Titus Groan the Countess. Here, Steerpike takes the opportunity to spy on the Groan family. Despite having led him there, the fiercely loyal Flay is angered by Steerpike's eavesdropping and locks him in a small room. Steerpike, however, escapes out of a window, risking his life above a sheer drop. He manages to climb up onto the roofs and towers of Gormenghast, and from there begins his rise to power. After spending twenty-four hours clambering over the enormous castle searching for a means to enter, Steerpike manages to climb in through a window into the secret attic of Lady Fuchsia Groan. Fuchsia,
Walking on Glass sight to be independent stories. Two of the stories are set in and around Islington in North London, the other is set in the far distant future. Eventually, links between the three storylines become apparent. Quiss's Gothic castle is a combination of Franz Kafka and Mervyn Peake. After saving Quiss from suicide Ajayi reads the titles of the books on the wall: ""Titus Groan", she read, talking softly to herself. "The Castle", "Labyrinths", "The Trial"" Iain Banks commented that the book "didn’t do exactly what it set out to do and I think you have failed to an extent if