In "The Crying of Lot 49," Thomas Pynchon opens a world filled with intrigue and complexity, where the protagonist, Oedipa Maas, finds herself entangled in a mysterious conspiracy. As she starts to unravel layers of meaning and connections, events unfold that pique her curiosity, leading her further into a labyrinth of symbols and secret societies.

The quote "Things then did not delay in turning curious" captures the essence of Oedipa's journey, highlighting how quickly the ordinary transforms into the strange and enigmatic. Her exploration raises questions about communication, reality, and the nature of meaning itself, making readers ponder the deeper implications of her discoveries.