• Against the Day: Chapter 19
    Sep 5 2025

    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 mainland? If Madame Eskimoff's recordings did not suffice our listeners, they might find a digestif in order while contemplating this episode of Mapping the Zone.

    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 upgrade equipment, pay hosting fees, and help make the show better.

    https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezone

    If you enjoyed our discussion, please check out the following media that relates to these chapters:

    The Avenger: An Allegorical War Map for 1877 by Fred W. Rose (1877) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Turkish_War_(1877%E2%80%931878)#/media/File:Fred._W._Rose_The_Avenger_An_Allegorical_War_Map_for_1877_1877_Cornell_CUL_PJM_1080_01.jpg

    Books: The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage; Bare-faced Messiah by Russell Miller, Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

    As always, thanks so much for listening!

    Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠

    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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    3 hrs and 29 mins
  • Introduction
    Mar 9 2023

    In this inaugural episode of Mapping the Zone, our hosts introduce themselves and discuss a few topics to provide some insight into who they are and what they love about the subject of this podcast, Thomas Pynchon. Also discussed is what listeners can expect of the show going forward and which of Pynchon's books they will discuss first.

    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 upgrade equipment, pay hosting fees, and help make the show better.

    https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezone

    As always, thanks so much for listening!

    Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠

    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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    29 mins
  • Against the Day: Chapter 18
    Aug 22 2025

    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 doing and want to support the show, please consider making a donation on Ko-Fi. Funds we receive will be used to upgrade equipment, pay hosting fees, and help make the show better.

    https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezone

    If you enjoyed our discussion, please check out the following media that relates to these chapters:

    Books: The Dark Tower (series) by Stephen King

    Films/TV: Animaniacs

    Music: Hermanos Gutierrez (https://tidal.com/browse/artist/9835680?u)

    As always, thanks so much for listening!

    Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠

    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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    1 hr and 57 mins
  • Against the Day: Chapters 16-17
    Jul 18 2025

    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 to support the show, please consider making a donation on Ko-Fi. Funds we receive will be used to upgrade equipment, pay hosting fees, and help make the show better.

    https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezone

    If you enjoyed our discussion, please check out the following media that relates to these chapters:

    Films/TV: The Killer (2023; d. David Fincher), The Matador (2005; d. Richard Shepard)

    As always, thanks so much for listening!

    Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠

    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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    2 hrs and 1 min
  • Against the Day: Chapters 14-15
    Jul 4 2025

    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, chased by beavers in the brain, and our scholars, nonplussed, watch his newfound escapades.

    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 upgrade equipment, pay hosting fees, and help make the show better.

    https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezone

    As always, thanks so much for listening!

    Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠

    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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    3 hrs and 16 mins
  • Against the Day: Chapters 12-13
    Jun 20 2025

    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 Ko-Fi. Funds we receive will be used to upgrade equipment, pay hosting fees, and help make the show better.

    https://ko-fi.com/mappingthezone

    As always, thanks so much for listening!

    Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠

    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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    2 hrs and 16 mins
  • Against the Day: Chapter 11
    Jun 6 2025

    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.com⁠

    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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    3 hrs and 34 mins
  • Bonus Episode - Alex Pheby
    May 23 2025

    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, finally getting into our coverage of Part II, Icelandic Spar, of Against the Day.

    Please check out Alex's work wherever you buy books, or directly from Galley Beggar Publishing: https://www.galleybeggar.co.uk/alex-pheby

    Follow Alex on BlueSky: @alexpheby.bsky.social‬

    As always, thanks so much for listening!

    Email: ⁠mappingthezonepod@gmail.com⁠

    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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    2 hrs and 8 mins