The ambiguous Ziggurat

Thanks to Nutria for his several comments and responses on ST. But to Nutria and others: please call me Nick, or Nick Gevers; being called "Gevers" makes me uneasy... I think the view of the traffic jam as purgatory is interesting; but Nutria, how does Aldo fit into this scheme? Could you elaborate? On "The Ziggurat": I don't agree with you here, Nutria; I think Wolfe himself intended the Maximum Delusion theory to be prominent in people's minds: why else does he leave so many suggestions of delusion and abuse?

Hmmm. Good question. I was just bringing in a global view of Wolfe as devout RC and the purgatory theme in peace along with what seems to be the drift of the Sandman story. I need to re-read, and think about the people who have "died" in the jam (which would mean they've moved on to heaven), or who have disappeared. Isn't Aldo's love named Mary? That would be a clew, too. No. It's Marta isn't it. Hmm. Double reference? Marta as the train line into the city. What city. THE City? She's called just "Mar," which can be either Mary or Marta. Marta also as Martha, sister of another Mary. (Gee, once you're on this track, where does it stop?) And the end of the first story? It sounds like revolt and revolution. But maybe it points to the end of history, when purgatory will no longer exist. Dunno. Gotta reread.

Good question. I think I'll just have to leave the Zig for another day, though. BTW, if you have not mentioned the Integral Vance to this list, you should. Wolfeans should love Vance; Wolfe does. Does Wolfe know about it? http://www.massmedia.com/~mikeb/vie/ Nutria