Chapter 54, Reunion Summary

While waiting for rescue from Universe, Chris Floyd hears from his grandfather, Dr. Floyd, who is very much alive aboard the speeding spaceship. Chris is relieved but puzzled over the conversation with a phantom. Dr. Floyd guesses that the phenomenon has something to do with the monolith, similar to how Dave Bowman came through it. Although bored with the wait, Chris and Dr. van der Berg are rescued before the boredom turns acute.

Chapter 54, Reunion Analysis

Chris Floyd becomes tightly bonded with his grandfather once Chris realizes that he is still alive. Few other stimuli work as well for creating strong family ties than a brush with death, even if only imagined. Another possibility about the communication is that the image of Dr. Floyd might have been created by the monolith to relay the message that humans are harmful to Europans...