Hogg is pastoral, but with its focus fixed on the sordid goings-on in Caliban’s cave—what Delany calls, in his preface, the Scorpion Garden. For the writer of Hogg, Caliban’s cave, it would seem, forms most of the world. And from it, the Prosperos of the universe—the Mr. Jonases (and the Martin Sells!)—are a terrifying bunch. Even the Ariels—Monty, Bill, Whitey, Officer Pelham, and Inspector Haley—are mean and tarnished. Caliban is still rutting after various Mirandas, with Prospero’s blessing. Ferdinand, by shipwreck or any other means (look at what lives on the broken-down boats along Crawhole!) has not arrived on this shore! From the author’s preface, one suspects he is not about to.