How does the author use allusion in the novel, Wonder Boys?

Repeated allusions to the stories of August Van Zorn serve as a symbol fear, especially fear that life may be devoid of meaning. Grady references the stories of August Van Zorn many times throughout the novel, often trying to derive meaning from the stories and applying them to his own life. He appears to fear that his life will be generally painful and horrible, similar to the lives of the characters in the stories.