Neal Stephenson's "Fall" question

I’m up to the part where Egdod (very awkard name IMO) is becomming conscious. And he starts to recognize, at first, a leaf, then a bunch of leaves, then snow as the season changes, etc. Then he creates, while flying above it, a town. Now is he just slowing remembering things he experienced when he was not dead, in other words becomming Dodge again, or is he creating a virtual world based on the data in his “head” first experienced as Dodge?

Well, hell, writing this down, I think I may have just answered my own question. I’ve heard this novel described as Paradise Lost by way of Phillip K (what is reality?) Dick. I’ve read PKD, don’t remember the story of Paradise Lost.

I’m enjoying the novel, but am finding the descriptions of what is going on in Egdod’s head a little too long, and the diagrams not adding much to my understanding.

Should I read a summary of Paradise Lost, or just continue on without it.

This might be helpful because I read this book without knowing this and I had no idea what was going on. There have been some Neal Stephenson stories that I have absolutely loved but this book was all over the place. If that was a feature rather than a bug I totally failed to appreciate it.

I’ve never read Paradise Lost (although I have a general idea of what it’s about) and had no problem with this book.

IMO just plug on, it will clarify and solidify in a little while.