Gene Wolfe: Another New Sun question

Pekka P. Pirinen · 26 Jun 1994, 00:26 · from sf-lovers.1994.mbox

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From: ppp at pirinen.demon.co.uk ("Pekka P. Pirinen")
Subject: Re: Gene Wolfe: Another New Sun question
Date: 26 Jun 94 00:26:29 GMT
Message-ID: <sflovers-v19-516-5 at digest.sf-lovers>
X-Digest-Issue: SF-LOVERS Digest V19 #516
X-Urthmirror-Source: https://archive.org/details/sf-lovers-digest-vol-19b

curtw at euler.jsc.nasa.gov "Curt Wiederhoeft" writes:
> SPOILERS HO!
>
> Now my question: Is Severian's interpretation correct?  It seems to me
> just as likely that with all of the time travel going on in the series,
> it might just be the case that a dead Miles provided the raw materials
> for Jonas' "patch job," and that Severian has it completely backwards.

I don't think so.  Remember that later on, Ava says "There was another
patient here like you, and they told me he came with you.", apparently
referring to having two minds in the same body.  Also, Severian seems to be
basing his deduction on Miles' style of speech rather than physical
resemblance, and his remark about "I lost it somewhere along the way.
That's what the jaguar said, who had promised to guide the goat."  makes it
clear he thought Jonas had taken over Miles' body.  Finally, Miles'
description of his earliest memories fits the conditions of Jonas'
departure from the House Absolute.  

Pekka P. Pirinen

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