Yes Maru.
It is 3 novellas written as one story.
Of this I am certain.
The ascians/abos are people like us
Even the deer-hunter, the elephant-man and the old
whaler recognised this at last.
There is a method to this madness but the full mystery
(Mr. E is unlike Maitre D'Iffy) is not yet revealed to
me. M'sieur Yves? or did you say Eve?
Gene Wolfe is prisoner 143, but he is a cypher for
everyone who suffers unjustly, whatever their species.
or type.
Bien sur.
We are all related, names only tell half the story.
I hope this helps
Jim