# is Gene Wolfe among us? *The Urth list — 8 messages, 5 voices, 20 May 2006* > Exported from an unofficial mirror of a public mailing list. Copyright > in each message remains with the person who wrote it. > Email addresses are obscured as `user at host`, the form the original > archive published. This file was rebuilt from parsed fields rather than > retained headers, so it is faithful in content but not byte-exact. --- ### b sharp *20 May 2006, 21:55* Once there was a rumor that Gene Wolfe was disguised in this community. If that were true, how could we identify him? If he is actually a technophobe then we wouldn't expect he has been here from the begininning. But once he arrived we'd expect him to be intelligent and insightful, yet circumspect. To make regular entries focusing on factual evidence more than grand fanciful theories. His writing would reflect the culture of an older American. What sort of name would he choose? Since this archive is composed of his loyal fans, he might pick a name which reflects his feeling that he is our humble servant, the artist serving his patrons. On the other hand his name might also reflect that he and his work are the focus, the center of everything here; that we honor and revere him. His name might also reflect that this is a place where an anonymous sovereign might view his subjects, the monarch can see his vassals, lord see peons, King C. Servant -bsharp (=what note on the keyboard?) --- ### mournings glory *21 May 2006, 00:19 · in reply to b sharp* > From: "b sharp" > Reply-To: The Urth Mailing List > To: urth at lists.urth.net > Subject: (urth) is Gene Wolfe among us? > Date: Sat, 20 May 2006 17:55:30 -0400 > > Once there was a rumor that Gene Wolfe was disguised in this community. If > that were true, how could we identify him? > > If he is actually a technophobe then we wouldn't expect he has been here > from the begininning. But once he arrived we'd expect him to be intelligent > and insightful, yet circumspect. To make regular entries focusing on > factual evidence more than grand fanciful theories. His writing would > reflect the culture of an older American. > > What sort of name would he choose? Since this archive is composed of his > loyal fans, he might pick a name which reflects his feeling that he is our > humble servant, the artist serving his patrons. On the other hand his name > might also reflect that he and his work are the focus, the center of > everything here; that we honor and revere him. His name might also reflect > that this is a place where an anonymous sovereign might view his subjects, > the monarch can see his vassals, lord see peons, > King C. Servant *Ahem.* Pardon the familiarity, Roy, but I believe this is addressed to you. emmmmm --- ### maru dubshinki *21 May 2006, 00:44 · in reply to mournings glory* >> On 5/20/06, mournings glory wrote: >> From: "b sharp" >> Reply-To: The Urth Mailing List >> To: urth at lists.urth.net >> Subject: (urth) is Gene Wolfe among us? >> Date: Sat, 20 May 2006 17:55:30 -0400 >> >> Once there was a rumor that Gene Wolfe was disguised in this community. If >> that were true, how could we identify him? >> >> If he is actually a technophobe then we wouldn't expect he has been here >> from the begininning. But once he arrived we'd expect him to be intelligent >> and insightful, yet circumspect. To make regular entries focusing on >> factual evidence more than grand fanciful theories. His writing would >> reflect the culture of an older American. >> >> What sort of name would he choose? Since this archive is composed of his >> loyal fans, he might pick a name which reflects his feeling that he is our >> humble servant, the artist serving his patrons. On the other hand his name >> might also reflect that he and his work are the focus, the center of >> everything here; that we honor and revere him. His name might also reflect >> that this is a place where an anonymous sovereign might view his subjects, >> the monarch can see his vassals, lord see peons, >> King C. Servant > *Ahem.* Pardon the familiarity, Roy, but I believe this is addressed to you. > > > emmmmm I am a dunce. It actually took me a few moments to get this one. ~maru Roi c. lackey --- ### b sharp *22 May 2006, 11:09 · follows maru dubshinki* Just so it is clear, my original post in this thread was completely tongue-in-cheek. If I really thought Roy was Gene Wolfe I wouldn't out him in such a cavalier manner. If there was any purpose to it, other than play, it might be as a parable to warn against the dangers of seeking only positive evidence when trying to support a pet theory. --- ### mournings glory *22 May 2006, 14:55 · in reply to b sharp* > From: "b sharp" > Just so it is clear, my original post in this thread was completely > tongue-in-cheek. If I really thought Roy was Gene Wolfe I wouldn't out him > in such a cavalier manner. If there was any purpose to it, other than > play, > it might be as a parable to warn against the dangers of seeking only > positive evidence when trying to support a pet theory. Couple points you missed, however: Gene Wolfe has both a father and a son named Roy, and hails originally from Tejas, as does, I believe, Mr. Lackey (who himself, so ignominiously outed, has yet to undot the conspiracy 'i'). mg --- ### Transentient *22 May 2006, 15:17 · in reply to b sharp* > On May 22, 2006, at 7:09 AM, b sharp wrote: > Just so it is clear, my original post in this thread was completely > tongue-in-cheek. If I really thought Roy was Gene Wolfe I wouldn't > out him > in such a cavalier manner. If there was any purpose to it, other > than play, > it might be as a parable to warn against the dangers of seeking only > positive evidence when trying to support a pet theory. It would put Roy's general denouncement of Able and WK late last year in a new light... --- ### b sharp *22 May 2006, 15:34 · follows Transentient* > Couple points you missed, however: Gene Wolfe has both a father and a son > named Roy, and hails originally from Tejas, as does, I believe, Mr. Lackey > (who himself, so ignominiously outed, has yet to undot the conspiracy 'i').> OMG what have I done!! http://www.maison-de-stuff.net/john/pictures/ParisFeb2005/SANY0060.JPG Sorry Gene! --- ### Roy C. Lackey *23 May 2006, 06:34 · follows b sharp* > b sharp wrote: > Just so it is clear, my original post in this thread was completely > tongue-in-cheek. If I really thought Roy was Gene Wolfe I wouldn't out him > in such a cavalier manner. If there was any purpose to it, other than > play, > it might be as a parable to warn against the dangers of seeking only > positive evidence when trying to support a pet theory. I have been known to inveigh against buffet-style theorizing myself, but it is usually a waste of time. People tend to see what they want to see. Meanwhile, carry on! Who was that in the picture? -Roy ---