Book 3 brings to a close Zelevansky’s ambitious trilogy, begun in 1981, about the Hegemonians, a desert people who, according to the author, inhabited the Middle East. In detailing their culture and history, Zelevansky looks to literary sources as diverse as the Old Testament, the major myths, Moby Dick, and Thomas Mann’s The Magic Mountain. The compelling graphic imagery is drawn from and/or inspired by an equally eclectic range of sources, including medieval manuscripts, textbooks, found photographs, and hieroglyphics, as well as such cultural artifacts as high-top treads. Unpacking this richly layered material is itself an act of archaeology. Please note:  The book does not include the last sixteen of forty interactive and full-color stamps spread out across the three volumes.