Summary

Chapter 8 – This chapter is narrated from the first person point of view of Smiley, who describes himself as rejecting everything Federico is saying; as wanting to fight on Saturn’s side, even though it would mean the destruction of the planet; and how aware he is “of [his] own place in this novel.” For all those reasons, Smiley goes to visit Apolonio, who tells him that he learned about Saturn’s identity from a monk who abandoned his wandering brothers, but who later wrote a profound apology – “The Book of Incandescent Light.” Apolonio goes on to say that Saturn is simply the pseudonym of Salvador Plascencia (the author’s name). Smiley resolves to find Plascencia / Saturn, pays Apolonio (who draws him a map), goes on a long journey, and eventually arrives at a place where a hole...