Some Notes on Inherent Vice by Pynchon

From Pynchon at the Beach: Inherent Vice is the key to understanding Thomas Pynchon. Why do critics hate it? By Jim Ruland.

Throughout his [Pynchon's] novels—which address subjects ranging from the founding of America to the destruction of Europe—he is interested in those on the wrong end of imperialism. To put it another way, Pynchon is obsessed with real estate: both the builders and the dispossessed. It’s no accident that at the center of The Crying of Lot 49 and Inherent Vice are dead or missing developers.

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I agree with the description of Pynchon as someone interested in "those on the wrong end of imperialism." I think that is spot on.