Horn's ability

I understood in the exchange that Gerry had no way of knowing that "header" is not a slang expression most Americans would understand (I would first think of a method of propelling a soccer ball). This is along the lines of Gerry not knowing that Americans do most commonly associate the word "vine" with lianas. How he chooses to use this provided information is up to him.

I appreciated the "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" reference Marc. But I did think there would be some here who had never seen that movie. It is a little funny and (intentionally) a silly movie, but let's not forget it marked the screen debut of SF/Fantasy movie mega-superstar Keanu Reeves. ;- )

This quasi-dream/quasi-reality essence is exactly what I think WOlfe was going for. He doesn't WANT us to be able to fully understand it. I'll offer the additional evidence that Horn can shake the hand of a Neighbor but he can't quite count how many limbs or heads or individuals are there.

Another possible interpretation is that Gerry was making a joke.

If I remember rightly, the point at issue in that debate is not what Americans normally mean by 'vine', but what 'vine' should be taken to mean when used specifically in connection with Dionysus.

Somehow I'm reminded of a Discworld thing ... a standing stone that can't be counted. But you're right, there's a dreamlike quality to everything about the Neighbors (and a fever-like quality to the inhumi).

*On Wed, Oct 26, 2011 at 5:32 PM, Lee Berman <severiansola at hotmail.com>wrote: This quasi-dream/quasi-reality essence is exactly what I think WOlfe was going for. He doesn't WANT us to be able to fully understand it.* Yeah, or he wants us to 'understand' in a more 'mystical' mode - mystery for the sake of 'enlightenment' (even if ineffable to some degree) rather than mystery for the sake of bafflement and darkening. It seems to me that it's a growth process to begin to be able to perceive and ingest the many levels of reality Wolfe throws at you at once in the text. It can about break you, but if you survive you'll be fuller, weightier, wiser. *But you're right, there's a dreamlike quality to everything about the Neighbors (and a fever-like quality to the inhumi).

Oh surely! But why must it be "the" (singular) reference? Consider the name Palaemon. It is a saint name but is also a greek sea god. I think the duality of that name might have significance given our megatherian friends. And I consider Hethor to be a more mysterious and enigmatic character than Palaemon and worth paying even more attention to if his name has a dualistic nature (demonic and saintly). No, I don't think Wolfe chose these dualistic names by accident.

It didn't strike me quite that way but perhaps. I'm happy to let Gerry clear up the matter if he so chooses

Your memory is partially right but incomplete. The main thrust had to do with the nature of the Inhumi and I don't think Gerry was willing to concede that a God of Wine (Vines) could be associated with parasitic lianas.

Oh, certainly. I said that was the reference Hethor was going for. What Wolfe may have meant by it is quite another matter.

It almost feels sometimes like Hethor is possessed, and I am reminded of Silhouette and its void-demon worshipers. However, though we see divine possession at short range in the Whorl, we don;t seem to see much of it on Urth. Still, he's been in space a long time ... (When I googled "hethor name" it suggested "hector." the resemblance is close enough for google's algorithm ...)

Yes, I think the evidence for Hethor on Tzadkiel's Ship is pretty good. "Identical" is simply not a good word though. Is Jurturna identical to Idas? Is a khaibit identical to her mistress? Is Silk identical to Typhon? (j/k never mind that last one ;- ))

has addressed the Identity Problem by using characters in his fiction who are not singular in nature as we are. I'm not sure why multiple Father Inire identities is so troublesome and rises such resistance in some. Still the idea seems to nag and bother even those vehemently against it and that itself raises some questions in regard to why. I think one problem is that the story is told in first-person, but Father Inire is presented in null-person. He never shows up. In my current view, the guy is either nowhere or all over the place. I just can't see the literary value in placing him in disguise as a few non-important characters. Why would Wolfe do that? Why, in the course of seven intense years of writing and editing and creating such difficult puzzles of which only some have been solved to this day, why would he make Father Inire such a throw-away?

I second that approval. It was a great post by Dan'l and spot on in all facets, IMHO.

okay, that is a notable distinction. Hethor did choose his own name. We can't know if he erred in choosing a saint name that had satanic overtones or if he did it on purpose. It's kind of like the veiled satanic references in Ultan's dialog. It seems WOlfe knew what he was doing when he put them there but we can't know Ultan's motivation in mentioning them. Is he trying to send a coded message to Severian or just accidentally revealing too much, as he does when discussiong the eating of the dead. David Stockhoff: (When I googled "hethor name" it suggested "hector." the resemblance is close enough for google's algorithm ...) ;-) I can't argue with that. (Such name distortions still don't seem like anything we see anywhere in the Sun Series)

From: Andrew Mason

Why are you all so negative about my theories! But yeah, I was trying to make the point that even if we knew that Hethor’s original name started with H we wouldn’t know much, and in truth we have no particular reason to believe even that. - Gerry Quinn

I agree. OTOH, none of those characters are said to choose their own names. OTOH yet again, the translator really chose everyone's name, on what basis it's not clear. But the rules exclude all names not saintly or mythological---not even biblical names pass muster. So both Hector and Heston would need the "treatment," and we are back where we began. Note: Mantis misses Jonas's saint namesake. "Saint Jonas was beaten with knotty clubs and with rods until his ribs were visible, but he blessed God. Then he was chained by one foot and dragged to a frozen pond to spend the night there." Also, FWIW, there is an important Korean Saint Kim: http://magnificat.ca/cal/engl/09-16b.htm I see 2 main points: (a) Hethor does not come from Troy. Rather, he comes from an spaceflight era that might have been dominated by Anglos (Jonas) and Asians (Kimleesoong). He could have been French or Spanish, but those associations are weak; I don't think he quotes any Borges the way Jonas quotes Carroll. (b) He chose a name that seems "normal" but on closer examination reveals an evil shadow. Perfect for Hethor. Given (b), I am not sure his real name is important. It could have been Billsmith and the rules would be satisfied. Lee, do you have a link for your demonic magistrate finding? Most of what I find is about OUR Hethor!

I agree.

Heh. Why do I suspect you aren't really hurt ;- ). I don't intend to be snotty by pointing out that Gene Wolfe is American and that may give an occasional advantage to Americans in understanding him. I just think it is a useful bit of information. I assume everyone has seen this video clip but if you listen to Gene Wolfe speak, it can help illustrate the point. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_mEpLK8cWE Other relevant content in this interview about Wizard/Knight is that Wolfe is clear and unambiguous about creating this universe to illustrate the effect of the absence of Christianity. Neither does he mince words on his mythological allusions. He says "The ValFather is Woden or Odin" and "Michael is the archangel Michael".

It is from this old text- An Encyclopaedia of Occultism. It is the first entry on this search page and the Google blurb is the quickest way to read the relevent content: http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&site=&source=hp&q=hethor+astra&pbx=1&oq=hethor+astra&aq=f&aqi=&aql=1&gs_sm=e&gs_upl27l4808l0l5041l14l11l1l0l0l0l280l2241l0.5.6l12l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fpÕ66e0fbd09c8604&biw80&bih‡2 If you click on the link to the Encyclopaedia, you'll get some yellow highlighted parts of the essentially illegible text on page 270 of the book. But if you then click on "Plain Text" in the upper right hand corner and go to page 270 you can read the full paragraph about the Astra named Hethor. Not a lot really. Just some old, demonic bureaucrat if I gather correctly. I suppose the fact that his term in office coincided with the lifespan of Jesus might have made him notable for Wolfe.

Here's the deal. The five books of Severian, and the four books of Silk (and perhaps the Book of the Short Sun although Wolfe veers into very Orthodox territory there, I think) are so ingrained with Gnosticism that it would be difficult to refute the assertion that these books are to Gnosticism what the Chronicles of Narnia are to Protestant orthodoxy. I'm not saying I'm comfortable with that argument, but it would be very difficult to refute it. Admittedly, it's possible to make too much of it. Wolfe has said that Briah, Yesod, and the names of the other universes freely ripped from the Gnostic lexicon without too much care for theological precision. However, I think it is a mistake to assume that the saint names were chose haphazardly for the characters. Given the deep level of Gnostic detail carved into these books, it is extremely likely that the saint name Hethor was settled on precisely BECAUSE it was also the name of a Gnostic angel (an Astra, ie. "star", that is a "fallen star", that is a "fallen angel" ). And it would be very like Wolfe to craft a character that refers to both of those etymologies...as well as others such as "Hector" or the English primrose variety known as the "Hethor Giant". The word "inhuma" references a species of bird, Dionysus, vampires, and monstrosity--and all that is worked into the narrative. Wolfe is just very, very clever. And he invites us to be very clever too.

He does sound like an Archon of sorts, more gnostic than satanic. The Astras seem to be angels with legalistic powers limited to the earthly sphere and linked with stars. Naming Hethor for an Astra seated during Jesus's life does make him sort of a Herod/Pilate figure. Hethor would certainly have enjoyed the crucifixion!

Absolutely---I think the reference is simply meant to be suggestive. Now what do you know about primroses?!?!? :D

Nice post James. I can certainly agree with this multi-layered analysis. Of course I agree that the name of an Astra fits nicely with the gnostic sub-text of this story. Adding a rose name to the mix is an obvious fit with one of the recurring themes of the story. Sigh..unfortunately I feel the need to continue to harp and hector (heh) on about the wrongness of Hector as a possible inspiration for the name Hethor. I can't get over the spelling and sound change (though I understand that Hethor and Hector sound more similar in other languages than in my American ears). As previously noted, Wolfe is willing to use alternate spellings for some mythological names like Sphigx (for Sphinx) and Juturna and Diuturna. But they sound the same when spoken. Hector has that hard K and hard T sound while Hethor has only the soft TH. If we must have Hethor as inspired by a current-day name, I would like to propose the more obvious sound-alike, Heather. Does it bother some because it is a girl's name? It doesn't bother me since I consider Hethor to be of the same ilk as Tzadkiel and thus without a definite gender. Moreover, heather is also a sort of wool fabric which comes in shades of gray. And Hethor is a character dominated by that color. (I don't see any connection to the heather plant).

excellent! If you think of the Long Sun naming conventions, the plant would suggest a female person. Since (a) those conventions can't apply because the reader doesn't know them yet and (b) we know Wolfe considers EVERY connotation, I agree that "heather gray" is an intended association. The plant looks gray-purple even in bloom; his doll's eyes are purple or violet; his own hair is gray. But additionally I wouldn't put it past Hethor to slyly imagine himself as a woman if he is from our era. He's all kinds of messed up.

It is a point worth making but is there really a difference, other than perspective? Mainstream Christians demonize Lucifer/Satan and the fallen angels and associate them with evil. But I don't think occultists, pagans and Satanists really consider themselves evil. Dark maybe... Actually I get the impression those guys are more tolerant of Christianity than vice- versa. I think they consider the Judeo-Christian God as sort of a prudish, holier-than- thou cousin. He may have a stick up his butt but he is still part of the family.

Heh. We are talking about Hethor. But sounds like Father Inire to me.

Wow. That rings SO true for me in regard to the story. I can imagine such a being in adoration of his Master but also able to fully enjoy any pain and suffering that immortal Master might have to endure (like avern wounds and salamander burns and lucivee cuts, etc.) (and Severian is an aspect of the Outsider who is likened to the God of Wine...gnostic central deity, Dionysus).

In some ways. If we are to think of Inire as chained to Urth, yes. But he has no formal or judging powers whatsoever---unlike the Autarch. Hethor is fallen from the stars in a more literal way but has no authority either, except over the creatures he brought with him.

Yes, the whole sadomasochistic dark side of adoration of the crucifix(ion). I think Hethor's character is an essential part of Severian's relation as torturer to the Christ. Too much (of something that is) good is evil.

From: Lee Berman

How neat. That people argue against your theories itself constitutes evidence for them in your mind. I told you why I argue against it already: Father Inire as boatman, as well as making no sense in itself, wrecks the character and storyline of a major character, Dorcas.

He’s not a throwaway. He’s the cacogen who came to Urth as advisor to the Autarchs. He is capable of the odd spying mission in the jungle, too. But he’s not all over the place. He’s in the places he’s supposed to be. - Gerry Quinn

He hasn't said that, but certainly questioning why people don't agree with you is rude, as if they couldn't have a rational reason. And if one were to go farther and suggest psychological obstacles to people's agreement with one's theories, that would be rude and annoying whether one's guesses were right or wrong. I'm glad Lee didn't do that.

What is the overt value of Father Inire to the narrative? He introduces the mirrors, he provides an explanation for how the Botanic Garden can be mostly in good repair (and for the Secret House? I forget), and his letter shows the kind of information Severian now needs as the Autarch (in addition to being the clearest source in BotNS for the information that the Ascians are the slaves of Abaia, I think, but no doubt someone will correct me if there's another clear source). He provides a mystery that may engage our attention and a suspect for the manipulation of Severian's life, which he tells us overtly is happening. I don't see that as a throwaway at all.

In particular, we may be tempted to deal with this air of mystery by detecting his covert influence on the story, more or less speculatively. But the solution doesn't have to be that he /is/?other characters. Whatever the purpose of his being another character may be, it can probably be served by his employing that character. It's /more/ explicit in the text that he employs Rudesind than that he is the cowled servant or the old jungle guide, which suggests a theory he has agents here and there, or that he both has agents and appears in disguise. (Then there's?a possible theory that other characters' agents are trying to suggest that they're his agents or him.) I thank people for looking at these theories, as I'd never have noticed on my own that the cowled servant or the jungle guide could be Inire. Jerry Friedman

Wolfe likes asterids. Dahlia and teasle are asterids. J.

I am going to distort the meaning of your post and agree with you. Any executive power the Autarch seems to have is purely a formality. There is the evidence of Cyriaca and some other quotes which suggest nobody really knows who the true power ruling the Commonwealth is, The Autarch or the cacogens (Inire and...?) There is of course the oft-repeated trope in myth, literature and history of the manipulative vizier who is the true power behind the throne which Wolfe may be invoking here. But for me the clincher is Father Inire's letter. I would paraphrase it as saying: "Welcome to the Autarchy, new super-duper, most radically awesome guy! Now, I've made this major decision which I'm SURE you'll approve of. And I've taken this radical action which you naturally support. Etc. etc. But, let's never forget, I am "your humble servant", Inire. (FWIW, it has never escaped me that Severian and others call him "Father" but he doesn't call himself that.) Hm. we have recently discussed whether Severian is clueless as to Inire's many appearances in his story or is deliberately hiding his recognition. There is a bit of evidence, perhaps a slip, that suggests during his later writing Severian knows full well when Father Inire has appeared in disguise in his story. Rudesind mentions that his master (Father Inire) "went away north", but is hesitant to dwell on the point. In Severian's reply, he says, "We even know that your master was with us in the jungles of the north, where he tried until it was too late to rescue my predecessor". Inire's letter itself alludes to recent events with Agia and Vodalus that imply that he was nearby. So, Severian knows the Jungle Guide was Inire. But all we get is this little hint to know that he knows it.

Wolfe is not at all adverse to puns rather than explicit references to mythology using actual names. An example escapes me at this time, but he does it. Additionally, the connection between the names might be even more explicit. It depends what reference Wolfe was using and the connections that might have gone off in his head. I suspect that Hathor (alternately spelled Hethor) is astrologically connected to Hector and they might be etymologically connected as well. Wolfe might have assumed the same as well. Of course, I don't say he has drawn that connection. But the subtle differences in spelling and pronunciation are not an impediment. J.

Well, yeah, of course. It make perfect sense to me that this Father Inire stuff might be questionable to anyone. It is pretty bizarre. But some people are interested in it and they ask me questions about it and I answer. My only confusion would be on why Gerry feels the need to express his disagreement again and again after every post, for two or three years now. Who doesn't know, already, that Gerry Quinn doesn't like the Father Inire theory? But, as you suggest, his motivations are none of my business and I can ignore his posts as easily as he could ignore mine. Apparently there is some mutual interest in each other's ideas after all ;- ).

Yes, that is my attitude also. When I was on my own with Wolfe, I thought the cowled servant was the only cameo appearance and that it was just a cute literary peek-a-boo. But in reading Borski's book I found his arguments for numerous other (though not all) appearances of Inire to be rather compelling. OTOH, I found his Inire + Cumaean= Mr. and Mrs.Moses interpretation to be sorely lacking, which is what drove me here. But it was he who got me thinking and looking and I owe him an eternal debt for that. Perhaps the Father Inire theory has allowed other people to look into nooks and crannies of the story and find previously undiscovered trains of thought. I do notice a general perception of the pervasive gnostic undercurrent in the Sun Series which was not present a few years ago. But other people's thoughts and theories are their own. I don't much believe in Roy C. Lackey's recognition of an "accepted lupine gospel" that we all must adhere to. Nor do I think the pursuit of such a thing is fruitful. I think reading a book is a unique experience for each reader. If there is enough overlap of understanding with other readers that discussion may occur, that can be nice. But the individual understanding and experience is always what is most important. We read alone.

--- On Thu, 10/27/11, Gerry Quinn <gerry at bindweed.com> wrote: From: Gerry Quinn <gerry at bindweed.com> Subject: Re: (urth) Horn's ability To: "The Urth Mailing List" <urth at lists.urth.net> Date: Thursday, October 27, 2011, 11:08 AM From: Lee Berman

How neat. That people argue against your theories itself constitutes evidence for them in your mind. I told you why I argue against it already: Father Inire as boatman, as well as making no sense in itself, wrecks the character and storyline of a major character, Dorcas.

He’s not a throwaway. He’s the cacogen who came to Urth as advisor to the Autarchs. He is capable of the odd spying mission in the jungle, too. But he’s not all over the place. He’s in the places he’s supposed to be. - Gerry Quinn “I was just looking at the back and forth between Gerry and Lee, and there was one brief message where it was almost friendly, and I thought it would be so awesome if you two were really just one super crazy MPD person, one with an American persona and one with the skeptical approach, so that you would always find SOMEONE agreeing with you no matter what your position was. (or have you found that now?EVERYONE disagrees with everything”) On one site where they said I was a crazy person, I signed up under a psuedonym to defend myself, but to seem credible I had to find fault with one or two "out there" Aramini theories to worm my way in to agreeing with the important points and representing them with less fervor. bwa ha ha. I have been applying Borski's onomastics to your names but one has nine letters and the other ten. The best I can do is Rey Gurqinn or Berle Mane (pronounced burly of course).

Ha! How funny (and sad) that to have an American persona means to be unskeptical. And yet, we are often so close-minded as well. The combination is incredibly destructive, and we see the effects of it splashed across our screens every day. Back to our regularly scheduled arguing....