This term serves to clarify how two places in the different cities can physically occupy the same or proximate space, even though they are not technically “near” each other according to the geographic regime of the cities’ separation. For example, at one point Borlú observes that his apartment is grosstopically less than a mile away from Dhatt’s, even though they actually live in entirely different cities and could not travel directly from one apartment to the other.
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Grosstopically Term Timeline in The City & the City
The timeline below shows where the term Grosstopically appears in The City & the City. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 17
...not cause widespread damage or chaos. It was sent from Besźel, from a post office “grosstopically” close, although it would have travelled a long distance via Copula Hall to arrive at...
(full context)
Chapter 18
...Borlú to meet his wife, Yallya, at their apartment. Borlú is shocked to realize that grosstopically, he and Dhatt live less than a mile away from each other. Yallya asks Borlú...
(full context)
