The Secret City of the Old and the Hidden World
InsomniaThe novel's exploration of the hidden lives of the elderly and the unseen world around them.
increasing
Bearing strength in each event
decreasing
Bearing strength in each eventdecreasingThe Derry of the Old Crocks
A Hidden Community
The Picnic Area
The Harris Avenue Old Crocks gather at the picnic area near the airport to play chess, talk, and watch planes. They are invisible to the busy world around them, but they have their own society.
The Secret City
Ralph discovers that there is a Derry of the Old Crocks, a hidden community of elderly people who live their lives largely unnoticed. They have their own rhythms, their own concerns.
The Value of Age
The old are often dismissed, but they have wisdom and experience. Ralph learns that age is not a weakness – it is a source of strength.
The World of Auras
A Hidden Reality
The Auras
Ralph and Lois discover that there is a hidden world of auras, balloon-strings, and deathbags. This world exists alongside the Short-Time world, invisible to most.
The Levels of Existence
Clotho and Lachesis explain that reality is like a building with many floors. Short-Timers live on the lower floors, but there are higher levels inhabited by Long-Timers and All-Timers.
The Secret City of the Auras
The world of auras is a secret city, hidden from ordinary perception. Ralph and Lois are granted access to it. They see the true nature of reality.
The Tower
The Ultimate Structure
The Dark Tower
Clotho and Lachesis speak of a Tower that contains all levels of existence. It is the ultimate structure of reality. The Crimson King is associated with it.
The Boy Who Will Save the Tower
Patrick Danville, the little boy saved from High Ridge, will one day save the lives of two men who are crucial to the Tower. His destiny is tied to the fate of all worlds.
A Glimpse of the Larger Picture
Ralph and Lois only glimpse the larger picture. They are small players in a vast cosmic drama. But their actions matter. They have helped preserve the Tower.
Throughout the novel
September 1993
Throughout the novel
