"crystal palace"

[Thomas Morrison]

Historical references aside, couldn't it be that P. is also metaphorically 
alluding to (describing) his own novel here? The novel is a fragile thing 
that exists in a delicate balance, and is nearly impossible to get a fix on. 
Much like (I imagine) an actual crystal palace would be, the thing looks 
different depending on where you stand, and even the slightest shift can 
cause a distortion, or change in perspective. Quite literally, it is nearly 
impossible to focus on. Later on the page P. mentions the "progressive 
knotting into"  that critics always latch onto to conveniently describe the 
novel. I see these images as a somewhat accurate description of the novel 
ahead. And consider Prentice's fear as well: "he's afraid of the way the 
glass will fall--soon--it will all be a spectacle [...] But coming down in 
total blackout, without one glint of light, only great invisible crashing." 
Isn't this fear *our* fear in a way?  Trying to make sense of this monster 
and it's elaborate structure, we fear that will all soon come crashing down 
around us and we will be left in total darkness. Also, this opening image is 
quite suggestive of the final image in the movie house that never gets fully 
played out. If the bomb were to actually hit, wouldn't this be the result? 
It seems to me, more than anything else, the novel itself is the "crystal 
palace."
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