The Identity of Thomas Pynchon The identity of Thomas Pynchon is as elusive as the sticky, complex webs of meaning woven into his prose. As America's most "famous" hidden author, Pynchon produces works which simultaneously deal with issues of disappearance and meaning, of identity and nothingness in a fashion that befuddles some and delights others. He speaks to the world from his invisible pulpit, hiding behind a curtain of anonymity that safely disguises his personality from the prying eyes of critics and fans alike. Without a public author presence, readers are forced to derive the identity of the author instead from the author's actual works. When s