In a message dated 11/23/99 4:53:19 PM Eastern Standard Time,
urth-errors at lists.best.com writes:
Maybe Gene just wanted to write a "messiah" book kinda like Herbert's Dune. Paul Atreides was just a man but he changed the course of his entire world, established a sort of religion, and was remembered as a god-like figure all throughout the rest of the books. Maybe in the coming Short Sun books [i haven't read the first one yet so don't give anything away!] Severian's role in his planet's past will be explained more. I know he wasn't mentioned in Long Sun, but I heard he makes an appearance in this next series. I wonder, will he be revered as a messiah or a cursed as a devil?
-Steve