Atd : page 542---starts on page 524.Big Ass Spoiler

[robinlandseadel at comcast.net]

As far as I can tell, karma has always played its role
in TRP's writings. 
 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Seb Thirlway <supa_kart_hooter at yahoo.co.uk>
 
Nice, and appropriate quote.  You're widening out the question 
(dizzyingly!).  By "real life" I just meant whatever interests 
compete in characters' minds against the Mission to Find Out the 
Secret Of Everything.  Something like an imagined 
Jessica/Beaver reproach against Roger - that Roger's stuck in 
some obsession of the War and the Counterforce, while they in 
contrast are getting on with their lives.

This opposition is explicit in AtD, in that all the Webbs get on with
 all kinds of other things which distract them from their supposed 
Mission to avenge their father.  And IMHO just on 1st reading 
TRP sides much more with "Real Life" in AtD than he did in GR;
 though this tendency is obvious in both VL (Zoyd doesn't get 
back together with Frenesi or actually defeat Brock, because 
that's just "what happens sometimes") and M&D.  In GR the 
Mission-"phantasy" also goes down against Real Life, but goes 
down kicking and screaming, leaving a bleak crater.

From: kelber at mindspring.com
 
But the Traverse boys are reminded of their mission at every turn 
-- by shamans, dreams and Webb's ghost.  Justice matters 
somewhere, even if it doesn't work out in real life too often.
 
Laura