Severian's skin color

Chris · 20 Jun 2005, 15:34 · from 2005-June.txt.gz

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From: rasputin_ at hotmail.com (Chris)
Date: Mon Jun 20 15:34:08 2005
Subject: (urth) Severian's skin color
In-Reply-To: <30712710.1119304439136.JavaMail.root at wamui-cypress.atl.sa.earthlink.net>
Message-ID: <BAY102-F68DFDBB189B3F8165B56286E90 at phx.gbl>

I can think of another way to read this than an implication that the Rajan 
should go back and meet Typhon. Basically Pas was Typhon, but became 
something a little different (and perhaps a little more). Recall that Silk 
at this point is maybe not the original, but comes from "Silver Silk" which 
supplanted Pas, but probably incorporated at least some elements from Pas. 
Thus in a certain way the Rajan *is*, or is descended from, Typhon.

So the Rajan, as a stand-in for Typhon, fittingly gets to visit Severian in 
his formative years. Though of course whatever influence he exerts over 
Severian is not what the original Typhon would have chosen.

Crush said:
>GW: Because the books would have been lame if they had
>not. Once you see that Pas is or was Typhon, and know the
>Rajan can travel by astral projection, he's got to do that.
>
>What Wolfe doesn't explain to my satisfaction is why it was
>necessary. It doesn't seem that obvious to me. I mean,
>it would seem more obvious for the Rajan to go back and
>meet Typhon wouldn't it? Or at least stand over his
>lifeless body. Why Severian?

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