Terhali's Particular Satisfaction, or Reading Through the Michael Moorcock Multiverse: The Condition of Muzak: Synopsis

(Avon 1977, Art: Stanislaw Fernandes)

The Condition of Muzak: Plot Breakdown

(Inset art by Richard Glyn Jones)

TUNING UP (1): In the aftermath of a military operation in Angkor Wat, Khmer mercenary Major Nye and his aide Professor "Hythloday" Hira provide assistance to Jerry Cornelius, who has been hiding out in the ruins and generally seems tired of the cruelty exhibited by the local “peasant communities” (the Angkor Wat setting resonates with the very first scene of The Final Programme).

PRELUDE

J.C.: Sometime in the late 60s/early-70s, a young Jerry Cornelius ogles the Monastery of the Poor Clares Colettines from his mother’s home on Blenheim Crescent. His swindler brother Frank comes home and mocks Jerry’s idealistic dreams of becoming a musician.
Major Nye: At Henneky’s bar, Jerry tries to get ex-Major Nye interested in his theatrical rock band. Nye is unable to help him, but offers encouragement.
Una Persson: Jerry is bored when his sister Catherine brings him to a “trendy” club. However, his spirits rise when he meets the refreshingly wry Una Persson.
Sebastian Auchinek: Jerry plays a tape of his band The Deep Fix to a prospective manager named Auchinek, but Auchinek is turned off by the progressive nature of the music.
Mrs C. and Colonel P.: As Mrs. Cornelius entertains the former Ukrainian intelligence officer Colonel Pyat, Jerry makes guitar amp noises in the next room, causing Pyat to react with alarm.

TUNING UP (2): While making his way up north by dogsled, Jerry is intercepted by Miss Brunner (who arrives in an armed helicopter). They discuss the lab up in Lapland. (This refers to events in The Final Programme).

INTRODUCTION

1. The dog-fight missile designed to dominate its decade: Jerry visits Catherine at the Convent of the Poor Clares, where she is recovering from a recent resurrection. Jerry is alarmed to hear that Frank has discovered her whereabouts through Bishop Beesley’s snooping.
2. Matra ubiquity with 2nd and 3rd generation missiles: Jerry runs into Frank outside the Convent. At the nearby Kensington Park Hotel bar Frank "replenishes" himself through one of his groupies. When Frank expresses interest in returning to their father’s old chateau in France, Jerry eagerly offers him a ride out of town.
3. Acquire targets simply, reliably and accurately…: Back at his own manse, Jerry runs into Shakey Mo Collier. Shakey Mo tells Jerry that Shades and Mr. Smiles would like to resume relations.
4. Introducing a new dimension of realism in visual simulators, Vital III: Jerry visits his father’s old chateau, where their servant John Gnatbeelson still maintains the old fortress. Jerry tells Gnatbeelson to turn Frank away if he tries to visit. Jerry aims to “retain the balance”, or at least a “linear mode”.
5. Need actuators that won’t freeze, burn, dry out, or boil?: Jerry returns to London, but is horrified to find that Frank has spirited Catherine away from the Convent of the Poor Clares, and will very soon have control over their father’s house as well.
6. In the beginning was flight…: Miss Brunner arrives and accuses Jerry of ruining her perfect programme with his mysterious, immoral black box. Jerry blames her for their becoming “divided”.
7. Optics for defence: After Miss Brunner departs with a box of Jerry’s old notes and manuals, Jerry tries out various outfits at a costume shop but finds true comfort in the form of a collection of Harlequin and Pierrot ensembles. He decides retool the convent into a clinic.
8. The BL 755 cluster bomb…: A visit from his financial backer Mr. Koutrouboussis (a friend of Cathy’s) makes Jerry edgy. Jerry believes that the goal of his machines should be to “do away with ‘Tomorrow’…”
9. The Strim antitank rocket launcher…: As new clients arrive at Jerry’s convent/health clinic/transmog center, Jerry catches up with Shakey Mo, whom he will be performing with at the ballroom later that night (as The Deep Fix). Mo is tired of London’s current system of post-apocalypse barter, but things seem to be looking up when foreign (“Yankee”) troops begin flying in.
10. Rapier, ultra low-level air defence system…: With the London clinic expanding worldwide through Koutrouboussis, Jerry relaxes at the newly-reopened Derry & Toms roof garden. He has an intimate rendezvous with Captain Hargreaves, and learns that Gnatbeelson has arrived in London (although without his memory). Jerry begins to have suspicions (“Things were looking black for the English assassin.”).(This scene seems to tie in with the beginning of A Cure For Cancer)

TUNING UP (3): After Jerry is revived and dressed (oddly) by Mitzi Beesley and Karen von Krupp, he is forced to steer a rowboat carrying von Krupp, Miss Brunner and Una Persson. Whist heading for a mysterious island, Jerry begins to violently transform.

DEVELOPMENT

1. Seven years for bank-raid vicar: Jerry arrives at his palace in Sandakan (northern Indonesia) by sea-plane and discovers Una Persson luxuriating amongst the dusty décor. Jerry seems preoccupied with destiny.
2. Society hostess death riddle: When an unusually amorous Una pines for a trip abroad, Jerry considers a return journey to Rowe Island, despite some bad memories of the place.
3. An important message to every man and woman in America losing his or her hair: Bishop Beesley and his daughter Mitzi arrive in their yacht, the Teddy Bear. Jerry and Una reluctantly prepare themselves for new international intrigue.
4. Cross country rape and slay spree of the frustrated bondage freak: Beesley suggests that Jerry go back to England, although his real interest seems to lie in locating Jerry’s black box. Jerry state of mind seems to deteriorate during this talk, but he becomes very excited when an airship from Rowe Island arrives overhead. Beesley despairs.
5. Spirit voices help me—Peter Sellers talks about the strange power that has entered his life: Una has Jerry evacuate to the airship, which is manned by Sebastian Auchinek, Prince Lobkowitz and Major Nye. Una quickly joins them. With Jerry’s mind disintegrating quickly, they head towards California on a mission to “check their bearings”.

THE REUNION PARTY: A legendary, near mythical party is reportedly held by “ghosts” at the Hearst Castle in California (one report mentions “Tanelorn”). The guest list includes many known characters from the Multiverse and the End of Time (including Jerry, Una, Nye, etc.). (This sequence is a reflection of "The Peace Talks" in The English Assassin). In the press, Notting Hill’s annual Summer Carnival reportedly causes much consternation amongst the more sedate locals.

6. BAC cools hopes of airship boom: Near Tintagel castle, Jerry appears out of the water, and makes his way inland. His recent actions (on behalf of his sister) having started causing the world to begin “splitting up” again, he enters the ruined town. (This scene is a variation of the beginning of The English Assassin).
7. UFOs—occupants and artifacts in Eastern Indiana: Major Nye arrives in a truck and tells Jerry that the Americans have decided to leave Britain to their own devices. While on the road, Jerry sees a ruined England, left in the wake of foreign warfare.
8. The girl next door could be a witch: Jerry and Nye arrive in Grasmere and reunite with Lobkowitz and Una Persson. With his memory in a state of disarray, Jerry does not recognize any of them. Worse, they have promised Jerry’s expertise in physics to the Scots (who soon arrive in an airship). (This sequence ties in to the chapter "The Interpreters" from The English Assassin).
9. A Bicentennial celebration. The 1976 Guns & Ammo Annual…: After escaping the Scots, Jerry returns to his home in Blenheim Crescent where he finds Sebastian Auchinek waiting for him. Auchinek hints at the whereabouts of Catherine, but first forces Jerry to audition for this “final programme”.
10. High intensity colour (that’s actually good for your eyes!): After Jerry and Mrs. Cornelius deposit a badly-deteriorated Catherine at the Roedean hospital, they visit Frank at Brighton Beach. Although the scene in England is desperate, Frank has done well for himself. Jerry feels weak. (This scene is a reverse-reflection of the ending of The English Assassin).

TUNING UP (4): Onboard the Teddy Bear, Jerry, Catherine, Una, Lobkowitz, Shakey Mo and Auchinek perform an amateur commedia dell’arte pantomime to an audience consisting of Mrs. Cornelius, Colonel Pyat, Frank Cornelius, Miss Brunner, the Nye family, Bishop Beesley and Karen von Krupp. Frank soon becomes alarmed when he realizes they are dancing the "Entropy Tango". Mrs. Cornelius spots Africa in the distance.

RECAPITULATION

1. The God from the machine: In Punjab on New Year's Day (of the turn of the century), a “Young Jerry Cornelius” arrives in India with British reinforcements. Major Nye (in charge of British, Bengali and Ghoorka troops) prepares for an invading horde of Chinese, led by Secundra Dass. Nye confidently reflects on the superiority of Britain’s more “practical” fighting forces in the face of such a primitive horde.
2. With the flag to Pretoria: In Boer-ruled Africa, Jerry enjoys riding an ostrich, while their Boer host Piet Olmeijer expresses an (unrequited) interest in marrying an uninterested Una, or failing that, the evasive Catherine.
3. The Pathfinder: In Ontario (Canada), Captain Una Persson visits commander Jerry Cornelius with news of an approaching Cossack invasion force. Anticipating that the Cossacks will be easily wiped out, Una agrees to deliver a message to a man named “Brown” at Niagara Falls on Jerry’s behalf.
4. The outcast of the islands: The Japanese Empire invades Australia, while the Canadians invade the United States. On board his Dornier DoX transport plane (accompanied by Una, Mo, and other friends), Jerry despairs at how complicated this reality has become (“All the bleeding possibilities occurring at the same time”) and pines for a simpler existence.
5. What is art?: Empires around the world fall, as smaller states rise, with geopolitics generally leaning towards anarchy. As the Cossacks are about to overrun Kiev, Lobkowitz, Auchinek and Colonel Pyat make plans for escape (although Jerry Cornelius willingly accepts the governorship).

(This next series of chapters is a Harlequinade of sorts, although it's not labelled as such.)

6. The Birth and Adventures of Harlequin: In the post-war ruins of London, Jerry comes across Miss Brunner, who has plans to restore the Empire with “English pragmatism”. At Buckingham Palace, Frank tries to convince Jerry to enlist with his boss Bishop Beesley, but Jerry simply decides to look for a different decade.
7. Harlequin Invisible; or, The Emperor of China’s Court: During a more colorful decade (apparently ushered in by Bishop Beesley), Jerry runs into Miss Brunner in a festive Chelsea crowd, as she attempts to awkwardly blend in. She stubbornly attempts to recruit Jerry for her scientific ambitions (involving a "final programme" of sorts), but Jerry seems more interested in the assassination business. After he clumsily feels her up, a fleet of American bombers begin dropping their loads onto the city.
8. The Metamorphosis of Harlequin: With global wars having degenerated into provincial conflicts, Jerry takes over Derry & Toms and slowly turns it into a garden/botanical fortress. With a frozen, unconscious Catherine in his possession, Jerry slowly begins to slide into a form of entropic ennui. Major Nye and Hythloday (Professor Hira) eventually arrive in an armored transport and recover Jerry’s near-catatonic form.
9. The Death of Harlequin: In London, an annoyed Miss Brunner and a philosophical Major Nye discuss Jerry’s true nature - his intimate relationship with urban existence. When Una Persson arrives, Jerry soon comes out of his catatonia. He is informed that he is now the honorary “King” of a now-utopian London. A procession of celebrants passes beneath his palace at Ladbroke Grove. Jerry states that he is no longer the Harlequin, but Pierrot, and asks about his Columbine (Catherine).
10. The Mirror; or, Harlequin Everywhere: In the 90s, an initially unnamed Harlequin capers through London on a jubilant Christmas Eve. At a costume party, Jerry’s only regret is that Catherine is still unconscious and out of his reach. He is delighted when Harlequin (Una Persson) visits Catherine’s bedroom and brings her back to life. Frank is shot and Jerry/Pierrot is finally reunited with Catherine/Columbine.

TUNING UP (5): At the Blenheim Arms on New Year’s Eve, Jerry gets teased by his old friends and enemies. Catherine tries to cheer Jerry up, although Jerry seems a bit down on all of his old heroes. Frank, Miss Brunner, Mrs Cornelius and the rest head for Brighton.

CODA

Mrs C. and Frankie C.: Mrs. Cornelius, Frank and Colonel Pyat attend Jerry’s debut concert with The Deep Fix. Unfortunately, the stage almost immediately collapses and the police break up the concert. Mrs. Cornelius tries to console her crest-fallen son.
Auchinek: Jerry tries to obtain money from Auchinek in order to buy a new guitar (to replace the one that was destroyed at the concert), but Auchinek only suggests that he take the "vampire" role in Una Persson’s new Frankenstein production.
Persson: Years later, Jerry enjoys Catherine and Una’s company as they celebrate their recent escapades in show business. They discuss a journey to their next production in New York, featuring Jerry in the role of Columbine.
Nye: Now a show business "impresario", Major Nye invites Jerry to participate in a nostalgia-based music revival, and reflects on the fact that public tastes are ultimately cyclic.
A Bundle: Now a successful actor, Jerry visits his mother, who is on her death bed. Just before she passes, she reveals to her son the labyrinthine (and incestuous) connections between the Cornelius, Persson, Brunner and Beesley families. She leaves Jerry with a small box which holds fondly preserved mementos of several of her children’s stage roles (as well as a strange doodle-note). Saddened, Jerry heads off to tell Catherine (the mother of his unborn child) the news.

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