The novel repeatedly invokes Martin’s “centre,” sometimes as a place he inhabits and sometimes as a separate entity. What does it represent, and how does it relate to Martin’s personality and his appetites?

In what ways do the rock, the creatures that inhabit it, and other environmental challenges reflect qualities of Martin’s twisted psyche?

How does the novel work as a meta-commentary on survival narratives? How does it resemble traditional “lost at sea” narratives, and how does it depart from or comment on the genre’s conventions?