The significant distinction from Glissant in chamoiseau's novel, however, comes from the fact that the béké masters have been replaced with black policemen; the French power structure allows the various strata of Martinique to self-colonize through their language use.

One point three parsecs from Earth a heartbeat was being monitored by an Amneshahn telebooth.

Wouldst thou gripe both gain and pleasure?

The Raja, for example, escaped and, while in disguise, finds work as Bahram's munshi or secretary – but these strands never quite recover the verve of their first outing.