Already mentioned this one in the recommendations, but does anyone else love this classic political black comedy? Robert Coover created the masterpiece of the hip 60s writers. It's better than Gaddis, Gass, or Barth . It even tops Pynchon's best.

Any love out there?

I don't know this one...

Is the "Gass" you refer to William (Bill) Gass? If so, he's an emeritus prof here in my Philosophy dept and a really interesting fella. I only know his philosophy work, none of his fiction, but he's very active in the Writer's Center here at WU.

He is indeed the Gass that I was thinking of. I have to say that I'm jealous of your close proximity to such an amazing writer. I have a couple books of his philosophy, and think that On Being Blue is fairly good.