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Thanks Ryan Dunn and Jeff Wilson. Interesting considerations regarding the Jungle Hut and Robert's view and the Sand Garden. Will look into these issues! :- )…
11 Aug 2010, 17:37
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In Yesod, Severian speaks to Tzadkiel who tells him, Later Severian wonders why Tzadkiel disguised himself so he could hang out with Severian on the ship. Tzadkiel explains that …
11 Aug 2010, 17:29
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James your previous post left me despairing that we could ever communicate our ideas clearly to each other. This part was especially confusing: James Wynn: But your next post…
11 Aug 2010, 17:13
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James, I went back and re-read your post and again I couldn't find anything that makes Yesod as successor to Briah as untenable. Perhaps you can explain? For, example the bit abo…
11 Aug 2010, 14:33
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Sounds very Kabballic. Based on the Sephiroth? Given the names Wolfe used for his universes it is difficult to dismiss a strict Kabballic interpretation out of hand. Still, the Wol…
11 Aug 2010, 13:57
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Once again Roy, I am flummoxed by your post. To my way of thinking your citations apppear to undercut your own assertions and support mine. If Brook Madregot flows "downhill" fr…
11 Aug 2010, 12:53
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Now, let's not be too hasty..I do think Tony's point is a good one to bring up. But we still have Tzadkiel's words to Severian to consider; can't ignore them- How could Sev…
10 Aug 2010, 19:19
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Yes! :- ) (p.s. sorry about duplicate post above. Server problems)…
10 Aug 2010, 17:30
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This is my view of the story also. It allows for the echoes of the past and future to influence each other. My twist would be to suggest a spiral shape rather than branches. It jib…
10 Aug 2010, 17:17
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This is my view of the story also. It allows for the echoes of the past and future to influence each other. My twist would be to suggest a spiral shape rather than branches. It jib…
10 Aug 2010, 17:15
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I find the text confusing and contradictory in places, regarding cosmology especially. My interpretation has been clarified by this exchange in the James Jordan interview: For …
10 Aug 2010, 16:59
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My understanding is that the definition of a "universe" is that it has no physical, spatial boundaries or ends. This has been called into question recently but I think it was a ver…
10 Aug 2010, 12:20
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I've wondered the same thing, especially regarding the coin and most especially because it is a false coin. I don't know if Vodalus himself is the counterfeiter but whichever of hi…
10 Aug 2010, 11:33
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I did suspect that literal interpretation of Kabballah terms might be behind some of what I think is confusion regarding Yesod and Briah, but I didn't want to bring it up. Normal…
10 Aug 2010, 00:31
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You miss my point. I would guess that, as a participant, Gene Wolfe would care very deeply about who won the Korean and Cold Wars. The question is, who did God want to win? Sure…
09 Aug 2010, 14:11
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John Watkins- > I think you have this wrong. Very wrong, in fact. Briah is not the lower So be it. We will have to disagree. I hope this is not an intentional misunderstand…
09 Aug 2010, 13:43
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I think it is a good idea. Quetzal bears some resemblance to Inire. Moreover using the bird-name Quetzal can't help but invoke the Mayan god Quezalcoatl. For me, this is yet anot…
09 Aug 2010, 13:12
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I guess I am reaching beyond your interpretation of the text but I don't see anything wrong with that. Why should there be an end to expansion of current modes of thought when I, a…
09 Aug 2010, 12:26
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There has been some rather lively discussion, originating with Robert Borski (Solar Labyrinth) and elaborated in here, that Father Inire, called monkey- like in his first descripti…
09 Aug 2010, 04:21
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I certainly agree with the autobiographical nature of the Korean/Ascian war. And I certainly agree that Wolfe thinks wars are very significant to the people who are fighting in the…
09 Aug 2010, 04:09
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It is a good point to bring up. I must say that I do not share your assumption that when Father Inire refers to his "cousins" that this must mean Hierogrammates. We see F, B and O…
09 Aug 2010, 03:49
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Do you have someone in mind? My best thought would be Agia. She also was a female companion who betrayed Severian. But they seem so different. Burgundofora meant well but she…
09 Aug 2010, 03:31
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Not sure if I've posted on it in the past. I know some others have alluded to similar ideas. The reason for thinking it, in small part, is because Father Inire, the old Autarch …
08 Aug 2010, 13:28
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This is a plausible explanation and it surely could be what Gene Wolfe had in mind with regard to "severa". Among the most popular alternate explanations I've seen are that Sever…
08 Aug 2010, 10:27
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I can whiff that funky cuisine bro. Zak does go through a primate phase, doesn't he. We see a character who resembles Hethor on the ship also, in the weird part where Severian is …
08 Aug 2010, 10:09
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Roy, I think you've hit the nail on the head! (hammer pun, intended, heh, heh) Perhaps before I've suggested that solving the puzzle(s) of BotNS feels like solving a jigsaw puzzle…
08 Aug 2010, 03:14
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Quick additional thought. The Cumaean is shown to be a shapeshifter about as explicitly as anything we'll get from Wolfe. Inire and The Cumaean are lumped together as similar bein…
07 Aug 2010, 11:41
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John, aside from the "Dammit, Lee" that was my favorite part of your last post. It has happened for me quite a number of times. Suggestions from people with theories I don't agree …
07 Aug 2010, 11:35
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Ah, Roy, I despair. How could you hurt me, once again, by implying I have some belief in "Lupine gospel". I don't even believe in any sort of gospel regarding the real world. How c…
07 Aug 2010, 11:04
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I generally agree with Jeff Wilson. Severian is least forthcoming with us in regard to his problems with incest. We are given enough information to fairly easily deduce that Dorcas…
06 Aug 2010, 14:06
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I think that is interesting. Some other parallels between Serverian and St. Ignatius.. - he was in the hospital due to a leg injury incurred serving as a soldier -he had a spir…
03 Aug 2010, 11:31
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I presume the Author of you and I is to be considered of an intelligence too vast, penetrating, universal, inhuman and mysterious to ever be comprehended by us. How true is that …
01 Aug 2010, 12:58
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I think this is a very apt comparison which I haven't seen made before. I can't help but think that horror was intended in the scene where Becan is so immediately happy and acce…
31 Jul 2010, 08:01
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---------------------------------------- Yeah, alzabo, avern, abaia, arioch..so many alien "a's" on Urth. Wolfe himself refers to the Vodalus feast as a "satanic eucharist". B…
30 Jul 2010, 19:59
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Without disagreeing I'd want to point out that fuligin is the color which is darker than black. If black absorbs all colors of the spectrum then a black hole is even darker becaus…
30 Jul 2010, 16:58
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Perhaps I should have been more clear. I perceive that the story presents two sorts of resurrection. One is pure and good and is associated with Pelerines and gems and white (or is…
30 Jul 2010, 15:16
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I think it is a single snake-like thing which extends to nether-dimensions; no visible head. The "many" are faces which form the pattern on the "reptile's" back "the eyes of each …
30 Jul 2010, 04:56
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Well, I suppose the catamite status of the baby would fall under my other category, "unpleasantly outrageous" better than "fantastic" explanations. I was addressing what I thoug…
29 Jul 2010, 17:46
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No reason he can't be both (though Baldanders is dark haired). The thing is the word "catamite" is used. Severian is not a real person who might have meaningless random musings. T…
29 Jul 2010, 13:01
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A good question. First, I'd say Southerners are mostly, like Hallvard, tall, pale skinned and blonde, from the cold parts of The Commonwealth. To the north of Nessus are the India…
29 Jul 2010, 03:55
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My assumption was that, like Idas, all the undines have white/albino hair. The green algae color wouldn't work so well atop a brunette. I put a lot of stock in the undines' clai…
28 Jul 2010, 11:38
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Well, I certainly agree that Borski takes one theme, like haircolor or onomastics and runs with it and stretches it beyond all credulity. The blonde catamite is a perfect example.…
27 Jul 2010, 19:52
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True, Severian is able to identify the old Autarch in a couple guises. Still, perhaps an alien who has chosen to live on Urth as a human is a bit better at disguise than a human…
27 Jul 2010, 19:38
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Oh, that is so unfair! heh. Actually red hair would be in the mix also, (remembering that Fechin is Father Inire). Sorry about the goat, btw. My theory holds together pretty we…
27 Jul 2010, 19:13
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I'm not sure it is as clear as all that. The old Autarch served as Third Bursar. Captain Tzadkiel served as a sailor on his ship. Severian served as one of his own army commanders.…
27 Jul 2010, 18:27
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Severian encounters three people who have facility with mirrors, Jonas, the old Autarch and Hethor. Severian encounters persons resembling Jonas and Hethor when he goes on Tzadkiel…
27 Jul 2010, 18:10
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Jeff Wilson- Well, many major power players including Father Inire, The Old Autarch and The Cumaean (via Hildegren) explicitly state that their strategy involves playing both sid…
27 Jul 2010, 17:34
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I think my interpretation is that Severian, at that point, doesn't know if he will be successful in bringing the New Sun. If he is not perhaps the next torturer boy should also be …
27 Jul 2010, 16:41
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Well, I don't know that there is any way to prove such a thing, certainly not to those who don't like the idea. But it is interesting that different paths can arrive at the same d…
27 Jul 2010, 12:05
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Here are the suspicious circumstances to me on this issue in BotNS- 1. Conspicuously absent is mention of homosexual activities among the members of the guild.From prisons to Gre…
22 Jul 2010, 03:18
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