The People of Paper

The last part of the novel opens with a title page, identical to the opening page of the book. The dedication to Plascencia’s family is also identical; however, the dedication to Liz that appeared in the opening of the book has been deleted, seemingly in response to her plea in the previous chapter.

On the first several pages, the columns headed “Saturn” are blank, as Saturn has vanished from El Monte and from the text itself. Even an astronomer contacted by Froggy confirms that there are now only eight planets in the solar system. The war appears to be over. Smiley reveals that he has not told Federico de la Fe about Saturn’s identity as Salvador Plascencia, the author of the story they are in.

Saturn soon returns, however, and resumes his narrative role. Federico and the EMF return to shielding themselves from Saturn’s gaze. Saturn reflects on how machinery is compacting land between Mexico and the United States, bringing the two countries closer together by the hour.