Chapter 16, The Coming of Winter Summary

The Dreamreader is feverish for several days but is nursed back to health by the Colonel. While he is convalescing he holds several conversations with the Colonel and learns that when one's shadow dies one's mind also dies—the shadow, apparently, holds nearly the entirety of the mind. He manages to have the Colonel unknowingly smuggle the completed map to his old Shadow. Once he has recouped his strength, he returns to the library.

Chapter 16, The Coming of Winter Analysis

The metaphysics of the End of the World are further examined—when one is separated from one's shadow, one also loses most or all of one's mind and memories. The Colonel explains that all of the inhabitants of the Town have lost their shadows which have subsequently died; thus, they are all more...