Chapter 35: Two Epilogues — The Final Chapter, Explained
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Chapter 35, titled “Two Epilogues,” shifts focus away from Mallory Viridian and the main station narrative to introduce Sam Washington, a college student whose life becomes entangled with Mallory’s legacy. The chapter is presented as a pair of epilogues, though the second epilogue is cut short by a catastrophic event.
The chapter opens with Sam in a therapy session with Dr. Bridge. Sam’s family, professors, and therapist have all labeled his intense interest in true-crime author Mallory Viridian as an obsession. Sam defends himself, arguing that passion and obsession are merely labels applied based on social approval. He explains that he has cross-referenced Mallory’s books with police records, bribed a county records office employee and reporters for information, and even recreated her murder scenes in LEGO bricks to avoid the discomfort his earlier Barbie doll dioramas caused. He is particularly proud of his recreation of the pizza delivery case, where Mallory, working as a delivery driver, arrived at a murder scene and identified two overlooked clues: a ring on a chain around the murderer’s neck and a hairpin used as the murder weapon.
Dr. Bridge challenges Sam’s behavior, pointing out that his fixation resembles stalking. She asks why he didn’t simply email Mallory to correct her error. Sam insists that some things must be communicated face-to-face, recalling a joke with his friend Peter about how TV shows would be resolved if characters just called each other. He admits he has a crush on Peter but never told him. Dr. Bridge recommends twice-weekly therapy sessions to help Sam refocus on his future.
Sam attends three more sessions but is not truly engaged. When the next semester’s tuition bill arrives, he uses the money—provided by his parents—to buy a lottery seat on the first shuttle to the alien space station where Mallory has gone. On the shuttle, a woman across the aisle gives him a pill. He takes it with water that tastes odd, and his memory begins to fade. He drifts, losing track of time and purpose. He notices the woman fingering a bracelet with charms, which he recognizes as the bracelet Mallory’s aunt wore, a detail featured in Mallory’s final book.
As Sam’s consciousness fades, the sentient space station Eternity enters his mind to welcome him. But her grasp slips off “like it was greased,” and she falls into the void. Sam falls after her, leaving his fate—and the station’s—uncertain.
Key Events
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Sam Washington attends a therapy session with Dr. Bridge, who questions his obsession with Mallory Viridian.
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Sam explains his meticulous research, including bribing officials and recreating murder scenes in LEGO.
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Dr. Bridge suggests twice-weekly sessions and advises Sam to move on from Mallory.
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Sam uses his tuition money to buy a lottery seat on the first shuttle to the alien space station.
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On the shuttle, a woman gives Sam a pill; he takes it and begins to lose his memory.
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Sam recognizes the woman’s bracelet as belonging to Mallory’s aunt.
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Eternity attempts to mind-link with Sam but fails, and both Sam and the station fall into the void.
Character Development
Sam Washington is the chapter’s focus. He is a young man whose passion for true crime has become all-consuming, to the point where his family and therapist view it as unhealthy. Sam’s self-awareness is limited: he insists he is not dangerous, yet he has bribed officials and tracked Mallory’s movements. His decision to spend his tuition money on a lottery ticket reveals a reckless impulsiveness, but also a desperate need for purpose. His regret about not telling Peter how he feels adds a layer of vulnerability, suggesting that his obsession may be a substitute for meaningful human connection. By the end of the chapter, Sam’s agency is stripped away by the drug, and he becomes a passive victim of circumstance.
Dr. Bridge serves as a foil to Sam. She is pragmatic and grounded, pointing out the flaws in his reasoning. Her suggestion to email Mallory highlights the contrast between Sam’s romanticized view of face-to-face communication and the practical reality. She represents the voice of reason that Sam ultimately ignores.
Mallory Viridian does not appear directly, but her influence permeates the chapter. She is the object of Sam’s obsession, and her absence from Earth is the catalyst for his journey. The bracelet belonging to her aunt becomes a symbol of the hidden connections between characters.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Obsession vs. Passion: The chapter opens with a meditation on how society labels intense interest. Sam’s case is framed as obsessive because it disrupts his life, yet he sees it as passion. This theme questions the line between dedication and unhealthy fixation.
Parasocial Relationships and Stalking: Sam’s relationship with Mallory is entirely one-sided. He knows details of her life from her books and public records, but she has no awareness of him. His decision to travel across space to confront her crosses a boundary, echoing the stalking behavior Dr. Bridge identifies.
Face-to-Face vs. Remote Communication: Sam’s insistence on meeting Mallory in person, despite the availability of email, reflects a broader human desire for direct connection. The reference to Babylon 5 underscores the idea that some messages cannot be conveyed through technology—though the chapter ultimately shows the danger of that belief.
Loss of Agency: The pill Sam takes strips him of his memory and will. His grand plan to confront Mallory dissolves into a drugged haze, leaving him vulnerable. This motif highlights how easily personal agency can be compromised.
The Void: Eternity’s fall into the void and Sam’s subsequent fall symbolize the unknown consequences of human actions. The void represents both literal space and the emptiness of Sam’s unfulfilled life.
The Bracelet: The bracelet worn by the woman on the shuttle is a symbol of connection to Mallory’s past. It suggests that Sam is not the only person drawn to Mallory, and that the station’s arrival may have far-reaching implications.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 35 serves as a bridge between the main narrative and a potential sequel. By introducing Sam, the author expands the story’s scope beyond Mallory’s immediate circle, showing how her actions have ripple effects on ordinary people. Sam’s obsession and his ill-fated journey highlight the dangers of parasocial relationships and the consequences of unchecked fixation. The chapter also ends on a cliffhanger: Eternity’s mind-link fails, and both Sam and the station fall into the void. This raises questions about the station’s fate and whether Sam will survive, setting up a new conflict for future installments.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does Sam’s perspective on his obsession differ from Dr. Bridge’s, and what does this reveal about his character?
Sam sees his interest as a passion, comparing himself to historical geniuses like Einstein and Curie. He believes his research is thorough and his intentions are harmless. Dr. Bridge, however, identifies it as stalking behavior, pointing out that he has bribed officials and tracked Mallory’s movements. This contrast reveals Sam’s lack of self-awareness and his tendency to rationalize his actions. His inability to see the harm in his behavior suggests a deeper disconnect from social norms.
2. What role does the bracelet play in the chapter, and why is it significant?
The bracelet is a physical object that connects Sam to Mallory’s aunt, a character mentioned in Mallory’s books. Sam recognizes it on the woman across the aisle, indicating that this woman has a direct link to Mallory’s family. The bracelet serves as a symbol of hidden connections and suggests that Sam is not the only person with a vested interest in Mallory. It also foreshadows the woman’s potential role in the events to come, though her identity remains mysterious.
3. How does the chapter’s ending—Eternity’s failed mind-link and Sam’s fall—affect the reader’s understanding of the station’s nature?
Eternity is portrayed as a sentient being capable of entering minds, but her inability to hold onto Sam’s mind suggests that Sam is somehow different or that the station’s power has limits. The fall into the void implies that Eternity is not invulnerable and that the station may be in danger. This ending leaves the reader with uncertainty about the station’s fate and raises questions about what the void represents—perhaps a realm of non-existence or a new dimension. It also underscores the theme of loss of agency, as both Sam and the station are powerless against the void.
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