Acetate fumes
The phrase "his breath smelled like acetate fumes" describes how Miller's breath smelled while he was chatting to Holden. Miller's breath had a pungent, bitter, and chemical odor, which could be attributed to a lack of dental hygiene or something more sinister according to the simile. This analogy also contributes to Miller's overall sense of terror and bewilderment. Miller's abnormal conduct and the sensation that something is wrong with him are reinforced by the images of acetate fumes, indicating that Holden is in a dangerous situation and must flee fast.
Tissue paper
The phrase "the man who went through security like tissue paper" describes how easily Brian Caldswell was able to avoid detection. It implies that he did it with little effort and in such a hurry that it was almost as if he was passing past security as if it were made of tissue paper which is extremely flimsy and easily torn. This simile emphasizes Brian's ability to easily overcome security and presents an image of him doing it with no effort. It also emphasizes his reputation as a man who can quickly overcome any difficulty.
In the bones beneath her hand
"Every sin she'd committed, backward and forward in time, had its center in the bones beneath her hand," is a metaphor for the destruction of the atmospheric processor and the death of the person inside. Melba, the speaker, is reflecting on her past mistakes and how they led her to this point. The metaphor implies that her previous mistakes are linked to the tragedy unfolding before her and that it is her job to make things right. She accepts responsibility for her actions and attempts to make atonement by grasping the deceased man's legs. The metaphor is effective in demonstrating how the consequences of one’s actions can reach far beyond one’s immediate actions. It also suggests that redemption can come from accepting responsibility and trying to make things right.
He looked like crap
The author compares Fred Johnson to "crap" in this analogy, implying that he looks terrible. This comparison stresses Fred's physical appearance as a result of stress, age, and starvation. It also emphasizes the contrast between Fred's physical condition and the educated, confident Ashford. The image of Fred looking "like crap" conveys the sense that Fred is a diligent veteran of space who is showing the wear and tear of a lifetime of hardship and battle whereas Ashford is a self-aggrandizing upstart who hasn't faced the same amount of difficulty.
Panting like he’d run a race
Miller's breathing grows increasingly frantic, and the simile "panting like he'd run a race" is used to describe it. It implies that Miller is frantic and overwhelmed as if he is racing against time or some mysterious force. This simile conjures up images of extreme physical and mental tiredness as Miller tries to express something vital that Holden doesn't grasp, forcing Miller to become increasingly desperate and irritated. This simile also represents Miller's hunt for Julie as a race against time, as he does not save her in time.
Blood vessels of some massive organism
The simile compares the station's corridors and passages to the blood vessels of some massive organism. This analogy is appropriate since both the station and the blood arteries of a live thing are enormous and mysterious, with a complex system of pathways and networks that transport important nutrients and life-sustaining components throughout the body. The analogy is particularly appropriate since, like a biological entity, the station is self-contained, with its system of electricity, lights, and defense mechanisms. This similarity implies that these structures are likewise necessary for the station's operation, much as blood arteries are necessary for the operation of a living organism.
Metaphor for Destruction
Abaddon is a poetic word for destruction, hell, or a bottomless pit. The term is used in the bible to mean a space where the dead are found. In other incidences, it means the angel of destruction. Additionally, it also means judgment. Abaddon represents the destructive nature of the alien technology that threatened life on Mars and Earth. “Abaddon,” as the title of Corey’s book, refers to the characters having to pass through the ring gate of the proto-molecule and the catastrophic force there. Notably, a lot of people died in Abaddon’s Gate. Corey writes that “traveling between the planets had never eliminated murder. So many highly evolved primates were in the same box for months to end, a certain death rate had to be expected.”
Simile about a potentially hazardous technology
Corey writes about the technology that is highly detrimental to human life; “It killed humans; therefore, it was a weapon.” He also talks about the peril of radiation that could kill, but it had to be used the same way as a medical X-ray machine which was not supposed to be a weapon, but it could still kill through prolonged, unnecessary exposure. Corey writes that “Holden was starting to feel like they were all monkeys playing with a microwave,” which can bring utility and hazard depending on how it is handled. Demonstrably, one can push a button to turn on the light inside the microwave and push another to switch on the radiation, which can scald a hand kept inside. Corey’s statement about the characters starting to feel as if they were monkeys is due to the hazardous potential of the technological system they were handling, whose complexity left them susceptible to an unseen danger the same way a monkey leaping from a tree branch to another one can miscalculate and end up sustaining injuries unperceptively.
