# Severian the Liar

*The Urth list — 2 messages, 2 voices, 16 Dec 1998*

<https://urth.darkrealm.vip/thread/urth/1297>

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### David_Lebling
*16 Dec 1998, 10:55*

It might be interesting to collect Severian's lies.  It has been remarked
on occasion that he is an unreliable narrator, but we haven't listed more
than one or two of his misleading or incorrect statements.  Just to get
things going I'll mention one I noticed last night (yes, I've been
compelled to read it again).

In _Shadow_, after Severian's first visit to the House Azure, he remarks
that after that he gave Roche (Drotte?, whomever) the money and never went
back.  However, later on, when he is with Agia, he remarks that he had been
with "hired women in the town," implying multiple visits.

     -- Dave Lebling
     (aka vizcacha)
     (david_lebling at avid.com)

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### Matthew Malthouse
*22 Dec 1998, 01:31 · follows David_Lebling*

> David_Lebling at avid.com wrote:
> 
> It might be interesting to collect Severian's lies.  It has been remarked
> on occasion that he is an unreliable narrator, but we haven't listed more
> than one or two of his misleading or incorrect statements.  Just to get
> things going I'll mention one I noticed last night (yes, I've been
> compelled to read it again).
> 
> In _Shadow_, after Severian's first visit to the House Azure, he remarks
> that after that he gave Roche (Drotte?, whomever) the money and never went
> back.  However, later on, when he is with Agia, he remarks that he had been
> with "hired women in the town," implying multiple visits.

But nothing in that sugests that he returned to the House Azure itself. It
can't have been the only brothel in the quarter.

It may be that the phrase he used to Agia was a misdirection to forstall her
asking details?

Matthew

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