You know your Rush stuff all too well, Veronica!
"We are the Priests of the Temples of Syrinx ...". I devoured that album when it came out, admittedly. Much as I disliked Ms Rand's views - sorry, George! - I found it fascinating that a band would make a concept piece around one of her (lesser) books. Rush introduced me to Rand (which in Germany never had any standing either as a serious writer or philosopher, she's regarded as a libertarian nutcase).
LOL, as I'm writing this, my shuffle modus on the office hifi plays Rush's Subdivisions - Neil Peart is watching me! Exquisite bass playing though.
I was at one point a very avid fan of Rush, having seen them at least 5 times thru the early years of their success - 2112 remains my fave album from them, I lose interest in them after "Farewell to Kings". When I graduated High School in 1976 I managed to buy my first "real" bass - it had to be a black Rickenbacker 4001, mine was a N.O.S. '73 that I paid $880.00 for. I have to admit to trying to learn as much of 2112 as I could, I was still pretty new to the bass at that point, it was about as Prog as I could stand
For me, Geddy with anything other than a Rick isn't Rush as I best recall - One thing I remember distinctly in seeing them so many times was how well they sounded live not just that they could perform their complex music live - (a couple Aerosmith shows sure were disappointing!)
I've read "Atlas Shrugged" a couple times, my english teacher suggested I give it a go, Rand is rather dogmatic, but for me at the time, and still, I found it a good read.