Montage's Name
The story of Blacktop Wasteland is told in montage, much like the name of the book's main character, Bug Montage.
Bug
For every step that Bug makes to get ahead in life, he moves progressively farther behind in his life.
Bug's One Last Job
Bug robs the jewelry store and says that it will be his "last job." The robbery, however, goes horribly wrong and the robbery turns out to be not his "last job."
Phone
Bug is "not an ironic man," yet ironically used his phone - a potentially life saving tool - to detonate a bomb - a potentially life-ending tool.
Bug's Criminal Life
Bug doesn't consider himself a criminal anymore, but readily accepts a job in which he would have to commit a fairly serious crime.