More details about Pynchon book

Thomas Pynchon fans, the long wait is apparently over: His first novel in nearly a decade is coming out in December. But details, as with so much else about the mysterious author of such postmodern classics as “V.” and “Gravity’s Rainbow,” have proved a puzzle.

This much is known about the new book: It’s called “Against the Day” and will be published by Penguin Press. It will run at least 900 pages, and the author, who doesn’t make media appearances or allow himself to be photographed, will not be going on a promotional tour.

Late last week, the book’s description was posted on Amazon.com. It read in part:

“Spanning the period between the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893 and the years just after World War I, this novel moves from the labor troubles in Colorado to turn-of-the-century New York, to London and Gottingen, Venice and Vienna, the Balkans, Central Asia, Siberia at the time of the mysterious Tunguska Event, Mexico during the Revolution, postwar Paris, silent-era Hollywood, and one or two places not strictly speaking on the map at all.

“With a worldwide disaster looming just a few years ahead, it is a time of unrestrained corporate greed, false religiosity, moronic fecklessness, and evil intent in high places. No reference to the present day is intended or should be inferred.”

The description was soon pulled from the site. An Amazon.com spokesman said it was taken down at Penguin’s request, but he expected it to be reposted soon.