"In 1985 a cataclysmic coincidence of previously unknown proportion extinguished virtually all forms of life on the North American Continent." (Section I, The Motel of the Mysteries, p. 1)

"Since 3850 hundreds of scholars and souvenir-hunters have chipped at the continent's alluring crust. Although North America has not given up her secretes easily, a number of significant discoveries have been made." (Section I, The Motel of the Mysteries, p. 10)

"The clustering of hundreds of monumental inscriptions mounted on huge poles along both sides of a highway was quite common. Each inscription represented a different religious sect or point of view and was placed as near as possible to heaven." (Section 1, The Motel of the Mysteries, p. 12)

"While preoccupation with religion was consuming the North Americans and particularly the Yanks, who lived in the area called Usa, a number of scientists in Europe had begun to monitor the dramatic increase in pollutantus...