a close. To say that fans are excited is a vast understatement. TorPublished on January 8th, 2013
The Tragedy of Mr Morn(15 of39)
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Already published in the UK, this rare early Russian play by the master wordsmith isn't as good as his best - but what is? It is, however, a decent read in its own right. Also, he wrote it when he was 24, which is deeply irritating. KnopfPublished on March 19th, 2013
Detroit: An American Autopsy(16 of39)
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This is our pick for a sleeper nonfiction hit next year. Charlie LeDuff is a remarkable journalist, and this book is filled with incredible writing as he witnesses his home city crumble through neglect and corruption. Penguin PressPublished on February 7th, 2013
Gun Guys(17 of39)
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It's looking like a big year for discussions over America's relationship with guns. Gun Guys, a road trip through the south's love affair with small arms, is by a former New Yorker writer with an ear for a good line. Also out next year, and presumably from a different part of the political spectrum, is American Gun: A History of the U.S. in 10 Firearms by a former Navy SEAL.Gun Guys: Knopf, published on March 5th, 2013American Gun: William Morrow, published on May 14th, 2013
The Atlantic Ocean(18 of39)
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Fans of Pulphead looking for another intelligent nonfiction writer will take easily to O'Hagan. His first-hand look at British homelessness is unforgettable.MarinerPublished on January 22nd, 2013
Big Brother(19 of39)
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Lionel Shriver, the author of We Need To Talk About Kevin takes on the topic of obesity in a book that is sure to be a harrowing must-read.HarperPublished on June 4th, 2013(Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images For The BFI) (credit:Getty Images)
American Savage(20 of39)
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Dan Savage is a hugely popular sex advice columnist and creator of the It Gets Better project. His words are often wise and funny, and point to a happier America where people aren't judged by their sexuality and beliefs. Dutton Published on May 21st, 2013
Lean In(21 of39)
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Facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg has strong words for women and for the society that hinders their progress. This could become the Bible for a new movement that tries again to shatter the eternal glass ceiling. KnopfPublished on March 12th, 2013
Vampires in the Lemon Grove(22 of39)
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Swamplandia! was a remarkable first-time success story. Vampires in the Lemon Grove, another short-story collection, will be sure to get plenty of critical attention. KnopfPublished on February 12th, 2013
Going Clear(23 of39)
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This look at Scientology and Hollywood is based on a controversial New Yorker article that discussed Tom Cruise and John Travolta's connection to the group. Expect plenty of discussion around this one. BantamPublished on January 17th, 2013
The Blue Book(24 of39)
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A.L. Kennedy is a highly skilled Scottish writer whose prose is often achingly beautiful. Her being published by Amazon Publishing means that it won't get the bookstore attention it deserves, but it'll be worth tracking down.AmazonPublished on March 12th, 2013
The Shining Girls(25 of39)
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This thriller is being pushed hard by Mulholland Books. Could it be 2013's Gone Girl?Read the first chapter here.Mulholland BooksPublished in June 2013
Chuck Todd's book on Obama(26 of39)
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Currently untitled, Todd's book about Obama's first term and second election victory could change our perspective on the president and his intentions. Little, BrownPublished on April 9th, 2013 (credit:WikiMedia:)
All That Is(27 of39)
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James Salter is perhaps the best living American writer that most people haven't heard of. His A Sport and a Pastime is a modern classic, and this book is his first major work for seven years. Though he is now 87 years old, this is a typically wonderfully written love story, sparse, elegant and unforgettable. Expect to see this talked about a lot this spring.KnopfPublished on April 2nd, 2013
I'll seize the day tomorrow(28 of39)
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Goldstein is the writer-presenter of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation radio show Wiretap. If you're a fan, you'll know his writing, and eagerly await this book. If you're not a fan, then go and listen to it/download the podcast. It's ok, we'll wait. You're welcome.PintailPublished May 28, 2013
American Isis(29 of39)
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On the fiftieth anniversary of her death, this new biography is the first to draw from Ted Hughes's archive. This book promises to reassess both her life and her legacy. Expect to see English majors everywhere devouring it. St Martin's PressPublished on January 29th, 2013
Wool(30 of39)
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We're not big on "The new XXXX" headlines, but there is one way in which this could be the new Fifty Shades, and that is in being a self-published/small published work taken on and launched big by a major publisher.This sci-fi tale already has an incredible following, was a number 1 bestseller on Amazon, and Ridley Scott has optioned it. . Let's see what Simon and Schuster's muscle can do to help it reach a wider audience. It probably won't go wrong, but if somehow it does, this could become the lazy journalist's shorthand for why big publishing is on the slide.Simon and SchusterPublished on March 12th, 2013
Point Your Face At This(31 of39)
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Demitri Martin's This Is A Book was a huge hit. This is another surreal joke/sketch-filled tome that will doubtless please his ever-growing fan base.Grand CentralPublished on March 19th, 2013 (credit:WikiMedia:)
The Dark(32 of39)
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Lemony Snicket and Jon Klassen take on the ultimate enemy of nighttime imagination. Little, BrownPublished on April 2nd, 2013
The Madness Underneath(33 of39)
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So, it turns out that Maureen Johnson writes as well as tweets (though we have been known to get involved in the occasional Twitter squabble with her.) Book Two of her teen thriller series Shades of London is both sinister and fun. Just don't tell her we said so. Putnam JuvenilePublished on February 26th, 2013
Why knot?(34 of39)
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One of the strangest titles of the year, famous Man on Wire tightroper Philippe Petit helps you tie "beautiful, life saving knots" while also sharing something of his philosophy.AbramsPublished on April 1st, 2013
Year of the Jungle(35 of39)
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How do you follow up a series like The Hunger Games? Suzanne Collins's response is to write something for younger readers, about war and its impact. Doubtless going to be huge. ScholasticPublished on September 10th, 2013
Z(36 of39)
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A fictionalized tale about Zelda and F Scott Fitzgerald's Jazz Age romance. The perfect accompaniment to 'The Great Gatsby' movie that we're worried won't be as good as we want it to be.St Martin's PressPublished on March 26th, 2013
Happiness, Like Water(37 of39)
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This debut collection by Nigerian American writer Chinelo Okparanta is getting some interesting buzz around its elegant tales of womanhood and loss. She was one of Granta's six New Voices in 2012.MarinerPublished on August 13th, 2013
You Don't Know Me but You Don't Like Me: Phish, Insane Clown Posse, and My Misadventures with Two of Music's Most Maligned Tribes (38 of39)
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Onion AV Club's head writer tracks down fans of Phish and the Juggalos to examine both pop culture phenomena in his own unique fashion. Scribner Published on June 11th, 2013
The Dinner(39 of39)
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This barbed tale of two families is entirely set over one evening in an expensive restaurant. A smash hit overseas, Gillian Flynn called it "chilling, nasty, smart, shocking and unputdownable," and she ought to know. We enjoyed it a lot. HogarthPublished on February 12th, 2013
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