RIP. His little boy in the story, Chris, was murdered in 1979 in a mugging in San Francisco. The book is a touch of genius. Phaedrus was never really gone at all. I still get chills.
Be believed his daughter born later was the reincarnation of Chris.
I first opened "Zen" on a Delaware beach in the mid-1970s, lost all track of time, and got the worst sunburn of my life.
The Quality, the aretê he has fought so hard for, has sacrificed for, has never betrayed, but in all that time has never once understood, now makes itself clear to him and his soul is at rest.
Rest in peace, Mr. Pirsig.