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I'm with you on that Ryan. My Father Inire ideas can be rendered silly by focusing on the ephemera like monkeys and hair color and ignoring the central theme which is that Severia…
03 Dec 2010, 14:53
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Yes. The direction my own thoughts have been going lately. But if Briah is our universe, a Christian universe, why do we see a Dionysian figure 30,000 (or whatever it is) years aft…
03 Dec 2010, 04:21
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I could be. But I just can't be sure. I have doubts. A similar discussion cropped up recently and I think it was Andrew Mason who pointed to a Christ-figure from a story in Long S…
02 Dec 2010, 23:15
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Thanks Gerry. That is the most realistic explanation for the excessive rancor and venom my always politely expressed ideas seem to cause. I think I was gonna go off the deep end if…
02 Dec 2010, 22:41
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I will disagree that Silk's Outsider possession/vision was the work of the Increate. The fairly clear association of The Outsider with Dionysus in RttW suggests this is a deity op…
02 Dec 2010, 19:07
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I've been following the discussion with some interest. It really seems like Horn died in the pit. Aside from the other evidence mentioned, the chapter is called The End and Horn ex…
02 Dec 2010, 04:28
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First, yes, I can't claim more than having an impression as I haven't read Wright's book, cover to cover, though I have read significant portions online and read a number of revie…
02 Dec 2010, 04:11
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Wolfe is known as a creator of stories with deception piled upon deception. I think the possibility that he, himself, is capable of such layering must be considered. What if Wolfe…
01 Dec 2010, 20:17
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Oh, I am not offended by criticism or conservative gatekeepers, though I can see how that conclusion could be reached from my OP. Actually, that would be very hypocritical of me …
01 Dec 2010, 18:51
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Here is an interesting passage from oBW: For me the minor god/major devil mention especially relates to BotNS since I think Urth abounds with both. The part about Krait might …
01 Dec 2010, 16:30
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Hah, you are absolutely right! Good catch. I feel foolish for misreading it, though funnily enough I think it was the cover(hardcover American) which misled me. I can remember rea…
01 Dec 2010, 05:10
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In recent posts as diverse as Gerry Quinn's, Mark Millman's and Thomas Bitterman's, as well as many times in the past, I've noticed the implication that this message board might no…
01 Dec 2010, 04:58
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Son o' Witz: "Like the man your friend talked about, most men think they make their homes for their families, but the fact is that they make both homes and families for themselves…
01 Dec 2010, 04:23
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Yeah, on first reading of 5HoC I assumed Veil's hypothesis was a bit of silly sophistry. But then evidence of Dr Marsch's replacement by VRT forced me to reconsider- maybe Veil is…
30 Nov 2010, 18:17
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I would agree. Perhaps Wolfe's mild taunting of Wright in the interview I previously quoted could be more construed as an ad hominem attack since they were in conversation. But sin…
30 Nov 2010, 13:57
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As other montsers were grown on Urth from black beans? I think the Robert Graves exploration is a fruitful enterprise. I'm wondering about the goddess Fauna (Bona Dea) and her conn…
30 Nov 2010, 13:17
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I think this was discussed in the past year so I'll try to keep it brief. Yes, The Old Wise one clearly tells Sandwalker that the Shadow Children are the remnants of human beings w…
30 Nov 2010, 04:29
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Yes, that was my problem with it, on first reading. But if Pan is conflated with Dionysus and his thousands of years of gnostic global religious influence the problem disappears. I…
30 Nov 2010, 03:32
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Agreed, great post Craig! Regarding Wright's failure to fully realize the deceptions within deceptions: Heh. I am reminded of my days in scientific academia and the debates be…
29 Nov 2010, 19:49
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Thanks David. I acknowledge not being especially facile with religious philosophy and I appreciate any and all help I can get. Yes, I have overused the adjective "gnostic" where…
29 Nov 2010, 15:26
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In conclusion, I think the presence of Dionysus' millenia-long worship does provide a significant enough basis for a secret underpinning to understanding of the Sun series. More a…
29 Nov 2010, 13:06
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Yeah, that's my gathering. I think Wright analyzes BotNS from an atheistic perspective. So there is no truly higher spiritual power involved. Just some highly advanced aliens who p…
29 Nov 2010, 12:16
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Thanks to James Wynn for the explanation of his connection of Hephaestus and the Silk story. I liked it and thought the "Thetis" aspect was the most compelling. I was intrigued be…
29 Nov 2010, 04:20
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Ack, so many new threads. Had to pick one subject line to respond to all. *god(s) and gods* seemed most inclusive. With regard to Inhumi on Urth, I guess I should clarify that I…
29 Nov 2010, 03:36
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When I spoke of Severian in the Destroyer role I was speaking in terms of his cosmic, divine role in bringing the Flood which destroys Urth and allows the formation of Ushas. I co…
26 Nov 2010, 19:15
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On further consideration I am now more firmly sold on the conclusion that the blonde, hawk-nosed guy steering the ship at the end of RttW is meant to represent Typhon. It just do…
26 Nov 2010, 15:32
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I don't see the need for being parsimonious and embracing ambiguity here. I think the clues are pointing to a specific answer- there were Inhumi on the Whorl from the beginning, …
26 Nov 2010, 14:48
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Severian remembers Dux Caesidius as being "a fine commander" with a "hawk face" Eata remarks that Valeria may have married him because he looked like Severian though handsomer …
24 Nov 2010, 03:23
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James I'm hoping you will explain what you mean about the deeds of Hephaestus and these two characters. I do like Andrew's dark/light twin comparison of Severian and Silk. Not su…
23 Nov 2010, 02:39
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Interesting you should bring this up now. I am finishing up RttW and at the end there is a mysterious character on Urth who is tall and blonde with icy eyes and a hawk-like nose.…
22 Nov 2010, 12:50
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I don't know for sure. I guess it does seem like Protestant sects have more of the rants against Satan and all that. But there is more tradition of demonology, angels and saints an…
12 Nov 2010, 21:23
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At the end of CotA there is an elaborate blacksmith analogy made to describe the Hierogrammates' shaping of humanity (below). I think it may be apt in describing how Wolfe's view …
12 Nov 2010, 18:38
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True. Also has a parallel in the flooding and cleansing of that underground place (forget what it was called) with all the corpses on Green. Seems like both might have a themati…
12 Nov 2010, 14:12
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In the biography, Wikipedia notes: Thanks Stan. Yes, this is EXACTLY what I am finding in RttW as a unifying theme which extends back to the subtext of BotNS. I find the gener…
09 Nov 2010, 14:28
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Well, you have now and that's what is important. Thanks Antonio.…
08 Nov 2010, 18:51
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In Persian/Zoroastrian religion, Jahi is a cognate figure to Lilith, just as Meschia and Meschianne are cognates to Adam and Eve. So I think the real question is whether Lilith/Ja…
08 Nov 2010, 17:23
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My suggestion was that time travel structures in BotNS consist of a labyrinthine entrance path coupled with a vertical structure. I'd focused on the fact that Ragnarok is only vis…
08 Nov 2010, 16:47
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Just reading the part in RttW in which Jahlee and Merryn and Silkhorn and Severian are together in the Matachin Tower. Some have taken Merryn's statement regarding Severian, "He's …
07 Nov 2010, 13:05
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What I said was: My apology was for causing emotional distress, not for "bending/falsifying the evidence" I think I provide exact quotes from the text to support my ideas at as…
07 Nov 2010, 12:00
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In the past I think I considered that possible but questionable. In light of the current discussion and in reviewing so many other BotNS mysteries where mere suggestions become th…
05 Nov 2010, 23:37
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Heh, yep, no blame for GUTS or monkeys should be direct to you Ryan. I insist that all such hurled simian poop should be thrown my way. I'm not sure what James is referring to w…
05 Nov 2010, 21:28
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I would like to be more direct and say, "it seems clear enough what person it is referring to. Then I'd want to reverse it, as I think Gene Wolfe is inviting us to do, and think …
05 Nov 2010, 20:54
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Seems so to me also. I don't see how my mention of the possibly sarcastic "wonder-worker" is rendered an example of maliciously selective reading because I didn't include "..and s…
05 Nov 2010, 20:37
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I don't know if you can speak for "people" but if I've pissed you off, I apologize, though I'm not sure why what I wrote upsets you. Or did you mean you were pissed off at Andrew,…
05 Nov 2010, 16:52
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Agreed, Andrew brings up an interesting idea that I hadn't thought much about before. Severian does see a couple guys who look like himself in the crowd at the inn during the Zama…
05 Nov 2010, 12:57
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I don't think that. But if Wolfe thought he was boring he mind have added a little wind to spruce him up a bit. I don't think that either. But perhaps some do or are just content …
04 Nov 2010, 17:22
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I'd have to check but I think there are at least 3 remarks on the wind stuff. I agree with James that the very fact of the mention of wind here has meaning. Starting with Sword of…
04 Nov 2010, 11:43
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Still pecking through RttW and finding interesting revelations. One thing I find striking are the numerous mentions of Typhon/Pas as a god of winds. Why are we hit over the head s…
03 Nov 2010, 13:42
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Yes, if the mistake is repeated then I suppose this is the most parsimonious answer. Would have been nice (for me anyway) if there was more to it. For some reason Wolfe is uncharac…
22 Oct 2010, 02:10
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I've been reading Return to the Whorl and had a question. I think it is for James Wynn. Wasn't it you who suggested some sort of connection or shared identity between Hyacinth and …
21 Oct 2010, 11:30
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