2009-09 Three Stigmata - The Title

[Cliff]

What does everyone think about the significance of the title of "The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch"?

[Random]

I'd guess it's related to the three artificial portions of Eldritch, his eyes, teeth and arm. It is these three items which seem to popup and alert people that what they're seeing is not the mundane.

Has anyone else been drawn to the significance of his name?
eldritch - Strange or unearthly; eerie.
BTW - I looked up the name meaning for Palmer and it turns out to be Pilgrim.

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

As an aside: One of the most annoying things about The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan is the fact that they named one of their evil mastermind characters Eldritch Palmer. I just hate it when mediocre books try to throw in references like that.

[Kelly]

Ugh Stefan, I agree with you there. That book had been on my wishlist, now I'm rethinking it. Perhaps the reference would be less grating in a year from now when there is some distance from reading PKD.

[Sandi]

Well, I haven't read the book, but I always liked the title. I knew that stigmata had religious significance--it's a manifestation of Christ's wounds on a believer's palms and feet. Random's definitions of "Palmer" and "Eldricht" further the religious meaning of the title. Does the story match the supernatural meaning of the title?

[Random]

Sandi wrote: "Does the story match the supernatural meaning of the title? "

It does on a few levels. The motto for the drug Chew-Z is "God promises eternal life. We can deliver it".

There is also speculation near the end of the book on who or what Palmer Eldritch is or has become. I don't have the book handy though to remember the details very well.