i've never read vollmann, apart from had a go with "atlas" years ago and really didn't like it, just disliked him as a character, he felt really grubby and low rent. couldn't get into it at all.
but yes, can see in delaney that similarity re the nonjudgemental tone going to a place where you think it's nasty. like when he's describing fred and says he doesn't wanna get too close to him cos he smells.
it's just so weird, as a fairly short piece, how he's catching his own mood and thoughts in this quite distanced way. i like the bit where he goes outside and writes up descriptions of the cars to test his abilities.
i intuitively like delaney as a character, how he writes, how he thinks, it chimes with me.