On Wings of Song uses science-fiction elements, but seems to discuss contemporary society, and uses medieval fantasy and the structure of a Victorian novel. The fantasy enables Disch to create exaggerated symbols of aspects of society. For instance, "flying" represents the efforts of many people to escape the realities of life through inane entertainments or silly cults that promise ecstasy at the cost of a person's humanity. The bizarre mixture of genres also gives Disch flexibility in his novel; he may at once comment on present-day society and suggest what the future of society may be, all the while moving his protagonist through a world that seems realistic yet is filled with symbols. Disch has the distinction of having created a style all his own, and an ethos — however unhappy it may be — that forms a singular picture of the human condition.