He also mentioned as formative influences his visit to Panama as a seaman in 1946 and F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby (1925); it is no accident that Fitzgerald is mentioned once in the text itself.
In addition, he also cited his trip to Panama as a seaman in 1946 and F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby (1925) as significant influences; it is no surprise that Fitzgerald is referenced only once in the text.