significance of Albemuth

The center of a communication system linking all star systems in the universe, Albemuth monitors the work of three-eyed builders of civilization on Earth, including the Lamptons and Mini. These creatures, who eventually lose their distinctive claws and third eye along with their self-identity, cannot long survive in Earth's toxic atmosphere without constant bombardment by VALIS, who alone gives rational thought. Until told this, Horselover Fat supposes that the beam of pink light that fills him with information comes from the star Sirius in the Canis Major constellation.