DANGER SPOILERS!!!
My thought on the cause of the plague:
I think how they played out the plague was very interesting. It can almost be metaphoric to the origins of the creation of our world. The plague was really “the big bang” of this world.
Religious groups have formed their own opinions; scientists have formed their own opinion. I’m sure the answers are all right in front of us. That goes for both the novel and our world.
The “Amulet of Helen” could have caused the plague. Yorick’s mysterious ring could have saved him and Ampersand. The Aborigines woman could be right that men needed to be absent from the world for the time being and they would return at some point on their own as shown by the return or the extinct rats. Ampersand’s poop could probably be used to inoculate males from the plague that’s what made it possible for Vlad Jr. to leave the hot suite.
One thing I have learned in my studies of eastern religion is that there are many paths but one truth. That would have connected all the truths together and that would have made it in plain sight like the creators said.
Honestly though I think the origins of the plague are as irrelevant as they are important. Yeah that sounds stupid but like the big bang the beginning is important but not essential for understanding the story. Also it makes for good debate in forums like these.
The Characters:
I like how human Yorick is. When you first “meet” him he seems to be a normal human being (as far as starving artists go). You get to see a little into his family life. As far as a “normal” family goes almost any thing goes today. Mother’s and Father’s both pursuer their interests to provide a way of life for their families. Grandpa seemed a little creepy but ever family has at least one.
As you get to learn more about Yorick you get to see some of his “human” traits. Every person at some point in their life makes an assumption that has a great potential to damage their life on an emotional level. Every one thinks they are on their own when they have to face that problem. They also think that no one else would understand. They feel very alone and wish they were “normal” because they also think they are the only ones in the world who have problems like this.
You and I may see this assumption as nothing or as insignificant. To who ever has this assumption it’s of grave importance. If this topic ever came up in discussion and you suggested that it was unimportant that could crush this poor person.
EDIT: On the other hand every person also likes to belive that they were put here to acomplish some huge task that will shift the ballance of the fate of the world. That they may grow up to be as pivotal as George Washington crossing the Delaware or Winston Chruchill leading GB forward. When they don’t get to be that pivotal person they always dreamed they would be that feeds the doubrt that embelished the fear they hide about themselves. (End Edit)
Yorick went through this several times. So did all the other characters at some point although it wasn’t as focused on as they were not the main character. Yorick went though this with killing the “Son of Arizona.” He couldn’t tell 355. She’s killed several people as a secret agent. She could make light of his concern tell him something to the effect of “walk it off, you’ll be fine Nancy.”
Hero went through this with her relationships with men. Her father, grandfather (who I think molested her.) The guys she slept with as a high school student. She kept her feelings to her self. Then Victoria came into her life and reinforced her hidden feelings.
Sorry to go on and on about this but I think that every one has this very same problem in life, some times several times. Some people are able to take a step outside of the box look at the situation with some perspective and say to them selves “Boy, I was just a dumb kid for thinking that.” Unfortunately since these feelings are shrouded in fear that driven by the fact the person thinks something is wrong with them they may never get resolved since they hide these feelings and that will lead to depression, addiction or aggression unless they get the issue resolved.
Like I said sorry to go on and on about this but the biggest cure for the problem described above is to know you are not alone that every one has these problems. Nothing is wrong with you and you are a normal person. Saying that to your self will only get you so far. Hearing it from an outside source will always make you breath a sigh of relief.
EDIT: I didn’t get out of the US Army on the best of terms. Don’t get me wrong I got an honorable discharge but with the war and every thing I had some issues to resolve. The US Army, the VA, DAV, American Legion and the VFW offered (and still offer) very little help for the emotional well being of servicemen and woman. On the 17th of this month I will have been out 5 years. Most of my internal demonds I have had to fight on my own. My wife tries to help but until she can get into my head she can’t help much.
On some days I am better then others. I still have nightmares 1-5 times a week and have trouble sleeping. (They kind of come in phases) This may sound stupid but to clear the fog at least for my I might just have to say to my self “I don’t have time to be crazy today. I have to go to work then take my wife to her ultra-sound appt.” One foot in front of the other.
Wow I think I have spoken more on this subject today then I have in almost 5 years. Please don’t think I’m crazy it must sound worse to read it then it really is.
I like stories like Y b/c every one can take something from it and identify thier own lives with it. What you took from it was very diffrent then what I took, but that’s ok. You needed what you saw and I needed what I saw.
Stories like that can be so much more then just another novel.
LT